Diversity for an Enriched Community

August 2011: OrthoWorx eNewsletter

The view of diversity is evolving as our world changes. It has been commonly viewed as differences in gender, age, race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion. Today, however, diversity also encompasses differences in beliefs, perspectives and sexual orientation.

An Associated Press article about US Census 2010 cites a national shift in cultural diversity. “Hispanics now outnumber African-Americans for the first time in most U.S. metropolitan areas, shifting the political and racial dynamics in cities once dominated by whites and blacks.”* How does this translate to Indiana, home state of The Orthopedics Capital of the World? “Indiana became more suburban and a bit more diverse over the past 10 years,” according to USA Today article titled Opportunities draw Hispanics to Indiana* (www.usatoday.com).

For a non-metropolitan area like Kosciusko County, Indiana, where Warsaw is the county seat, there is opportunity for diversity. With a population of 77,358: 93 percent are white, 7.3 percent Hispanic, .7 percent Black; .3 percent American Indian; .8 percent Asian and 3.4 percent other.

Increasing diversity provides an increasing breadth of talents and ideas contributing to community. The OrthoWorx Diversity Council (a subgroup of the OrthoWorx Community Enhancement Initiative) stems from a need in the community to cultivate diversity for the enrichment of the community. “Our ultimate goal is to help residents and visitors of Warsaw and the surrounding areas to feel welcome and included,” states Robin Rasor, OrthoWorx Diversity Council Chair.

Council members brainstormed to identify local diversity-related activities. “We are focusing on identifying additional activities and events already taking place in Kosciusko County. Activities are happening in schools, businesses, clubs and nonprofit organizations, but there is limited awareness of these events. We could use the community’s help identifying additional events,” adds Rasor.

You can send your ideas to us via e-mail at info@orthoworxindiana.com. “Our next step is to learn how we can communicate and promote these activities. The council will then continue to research and identify additional activities for our community,” concludes Rasor.

*http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2011-04-14-census-black-hispanic.htm