Today, I am full of gratitude and I wish to recognize Secretary of State Antony Blinken; our hard-working State Department Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council; and our ever-innovative employee-driven Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Councils. Together, we demonstrated courageous leadership at the State Department. Together, we built on prior efforts to create a workforce that better reflects the rich diversity of our nation and a workplace where all can contribute to their fullest abilities.
These DEIA efforts stretched to reach every corner of the world where the United States has a diplomatic presence. All U.S. foreign affairs employees play a role in making our Department more inclusive and respectful of human rights. I am pleased that my job as the Department’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, leading these DEIA efforts, was not just a “me” job but a “we” imperative.
We established the Department’s 2022-2026 DEIA Strategic Plan. We instilled transparency, accountability, and sustainability and were intentional in how the Department implements #DEIA. We broke ground in sharing our Demographic Baseline Report on our public website, state.gov/dbr, demonstrating great strides in diversity and laying the groundwork to capture demographic trends. We added American Sign Language to the Department Press Briefings. We improved our student intern program and recruitment outreach. We funded 121 DEIA small projects at 82 overseas posts.
Thankfully, considering diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in policy and practice at the Department existed before it was called DEIA, and it will continue to exist, no matter what it is called, because it is a reflection of the human condition. I am honored we get to do the work vital to continue its legacy. Remember, making the workplace more equitable and inclusive doesn’t always look like giant transformational steps but our progress is made up of everyday efforts to foster a workplace where we all can participate and thrive. As we take stock of how far we have come, please note that work must still be done for those who serve today and for generations to come.
I leave the Department my best wishes for continued growth. I know we will meet again, including through grassroots DEIA work. Returning to the Department to serve this second time has been so meaningful to me. I drew tremendous inspiration from my colleagues and each person I met along the way. Last but not least, I want to thank my talented S/ODI team for their commitment to service. Our Department DEIA journey reminds me of the Ghanian word, “Sankofa”, which means: “Know your past. Manifest your future.” What we have done together has made a tremendous difference and each of your efforts big or small count. We know the past. And we manifest a more inclusive future. Thank you once again for being my partner on this journey. ✨
Warmest regards,
Zakiya S Carr Johnson
Chef Diversity and Inclusion Officer
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