Interior Celebrates DOI Diversity Days
October 6, 2009
Music/Announcer: This is a podcast from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Announcer: DOI Diversity Days 2009 theme is Diversity, Equality and Excellence
Today’s three-day agenda opened with a keynote speaker who represents the theme in his biography past, present and especially the future. Robert Stanton started with Interior as a seasonal worker in Grand Teton National Park, became the National Park Service’s first African-American Director in 1997 and earlier this year was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, the office that oversees the Office of Youth in Natural Resources, preparing future stewards and increasing diversity throughout the Department of the Interior.
Robert Stanton: “The goal is aimed at achieving a substantial increase in the involvement of our youth throughout the bureaus and offices, throughout the breadth of Interior. This will be accomplished by expanding opportunities for employment and participation in organized education and recreation programs. Understandably these activities will benefit the youth directly and the department as well. Let me further underscore that with respect to the future steward, prospective employees if you will, will come from all backgrounds in our expanded employment program, including our young veterans, fellow citizens with disabilities, we will have full gender representation, and certainly we will assure the highest quality of experience, hazard free work environment, effective supervision, counseling and information on pathways to ultimate career opportunities in conservation”
Announcer: Coming up through the National Park Service in the 60’s Stanton’s words provided a knowledgeable perspective on equality.
Robert Stanton: “With respect to my own experiences it is true that I first became associated with this department two years before the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Over that span of time I have seen progress in workforce diversity, improved equal opportunity in the workplace, expanded efforts to engage a wider spectrum of the American people in program, planning and decision making. And insuring that the department resources and services are available to all America. Certainly these actions are welcome, yet I readily admit, much more remains to be accomplished. What I do know my friends from my experiences of over more than four decades is that courageous and dedicated leadership at the department is critical in our advancement in the areas of diversity, equality and excellence in our performance and service to others. In this regard I am most pleased, as I am sure that most of you are, to be an employee of the Department of Interior at this time under the visionary leadership of the honorable Ken Salazar.”
Announcer: For Stanton, the theme of excellence lies in the Department’s preservation of cultural and historical resources that educate us about our past, from Appomattox, to Manzanar to Selma and Little Rock.
Robert Stanton: “These places make real those struggles and triumphs. Without them they are easily forgotten, but with them, there is no more potent place to learn. In a real sense the preservation of historic places are more than the protection buildings, artifacts and landscapes. They demonstrate the value of diversity and community that honors and link us with the heritage of our predecessors. It seems to me that one of our greatest accomplishments as nation is that we have come to recognize that our legacy is about learning and teaching. Helping our youth find a better and a better place, a better environment, a better respect for ourselves and others because you and I have made our contributions.”
Announcer: During the three day observance of DOI Diversity days, there will be diversity and communications workshops, cultural pageantry and will wrap with a closing ceremony featuring Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar with remarks and dialogue on diversity.
This has been a podcast from the U.S. Department of the Interior; I’m Ron Tull, Washington.