Bending the Arc: Advancing Equity in a New Federal Landscape

January 20th, 2025 represented the clearest distillation of the crossroads our country faces. One path celebrates and continues Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy helping to bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice with a focus on community and inclusion. The other path seeks to eliminate protections for marginalized communities; weaken efforts to combat climate change; and promote an ideology of an “America First” ideology that offers a narrow view of our role as a leader and example for the world.

As we navigate this new reality, we should resist the pull toward an “either/or” dichotomy. Easy proclamations of right and wrong, or good and bad, ignore both the complex dynamics at play for many and, more importantly, fail to convince others labeled “wrong” or “bad” to join us in creating a more just and equitable world.

Throughout our nation’s history, resistance has existed in the face of discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia. At all times, in all places, even when faced with brutal repression, the human spirit endures and seeks out justice. Those of us committed to continuing the generational project of creating a more perfect union must adapt and shift our approaches and tactics to ensure victory. In the face of an electoral win for policies that seem at the polar opposite of equity and justice, Audre Lorde’s voice rings out, “When times are hard, do something.

If it works, do it some more. If it does not work, do something else. But keep going.”

Strategies for building community and advancing justice

During times when our work becomes more difficult and the future is less certain, there are specific strategies that organizations and individuals committed to justice and equity can take up.

• Engage in public discourse: Naming and promoting DEI measures and values is a legal activity.  The majority of Americans are pro-DEI and it is important to hold the line on your values.  Engaging in the public discourse includes writing op-eds, contacting elected officials, and testifying in public meetings. Fact checking, and amplifying the stories of diverse lived experiences and historical narratives helps to counter attacks on diversity and freedom of speech.
• Advocate at the state and local level:  While the new administration may limit or stop enforcement of civil rights on behalf of individuals from historically marginalized groups, state and local jurisdictions retain the ability to enforce their own policies. Coalitions can collect stories of discrimination, harassment and hate crimes from workers, students and community members and share them with local and state elected officials and school districts to help them advance the effectiveness of discrimination and harassment-free policies within their jurisdictions.
• Condemn efforts to name diversity measures as racial discrimination: Each of us can take action to defend the 14th Amendment and remind governments, service providers and companies of their obligations to ensure discrimination-free workplaces and services, issue executive orders to create and expand DEI programs funded by state and local dollars, hold hearings and public meetings to highlight the positive impact of DEI programs and propose bills to advance their work, and oppose censorship and protect the First Amendment.

As a nation, the United States is more diverse than ever. And at the same time, Americans broadly support efforts to make sure that everyone has a fair shot at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  This critical moment in the history of our democracy represents an existential challenge to many of the pillars of democracy, good governance and thriving business. However, champions of diversity, equity and inclusion have many pathways to continue to advance the work toward a more fair and just society. Now is not the time to pull back on the work of supporting diversity, belonging, and economic opportunity for all; it is the time to strengthen our alliances, improve our strategies, and follow our values to move boldly forward and undeterred.

Johnell Bell is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Espousal Strategies, a boutique consultancy that provides government relations, public and stakeholder engagement services to businesses, private-public partnerships, nonprofits, and government agencies.