DIVERSITY IS OUR REALITY; INCLUSION IS OUR CHOICE
EVERY CHILD MATTERS
[I]n accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the
inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the
foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
-United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
OUR SOCIETY MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT BEHAVING THAT WAY, THOUGH
While we celebrate equality of opportunity, we live in a society in which birth is becoming fate.
-James J. Heckman, Giving Kids a Fair Chance (A Strategy That Works), (2013)
Whether a child ends up in university or prison should not depend to a significant extent on birth
circumstances.
-Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating
Opportunity (2014)
INCREASING DIVERSITY IS A FACT, AND ONE WE SHOULD WELCOME
The human species is made up of seven billion subspecies each consisting of one specimen.
-Robert Brault, http://rbrault.blogspot.com
What each of us has to offer, what we can contribute to the vibrancy of our worlds, depends on our being
different in some way, in having combinations of perspectives [and] interpretations… that differ from
those of others. These differences aggregate into a collective ability that exceeds what we possess
individually…When we peer out of our silos and see people doing strange things with ketchup (in the
cupboard? on eggs?), when we meet people who think differently than we do, who speak different
languages, who have different experiences, training, and values, we should see opportunity and
possibility.
-Scott Page, The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms,
Schools, and Societies (2010)
Governing Los Angeles is all about cultural literacy – nobody can be completely literate across
the board here, but if you don’t have some understanding of many of these cultures, you will be
left behind.
- Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles (quoted in the New York Times, 2014)
INVESTING IN ALL OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN IS A MORAL AND PRACTICAL
IMPERATIVE
We have to stop talking about how expensive and difficult [these steps] are to implement and
just get on with it.
-Sean Reardon, The Widening Academic Achievement Gap Between the Rich and the Poor: New
Evidence and Possible Explanations. In Greg J. Duncan & Richard J. Murnane (Eds.), Whither
Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances (2011).
Predistribution – improving the early lives of disadvantaged children – is far more effective than simple
redistribution in promoting social inclusion and…economic efficiency.
- James Heckman, Giving Kids a Fair Chance (A Strategy That Works), (2013)
BEING YOUNG IS A RISK FACTOR…
IN THE U.S.A., THE YOUNGER YOU ARE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO BE…
a) NON-WHITE
 As of 2012, whites accounted for fewer than half of births
 As of 2014, non-whites outnumber whites for all children age two and under, and have
nearly drawn equal with whites for all children age five and under
b) POOR
 24% of children under the age of six live below the federal poverty line
 14% of adults live below the federal poverty line
 49% of children under the age of six live in low income families (under 200% of the
federal poverty threshold)
 12% of non-Hispanic white children live in poverty, but about one-third of Hispanic and
black children are poor
c) HOMELESS
 About 1% of the population experiences homelessness each year – but about 3.3% of all
children
 Half of homeless children are 0-5 years of age
 23% of sheltered homeless families are non-Hispanic white; 22% are Hispanic; and 48%
are black
d) FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY
 12% of the population as a whole is immigrants
 However, one-fourth of all children are immigrants (first generation immigrant children
= 4% & second generation immigrant children = 21%)
 84% of all immigrant children are non-white
IN KING COUNTY, THE YOUNGER YOU ARE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO BE…
a) NON-WHITE
 As of 2014, almost 71% of King County residents are non-Hispanic white
 However, as of 2014, non-Hispanic whites are under 50% of the population ages 0-2
 As of 2014, non-Hispanic whites are just over 50% of the population ages 0-5
b) POOR
 11.5% of King County residents live below the federal poverty line
 15% of children live in households below the federal poverty line
 About one-third of Hispanic children and 45% of black children live in households below
the federal poverty line
c) HOMELESS
 Fewer than 1% of King County residents are homeless
 However, 50% of the homeless are families with children
 50% of the children who are homeless are ages 0-5
 Approximately two-thirds of all King County residents who are homeless – and threequarters of children who are homeless – are non-white
d) FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY
 About one-fifth of King County residents are foreign-born
 One-fourth of young children live in families with at least one non-native parent
 Three in ten young children live in residences in which the primary language spoken at
home is other than English