ABQ Leader Reimagines Government’s Role in Equity

Michelle Melendez Office of Equity

ABQ Leader Reimagines Government’s Role in Equity

Michelle Melendez Office of Equity

From local government officials to philanthropic stakeholders to Living Cities staff, this story is one in a series that demonstrates the impact Living Cities has across the U.S. — connecting individuals and highlighting successful initiatives.

Michelle Melendez
Inaugural Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico

“I fight racism everyday.”

Three years ago, my department didn’t exist — I serve as the inaugural director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a native of Albuquerque and a Chicana, it’s been liberating to see our city government’s investment in fighting systemic racism and to have the opportunity to bring my personal experiences and perspective as a Mexican American to the space.

Not only does my team service our community’s immediate needs, like improving access to city resources, but we help shape and provide tools so that our city is better equipped to address systemic racism. We want Albuquerque to be inclusive, not only in name, but in who we hire, do business with and where we invest as a city. Living Cities has been a critical partner in this and to how we accomplish this vision. Through the Integration Initiative, we were able to provide support to more people of color who are business owners and connect with like-minded individuals across the U.S. that are working to end systemic racism in their city.

My family has been here for generations, since before New Mexico became a part of the U.S. — I envision my city as a place where race is no longer a predictor of outcomes. Where education level, wealth, homeownership and health status are less and less tied to race and ethnicity. Where a child’s race or ethnicity does not determine their chances in life. That’s the future of Albuquerque, my city, my community.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest Articles

Supporting and Growing Overlooked Entrepreneurs with Urban Innovation Fund

In 2012, Julie Lein and Clara Brenner started Tumml, an urban ventures accelerator with a mission to empower entrepreneurs to solve urban problems. Through their experience with Tumml, Julie and Clara saw how investors can overlook certain types of entrepreneurs, mostly women and people of color. Building on their experience, Lein and Brenner founded Urban Innovation Fund (UIF) as first-time …

1863 Ventures Seeks to Close the ‘Friends and Family’ Financing Gap for New Majority Entrepreneurs

Melissa Bradley understands how barriers to capital for entrepreneurs of color hurt our economy and our communities. “There is clearly a cost if we do not invest in diversity,” said Bradley, founder of 1863 Ventures. “We miss out on great returns when we are not inclusive in our investment theses. There are opportunity costs for all of us.” She cites …

A Vision for Systemic Change in the Twin Cities: An Interview with Marcus Pope

JK:We’re celebrating your new role as President of Youthprise! Can you tell us a bit about Youthprise? MP: I’ll start by sharing Youthprise’s mission, which is to increase equity with and for Minnesota’s Indigenous, low income, and racially diverse youth. We take the “with and for” very seriously; half of our board members are young people between the ages of …

The Legacy of Wealth Inequities in the Brown and Flynn Families: A Hypothetical Exploration

The first post in a two-part series explores the potential of capital to undo the historical legacy of inequities. Race is a complex issue that continues to drive many of the socioeconomic outcomes in the US. For example, if you are a person of color born in the United States, your zip code is more of a predictor of your …

Get Updates

We want to stay in touch with you! Sign up for our email list to receive updates on the progress we’re making with our network of partners, as well as helpful resources and blog posts.

Name