DEIA Members

Ben DeAngelo

For me, as the Deputy of the Climate Program Office, I feel it's my responsibility to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in two areas. One is about the culture of our office. I want to do what I can to ensure our work environment is open and respectful of different views and backgrounds, and in fact thrives because it is open and welcoming of all, including those who have had to overcome additional social barriers and biases to get to where they are. Second is about the climate science and research we support. It's long been known that climate change risks affect especially those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. Our work should account for and address the needs of the most vulnerable in our Nation and in other areas of the world.

I am thrilled about the efforts to be more inclusive of all kinds of people and the work to address long-standing issues of equity and access. There is still so much more to be done, but the conversations give me hope that we will see change.

“We want a culture that is inclusive of everyone and where everyone who joins feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow.“ — Nellie Borrero

Advancing goals of DEIA within the workplace is essential to cultivating a sense of belonging and a culture where all feel they are given the opportunity to thrive. Further, applying these principles in our external work is a key step toward recognition of and reconciliation with the multiple dimensions of systemic oppression that contribute to disparities within our society at large. I’m proud to work alongside the rest of the CPO DEIA Working Group to address these critically important issues.

DEIA means to me - embracing our own unique qualities that make us who we are and respecting/supporting that uniqueness in others.

It has been truly great to see DEIA become mainstream in nearly everything we talk about at the Climate Program Office and NOAA. While more needs to be done, we are definitely on the right path in fostering a work culture where everyone is comfortable, respected and has an equal voice.

Breaking barriers to create a culture based on acceptance and understanding, while simultaneously increasing access and diversity in the organization.

DEIA is about addressing accumulations of power and privilege in our society. The culture of government and science have colonial legacies and built-in designs that benefit some and harm others. DEIA is an opportunity to change that culture to one of empathy, belonging, power-sharing, and thriving communities.

For me, DEIA has always been about achieving excellence. How can we obtain the best solution when the collective experience in the room is limited or when our best, most capable minds are not brought to bear on our most challenging problems? Only by engaging our best and brightest can we hope to address our most intractable issues.

One DEIA working group in one agency can't change everything, but we can change some things.