“Promoting diversity is a core value of the Attorney General’s Office and should be vital to the mission of every government agency. A culture of inclusion within government is key to effectively representing the interests of diverse communities, and ensuring public employees have a meaningful connection with everyone we serve.”
— Bob Ferguson
Washington State Attorney General
“Southeast Seattle is the most diverse zip code in America. We boldly declare this with pride and honor; we embrace the qualities of our differences. Our road to understanding our diversity leads us to better understand what we have in common, including our need for opportunities in education, jobs, and housing.”
— Bruce A. Harrell
Seattle City Councilmember
“I’ve just returned from Selma where tens of thousands of us witnessed President Obama’s stirring speech and together marched across the Edmond Pettus Bridge. I was reminded of Dr. King’s Beloved Community, a place of unity, mutual understanding and love. That the Beloved Community could be embodied by such vast and diverse crowds those days reminds me to build it into my daily life.”
— Ellen Ferguson
Co-President, Wing Luke Asian Museum
“We Washingtonians can be a diverse lot, coming from different places, with different family stories, but we are also bonded by a pioneering independence. Our diversity and contrasts make us stronger.”
— Bill Bryant
Seattle Port Commissioner
“Diversity is power. When it is fostered and embraced, and then is allowed to become ingrained within the culture of a city, a business or a family, each institution is strengthened and made better. Where differences are truly valued, possibility becomes fulfillment.”
— Daryl J. Campbell
President and CEO, Goodwill®
“Celebrate your uniqueness and always be true to your values”.
— Tina Soike
Director of Engineering, Port of Seattle
“Over the last five years, South Seattle College has seen the state’s largest growth in our full-time faculty of color. With a student population that is equally diverse, we not only embrace our campuses’ diversity, we celebrate it! At South, you can truly start here and go anywhere!”
— Gary Oertli
President, South Seattle College
“Rotary International members come from all age, gender, professions, ethnicities, political and religious beliefs, physical abilities, and ideologies. Through Kids Without Borders, our volunteers come from many countries supporting children of all races in our community and worldwide. Don’t just speak diversity, live it. Treat others with respect and acceptance.”
— Son Michael Pham
Assistant Governor, Rotary International
Founder, Kids Without Borders
“I know that our strengths lay in our differences not our similarities. As our city and country becomes more diverse we need to support, embrace and learn from these differences, to build a stronger society, where we all can share in equity and prosperity.”
— Pamela L. Banks
President, CEO
The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
“Valuing diversity is about celebrating the unique spark that resides within each person that makes them who they were born to be. Each of us is a single thread in the tapestry of humanity. We all miss out on something special if we ask that thread to be a different color or texture. When we value diversity, we honor what you have that the world needs. Then you get to live YOUR dream, and have your gifts to share with the world.”
— Thach Nguyen
Real Estate Specialist, Thach Real Estate Group