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Student urges Denver council to push city agencies to resist federal guidance limiting DEI work
Summary
A 17-year-old youth ambassador told council the Office of Community and Business Engagement scaled back diversity, equity and inclusion work after federal guidance, and called on council to direct city agencies and attorneys to protect employees and programs.
Carroll Carter, a 17-year-old rising senior and youth ambassador with Seeing Safe Streets under the Office of Community and Business Engagement, told council on June 9 that leadership had scaled back DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) efforts in response to federal guidance. Carter said words and phrases important to equity work — including 'diversity,' 'equity,' 'BIPOC,' 'implicit bias' and 'safe spaces' — were restricted under the new guidelines and that frontline workers continue to support equity work despite leadership decisions.
Carter asked council members to reach out to city agencies and the mayor's office, work with city attorneys and provide 'strong directives' to OCBE leadership, including executive director Amy Ford, to ensure the office 'aligns fully with the city's firm stance' on equity. Carter said the rollback undermines programs that engage youth and asked the council to develop a strategy to protect employees and programming that serves vulnerable communities.
No formal motion or staff response was made during the public comment session; the speaker asked council to act by coordinating with city leadership and legal staff.
