The Director of the Office for Equity and Inclusion (OEI) will play a vital role in strategically planning for and obtaining legislative, stakeholder, and organizational support for advancement and implementation of the equity and inclusion strategic priorities. This position aims to foster an environment that embraces and values diversity, eliminates systemic barriers, and ensures fair and equitable opportunities. The Director is responsible for directing and managing the activities of the office by providing oversight and direction to four direct reports, two supervisors, a data analyst and a policy lead. The office which the Director will lead conducts business to enhance understanding of equity and inclusion principles, develop comprehensive strategies, and implement programs that promote collective access, diversity, inclusivity, and equity in state policies, practices, and services. Through collaboration with key partners, executive team, directors, and staff of DHS, the role will be working directly with senior leadership in setting strategy for creating more equitable outcomes for DHS. The incumbent will be responsible for creating enterprise-wide outcomes.

I work closely with members of DHS Operations divisions within Agency Effectiveness + Agency Culture and Relations; Communications, Finance and Budget, External Relations, General Counsel’s Office, Equal Access and Opportunity, Employee Culture, and Business Solutions. Together with senior leaders and division directors I oversee compliance with the DHS Equity Policy, ensuring equity, inclusion and anti-racism are considered in Operations policies and processes to reduce inequities. I serve as chair of the Operations Equity Committee and provide guidance to the Business Area Equity Teams across Operations. In addition, I consistently collaborate with equity directors across DHS administrations, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and DEI liaisons across state agencies.

The Office of Equity, Opportunity, and Accessibility is dedicated to effectively translating community priorities into systems-change by making recommendations to state leaders on budget, policy, and executive actions targeted at eliminating disparities through improved policies, programs, and service deliveries in state government.

Allied Folk is a trusted partner for transformative action. We take an energetic engaging approach that makes meaningful and measurable impact with organizations of all sizes. Folk specializes in making complex topics approachable and curating conditions for change.Services Offered:- Workshops + Intensives- Coaching + Consulting- Planning + Facilitation- Speaking + Keynotes

UMOJA MN is a Black Heritage camp created to empower adoptive, kinship, and foster families.We Serve transracial families raising Black and multiracial youth. All children of African heritage, along with kinship, adoptive, foster parents, siblings, families preparing for adoption or foster care, as well as Black adoptees and their families.

I develop products and training for businesses to promote inclusive hiring and employee engagement. Skilled at analyzing opportunity areas, and developing customized content to help corporate partners succeed in recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce.