Hitchhiking for Inclusion

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Sarah Sweeney
May 5, 2025

As months pass, it is increasingly clear that we are regressing to a simpler time in society, and not in a good way. I am no longer shocked to read the headlines that come through my news platforms, and I fear that I am leaning toward a quiet resignation. Progressive efforts that make our schools and communities welcoming, inclusive and equitable are under attack and we are inching ever closer to a return to wholly tyrannical practices driving toward structural oppression. While I am encouraged by recent judicial statements, I wonder if we are going back in time by cutting funding for public schools that have instituted diversity, equity and inclusive programming for students. Voluntary student groups that align with cultural and racial heritage and celebrate differences while providing education and cohesion among students are being denied access to recognize, maintain or practice/celebrate certain cultures and traditions. The United States has been dubbed a melting pot of civilization due to its history of blending culture, traditions and ethnicities of the people who call this country home. While we indeed have a sordid history of discriminatory and exclusionary practices from our nation’s inception, we have also made incredible strides to overcome adversity and oppression through efforts across time. We are facing a breakdown of the fiber of civilization and development with swift flicks of a pen through executive orders and federal mandates.

Student clubs build allyship, teamwork, self-esteem and confidence, leadership skills and relationships. They bring awareness and appreciation of differences and tie people together through common interests and help improve social skills for young people who might otherwise feel outcast. As we advance technologically and become glued to our phones, social media and computers, it is absolutely vital to maintain social programming for our young people so they don’t lose access to the tools that build character, inclusiveness and education about otherness. According to a letter sent by the current administration earlier this month, schools are violating discrimination laws and contributing to “illegal DEI practices” by providing education and social activities which are actually designed to increase and improve efforts at building more diverse and inclusive communities for young people. The risk of pulling federal funding for such programs threatens opportunities for civil engagement within the education system. Additionally, with recent and upcoming changes in the Justice Department we could see increases in discrimination and constitutional violations which is significant as we think about equal and civil rights. The checks and balances currently in place to protect vulnerable populations and ensure equitable access to human rights are in the crosshairs.

So what can we do to flip this ride around and move in the right direction toward collaborative community building and save our children? It is up to the community leaders, the public administrators and advocates to push for change and survival. It is up to us! I’ve recently started re-reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle to glean some of the wisdom the author shares about what it takes to be fully human. She notes that bravery comes from paying attention, noticing, feeling, knowing and imagining. As leaders we must imagine a future full of success, collaboration and forward movement toward equity, inclusion and diversity of ideas and opinions. Because if we shy away from these values we will fail and become what we always have been: a closed oppressive society with limited mobility and no vision. We must pay attention to the distractions and the minor details that come along with them, as major changes in policy or new executive orders come down the line. Because it is within the small print where disaster strikes the most vulnerable in our neighborhoods. To lead is to understand, to feel is to know and to believe is to make change. Public administration is a field of practice charged with the responsibility to move systems forward in the best interest of those we serve and we must acknowledge we cannot be successful without the diverse opinions of the citizens who make up our constituency.

To be fully human is to be fully alive, and if we don’t push back we are only hurting ourselves and our future. We are regressing back into cages where we will remain restless and frustrated. Ms. Doyle, in her book, recognizes that “society is hellbent on expansion, power and efficiency at all costs” and this continues true today. Breaking down the Department of Education, the Department of Justice and others will only further erode the human fabric that makes up our melting pot. It is easy to quietly resign, sitting back while society passes us by, but at what cost. This question is a daily reminder of why I am a public administrator and I invite you to join me in fighting back against the cages.

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Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and public administrator in Washington State.  She may be contacted at [email protected]

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