I am from Detroit, Michigan and grew up with a wealth of experiences including living in the neighborhood and the suburbs.
I watched as people around me had to choose survival every day, struggle for their next meal, and pray for their next blessing. This was a place where prosperity was tied to material gain because we had to prove that we were not underdogs or “products of the environment.”
I learned early on that you have to react quickly, think critically, respond thoughtfully, and make decisions quickly to be successful in the spaces I’ve operated in. I’ve witnessed members of my family being destroyed because of limitations: no access to food, financial insecurity, substance abuse, fear, confusion, and using love as a radical means to thrive.
Then I realized that these experiences weren’t unique to my family or my neighborhood. These experiences were happening to cultural communities across America and around the world. I witnessed the decay of school systems, of housing in poor communities, of lack of access to health care, public safety, and grocery stores. As a child, I was baffled as homeless people were ignored and denied basic needs and access to services. I saw applications for government assistance pile up, waiting to be reviewed or outright denied. I saw churches become the key to survival and the only places we could hope for support.
These experiences continue to influence me today. They shape the way I interact with people of different backgrounds and identities. They help me release tension and frustration to get to the root of injustice. They remind me to continue to engage in my communities and hold systems accountable through my leadership and responsibility as a public official. It is the tremor in my grandfather’s voice when he saw in 2024 that the climate around racial issues was very similar to his experiences in Ware Shoals, South Carolina, in the ’40s and ’50s.
I chose diversity, equity, and inclusion work to go beyond lip service and show action. I saw an opportunity to disrupt systems that create harmful experiences. I seized the opportunity to expose those systems and individuals while simultaneously pushing them to examine their programs, practices, and policies to identify equity gaps and find targeted solutions.
I knew that diversity, equity, and inclusion work was nothing new, but a continuation of the work of our historic civil rights leaders, those known and unknown to the masses, those who were active in local communities, those in leadership positions, young adults, and seasoned saints. They did the work because they wanted to make sure their families and communities had the support they needed. These individuals did not do the work to get a book deal, an invitation to be a keynote speaker or panelist, they did it because they had a generation to protect. Knowing this, I take my position in diversity, equity, and inclusion work seriously, but I want it to be accessible.
In my role as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I facilitate training, critical discussions, and mindset development opportunities to move beyond the negative narratives associated with this work. I have conducted this work as a consultant at multiple higher education institutions, in the public and private sectors, and in small and large companies, working directly with leadership to identify equity gaps that specifically improve the climate and experience for everyone within the organization, while highlighting the historical gaps that impact some identities more than others.
In February of this year, I was named Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocate of the Year by Eli Lilly at the United Way of Central Indiana’s ELEVATE Awards. This honor reminded me of the work I represent and continued to demonstrate the value of DEI in all areas.
When I think back to my high school senior year in 2008, I never imagined that I would be able to improve, center, and challenge systems through diversity, equity, and inclusion. I grew up in a low-income family and was often reminded that I wouldn’t make it out of the neighborhoods I lived in. I graduated high school with a 1.8 GPA and had a lot of anxiety about entering the next phase of life. But I didn’t let that deter me from my plans to make a difference in the world.
The shame of graduating with a 1.8 GPA haunted me for years. I attended a community college for three years and then transferred to Eastern Michigan University. During my two years at this institution, I was able to join several student organizations where I served in leadership roles. I graduated with honors from the Honors College, received 14 academic scholarships, was mentioned in the President’s speech at graduation, and then went on to pursue my master’s degree at Indiana University, where I graduated and am now a doctoral student in the Urban Education Studies (UES) program with an interdisciplinary focus on body diversity (BODEI) and diversity, equity, and inclusion. I have made intentional use of the time I spent in these areas and am able to continue to dedicate it to myself as a scholar and practitioner.
I always want to make information accessible where people can use it to improve their lives and communities. This desire led me to adopt the moniker DEI Homegirl. I approach this work intentionally. I want you to understand, ask questions, seek clarification, learn, laugh, and know you will be held accountable, and I expect you to do the same for me. Accountability doesn’t have to be harmful or a means of silence. It has to be conscious and just. With everything I’ve learned and continue to experience, I remember that when the world chooses to ignore the value of DEI and settle on the idea that inclusion doesn’t matter, those before me are the motivation to keep going.
This effort with the Indianapolis Recorder to share information about DEI is needed now more than ever as we witness the rise of misinformation, hate, and ignorance. This rise is more than clickbait and social media discussions. These actions are influencing the programs, practices, and policies of our communities. To address these issues, I ask that you join me as your DEI homegirl and use this platform to educate, challenge, and redefine the narratives associated with DEI and its foundations. I look forward to sharing this information with readers and hope you will continue to join me to learn more and make decisive changes.
As a reminder, the work is not always easy, but it is always necessary. Remember, we are not here for a long time, but for a good time. We have work to do!
Take care, friends!
Your DEI Homegirl
Follow Ellise A. Smith on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ellisesmith.
