DEI has been an OYA Agency Key Initiative since 2019. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are necessary elements to create safer, more just, and thoughtful systems of care, communities, and employment for everyone.
What does our DEI team do? They provide comprehensive support for the agency and collaborate closely with staff across the state. The team participates in policy planning and implementation, develops and facilitates training, leads workgroups and group discussions, creates exercises and lessons for staff to engage one another and youth, provides tailored coaching, consults on equitable hiring and retention practices, applies an equity approach to data collection and surveys, participates in strategic and action planning, and maintains a DEI Toolbox and wide-ranging library of learning opportunities and resources for staff, among other supports. The team is here to support a system that works for everyone!
A critical part of their work is connecting with teams to facilitate training relevant to their day-to-day work. Team trainings help staff to learn and discuss DEI-focused topics, develop new skill sets and equity practices, and foster more inclusive and collaborative work environments. Rigo Garcia is a Juvenile Parole and Probation Officer (JPPO) Supervisor in Community Services and a long-time member of OYA leadership who utilizes the DEI team. This last fall, he requested a training that is part of a new series focused on learning about events in Oregon history from an equity standpoint for the Washington, Columbia, Tillamook, Clatsop counties field unit. One of these trainings features the story of Vanport, which Rigo’s team chose to learn more about.
Reflecting back, Rigo shared the topic of Vanport “is relevant to my work because it addresses critical themes in understanding systemic issues.” “As our communities continue to grow in a variety of ways, we recognize housing [and displacement] continues to be a barrier among low-income families, especially families of color.” The DEI team strives to facilitate learning and new perspectives on topics like this that are relevant to OYA staff and support their understanding and work with youth and communities.
While we know the term “training session” can bring up feelings of stress or dread, the DEI Team adapts the structure and tone of trainings to whatever is most helpful for the participants. Rigo says “The DEI team engaged with my team in a more informal way, soliciting feedback… By engaging with them, team members felt more comfortable expressing themselves, knowing that their diverse perspectives will be valued and respected. This support increases trust and more effective communication.”
DEI work is more than reading a textbook or fulfilling a requirement. It is about having authentic connections, building understanding and support for everyone. Rigo shared, “DEI training is not just about clicking a box; it’s about creating an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.”
Learn more about Oregon history through an equity lens in our DEI team’s resource on how the past informs the present and OPB’s Oregon Experience.