The mission of the U.S. Department of Commerce is to create the conditions for inclusive economic growth and opportunity for all Americans. Last week, in conjunction with Black History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don Graves participated in several events that echo this mission and showcase the Department’s leading role in building an economy in which all can...

Today the U.S. Department of Commerce released the 2023 update to its Equity Action Plan , in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. This Equity Action Plan is part of the Department’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “ Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government ,”...

America’s diversity has always been our nation’s greatest strength and we must continue to leverage capabilities from all people. People with disabilities have long strengthened our economy and expanded our Nation’s possibilities. The growing popularity of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening new doors that are enhancing the work capabilities and performance for persons with disabilities. In...

By Junish Arora, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer As the new DOC Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), I wanted to share my perspective on the first critical year in that role. While it cannot be overstated how important it was for me to navigate the stakeholder universe and perform a comprehensive review of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), it was also key to go from Z...

By Junish A. Arora As the new Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer (CDO) at the Department of Commerce, I wanted to share my diversity story and some recent thoughts on the value proposition for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). Born in India, my family immigrated to the United States when I was five years old. I grew up in a community in south New Jersey, which at...

By U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo I believe strongly in protecting the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and this month has been an opportunity to reflect on the strength, progress, and resiliency of the LGBTQIA+ community. But there is still much work to do. While Pride Month is coming to an end, I encourage everyone to continue to be resilient, embrace diversity, and celebrate everyone...

LGBTQIA+ individuals contribute their efforts to advance the nation in all areas, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. During this month recognizing the incredible strength, perseverance, and progress of the LGBTQI+ community, we celebrate outstanding Commerce employees who are serving as leaders in their fields and their communities. Find out more about a marine ecologist...