(00:00:00) I want to start with a fundamental question. And that is you first need to ask the question of yourselves. What is the perspective that each and every one of you brings to this (00:00:11) question or topic we call diversity. (00:00:14) Everyone has a different perspective of diversity. For example, if you are a (00:00:20) mayor or a former mayor, where's our city council person? (00:00:24) Or a member of city council or a politician at any public office. Sometimes we view diversity as some kind of a group that reminds us of a pit bull dog grabbing our legs demanding this or that and we're trying to shake it Loose. (00:00:44) You know, that's sometimes a vision of someone in public office who is always besieged with demands from different diverse groups. That's One Vision if you are a corporate leader, and I know there's some here today your view of diversity maybe of a quote special interest group close quote switches attempting to demand something of your corporation in being more responsible to the community or to the needs and wishes of that particular group. And so you may see a diverse element of diversity as being one of those pressure groups (00:01:20) to some people and I've read a little bit about this people are Diversity as a threat that somehow diversity in America is going to (00:01:30) destroy the wonderful concept that got our nation started years ago called The Melting Pot and you may have talked about this, I guess what was it a week or so ago when you have the four speakers (00:01:41) and I'm going to talk a little bit about that thought. (00:01:45) So first of all, you need to ask yourselves. What is your perspective as you look at this issue called diversity and once you understand each of your perspectives, then I think we begin to talk about the issue. Now. Let me tell you my perspective of diversity because I have a bias which I bring to this discourse as each and every one of you has also (00:02:04) I look at (00:02:05) diverse people diverse groups diverse individuals as what I call gold nuggets and from Colorado. We have a lot of gold in Colorado. So this is a natural analogy for me to use (00:02:19) but just as a gold nugget if left embedded in the side of a mountain or the bottom of the stream (00:02:26) is not particularly useful or beneficial until it is (00:02:31) extracted and put to beneficial use I believe that diverse (00:02:36) individuals or groups or organizations in our community are much like that. They are natural resources to be extracted to be mine and to be used for a beneficial purpose (00:02:49) and if we begin to understand and think of diversity (00:02:52) in that way, I think we'll deal with this question of diversity much more constructively for example in Denver as in your community. You have a large influx of Southeast Asians Vietnamese hmong and other Southeast Asian groups. (00:03:07) Now when I see someone who (00:03:09) has literally gotten off the boat and come to Denver from Vietnam. (00:03:15) I see that person. I don't see someone who's going to be a (00:03:17) drain on the social welfare system of the City and County of (00:03:22) Denver. I look at that person and I think how can this person become an international business person? They help Denver compete in a global economy. Am I looking at a future ambassador to Vietnam representing the United States of America who already speaks the language (00:03:41) understands the culture and can represent our country in that environment. I was always mystified as a youngster because I was I was telling some friends of the back that I'm really from South Texas, even though I was mayor of Denver (00:03:55) and as someone from South Texas little town called Browns. Well, I was always mystified when I would learn that our government would appoint these ambassadors to Mexico. And then they would send our ambassadors representing the United States to Mexico to berlitz courses to learn Spanish and to learn the culture of the Mexicans and I was thinking why is that we've got 15 million back then Hispanics in this country who already speak Spanish who understand the language you understand the culture who don't have to take berlitz classes. Why aren't we why aren't we mining those gold nuggets and putting them to beneficial use for our country. I've never quite understood that and so I have a different perspective secondly. I look at. bringing (00:04:43) diverse elements in groups together in a productive way (00:04:49) as we look at sort of like a V8 engine working. (00:04:53) If you have a car with a V8 engine (00:04:55) and all the Pistons (00:04:56) in cylinders are not working equally, let's say only six of them are working for kind of a car do you have (00:05:04) You know car (00:05:06) very good who put that answer come from if you have an old car, (00:05:10) but you have an engine that's not working very effectively efficiently very productively and you're probably gonna have a bumpy ride. And if we think of your community our community this nation in much the same (00:05:20) way think of diversity in that sense. (00:05:25) If we don't have all eight cylinders operating (00:05:28) efficiently and constructively our nation it seems to me is not operating as efficiently and productively as it possibly could thirdly (00:05:38) I look at celebrating diversity as a way of (00:05:42) unifying a community. I'm not scared by it. I'm not frightened by diversity. I don't think that the nation's going to fall apart as some of my good friends and other historians seem to suggest. (00:05:53) I think that if used (00:05:54) constructively diversity and celebrating diversity and bringing diverse elements into your community can (00:06:01) actually solidify (00:06:03) community (00:06:05) example anybody know the new mayor of Seattle Norm Rice (00:06:10) well normalizes elected mayor of Seattle with the year and a half ago two years ago something like that the first mayor of Seattle who happens to be (00:06:17) black. I've used that expression (00:06:19) intentionally. I did not call him a black mayor Norm Rice who happens to be black or happens to be African-American was elected as mayor of the city the city of Seattle in Seattle. I think is only ten percent black in terms of population. Now (00:06:35) do the people of Seattle feel better about (00:06:38) themselves that they have someone like Norm rise representing that Community I say, yes (00:06:43) is Norm rise a unifying (00:06:45) force in Seattle or a dis unifying force in Seattle. I say he's a unifying force in Seattle different way of looking at it (00:06:54) and lastly to be very simplistic. I look at diversity as a way of or at least an aspect that sort of spices up and otherwise rather drab environment (00:07:07) that some of us may live in (00:07:09) now, so One was telling me earlier today from one of your (00:07:12) corporations and I will not have benefind this person because I don't want to embarrass him. (00:07:17) But he or she told me that there was a concern in the st. Paul Minneapolis area that some people went to work (00:07:25) with corporations in this area for four or five years and then (00:07:28) left. To go to Atlanta (00:07:30) or Chicago or Los Angeles where there was more diversity where there was more spice where there were more interesting different kind of people and things (00:07:41) around now, I don't know if (00:07:42) that's correct or (00:07:44) not, but I can tell (00:07:46) you that at least in the city that I come from. We have a lot of exciting things happening in Denver and they're very different. They're very unique and it adds a whole new vitality and spice to an urban existence and I think that's something that sometimes we (00:07:59) forget now, let me ask that we look at the (00:08:04) flipside of this notion of celebrating diversity and bring it into your community. (00:08:09) What are the repercussions for failing to do that what can happen (00:08:14) to a community if it's unable to find a way to embrace the diverse elements in its Community. We have examples of this in the United States already. But number one as you know, certain individuals and groups (00:08:25) then become unproductive and can (00:08:29) Societal drains on your system whether it's your budget or your socio-economic system (00:08:35) in Colorado today. If someone goes to our state prison, do you know how much money we (00:08:41) spend each year housing that person per year $35,000 a year. To house someone in a state prison per year. Let's assume the average day is five years multiply 35,000 times five years and you have got the cost that taxpayers are now pain (00:09:01) what would happen if we could find a way to take 1000 of the $35,000 from that Revenue stream and divert it into early childhood education or divert that thousand dollars into a community a neighborhood that is in distress to try to help people succeed. My instinct is that you would end up with more productive (00:09:25) citizens people who would be paying into the social security system, which is going to be broke when I get old (00:09:32) because people are going to be working enough and we wouldn't be paying and wasting $35,000 (00:09:37) a year on the prison system. That could happen more of those societal drains on your community. (00:09:44) You can have ethnic or racial (00:09:45) tension. If you've read about the situation in New York and (00:09:49) Miami and other communities, which for whatever reason has not been able to attend (00:09:55) to the diversities the diversity of those communities and the reaction the result is the kind of conflict that we all read about (00:10:02) and lastly I think you in a sense generate an unreal life experience for people. I don't want my daughter. My daughter is sorry guys, (00:10:15) 14 months old (00:10:17) right now and I don't want her graduating from school not understanding the diverse World in which she lives in. That would be an unreal experience for her and how do I expect her to compete? In a global economy will already competing in today in which he's going to have to compete in more fiercely when she graduates from high school and goes to college. It seems to me we sort of owe it to our children to give them a real world global experience (00:10:48) that could happen. (00:10:49) Now, what about this notion (00:10:51) of the Melting Pot now. I am not a sociologist and probably tomorrow you'll have somebody talk about the theories of melting pot and other conflict resolution issues like that, but (00:11:05) there are some people who are saying that if we Embrace diversity to strongly that somehow we're going to destroy this great American (00:11:14) tradition called The Melting Pot (00:11:17) and for those of you who sort of forgot the origins of the Melting Pot I brought a book which I encourage all of you to read. This is going to be delivered to your (00:11:24) rooms tonight next to volume to (00:11:27) the this uniting of America by Arthur Schlessinger. Is anybody read this? Yep, (00:11:33) Disregarding of America by Arthur Schlessinger Arthur Schlessinger wrote a dissenting opinion to the silver (00:11:38) report in New York and I recommend that you read it for a lot of reasons. But let me take a quote out of here where he describes the origin of the Melting Pot concept and it came out of a play in 1908 written by Israel Zhang will an English writer of Russian Jewish origin. Which opened in Washington DC and I'll just read the (00:12:01) one part of the play where there's a woman named Vera and the composer who is gesturing towards I guess Washington DC the city and he says the (00:12:11) following there. She lies the great Melting Pot. Listen Can't You Hear The Roaring in the bubbling? Ah, what a stirring and a seating celt and Latin slav and tootin Greek and Syrian black and (00:12:28) yellow and then she Whispers very quietly, Jew and Gentile (00:12:33) and he continues yes east and west and north and south the palm and the pine the pole and the Equator the crescent and the cross here is Cheryl they all unite to build the Republic of (00:12:45) man and the kingdom of God. (00:12:48) Ah Vera. What is the glory of Rome and Jerusalem where all nations and races Came To Worship and look back compared with the glory of America. We're Races and Nations come to labor (00:13:00) and look forward and then an asterisk that says far back like a lonely guiding star twinkles over the darkening water the torch of the Statue of Liberty (00:13:10) from below comes up the soften sound of voices and (00:13:13) instruments joining in my country tis of T. The curtain (00:13:16) Falls slowly. Let's One Division of the Melting Pot at least in the play that came out in 1908 and some people are arguing today and I think Arthur Schlessinger argues this point himself because he's very concerned about some of the positions being taken by some minority historians in the country that perhaps things that are being said the revisions of history of textbooks in America are somehow destroying or (00:13:41) undermining The Melting Pot Theory and therefore dividing destroying America. Well, I believe that even by celebrating diversity and diversity and diverse ideas. We (00:13:52) still have kept the fundamental values (00:13:54) of our country and what are they? What (00:13:56) brings us together? (00:13:58) As diverse individuals from different parts of the world a (00:14:01) belief in individual Freedom that hasn't changed and I don't think that will change a belief of political democracy that still the fundamental value that (00:14:10) keeps all of us and brings all of us together and a belief in human rights. There are (00:14:14) many other things (00:14:15) like the Bill of Rights and some other parts of the Constitution, but those are the fundamentals strains that strings that keep, you know, this fabric of Americana (00:14:24) together. I'm reminded (00:14:26) also of the time when John Kennedy first ran for president (00:14:31) and people were saying of him, how can we elect in Irish President? Right? He will appoint an all Irish cabinet. That was one of the I think the fears and worse than that. The pope will control America. well, I think today no one has to worry about any Irish Catholic running for office because those fears were (00:14:51) unfounded just as I think some of the (00:14:54) cries of alarm that (00:14:55) we hear today are also unbounded now if we conclude and I'm assuming that I already convinced you of this and I'm not sure I (00:15:03) have but if we conclude that diversity is worth (00:15:08) celebrating and worth embracing (00:15:11) it ought to be (00:15:12) part of our cities our (00:15:15) state's and our country then how do we go (00:15:18) about Ensuring that a community a diverse Community has made part of our institutions it my case in the part of a city government and Beyond (00:15:30) it seems to me we have to do three things. At (00:15:32) least first of all, we have to endorse we have to embrace this commitment to diversity fully (00:15:39) which means that we simply can't say that we're going to accept and embrace diversity in this (00:15:45) Arena. the Arts but not on Bank boards. (00:15:55) Will allow it in politics. But perhaps not on (00:16:00) the boards of major scientific and cultural institutions in our community, which are traditionally reserved for certain kinds of people. (00:16:08) If we are as a people serious about recognizing the exciting (00:16:14) challenge of diversity, we have to agree to embrace it fully in every aspect of our community not just in government, but in every aspect I'll talk about that in a second. (00:16:26) Secondly, let's understand (00:16:29) once and for all that this is not a short-term issue (00:16:33) like so many things that we do as (00:16:34) Americans. We're always trying to be concerned about, you know, first quarter profits or immediate gain, this is a long-term commitment. (00:16:44) If we you are committed (00:16:47) to Bringing diversity into this community, it's got to be a long-term agenda not only in this decade but into the next century and unless we're (00:16:56) prepared. To put that kind of work into (00:17:00) it we ought not to try to get started because we'll start on a false. A false premise and lastly we have to ask ourselves. What is the goal again? Assuming that we all agree that iversity is important to bring in what is the goal of celebrating and embracing diversity is the goal and it might be for some people to sort of keep things quiet when there are troubled times in the history of our cities or to keep a particular part of our community that is experiencing tension calm. Is that the gold or is there another reason we should be doing this and I'll talk about that at the end of my discussion? Well, let's start from the beginning (00:17:45) when I suggested that if we're going to (00:17:46) embrace diversity and from my perspective as a former mayor (00:17:50) and we want to (00:17:51) embrace it in its totality. (00:17:54) I mean at least five things number one, we must Embrace (00:17:58) diversity in the full economic lifeblood of our community. Secondly we have to include it in (00:18:06) Every social and Civic aspect (00:18:08) of our cities thirdly (00:18:10) we have to ensure (00:18:11) that it's part of the political power base of our communities fourthly (00:18:15) that it is part of every cultural and (00:18:17) artistic aspect where Arena of our communities and fifthly that the educational opportunities and experiences are made available fully to those diverse elements. Now, let me talk about those one at a time economic inclusiveness and I'll talk a little bit about some of the things we did in Denver that I did in (00:18:35) Denver, which was very controversial. By the way. This is not a pleasant Enterprise (00:18:39) that stuff and you know, there's a lot of criticism for people who try to embark on these things. (00:18:44) But number one, I believe that for many years many of the Black and Hispanic and Asian and (00:18:50) American Indian parts of the Denver Community had been left unserved from an economic development point of view the small businesses in those communities from (00:18:59) Five Points to start their drive to (00:19:01) Morrison Road places. You may not be aware of now though small business people. (00:19:06) Not get loans from Banks and downtown which (00:19:07) by the way are now owned by Minneapolis Banks (00:19:11) and we're having difficulty surviving and so we went into those communities city government went into those communities and we made Investments their millions and millions of dollars of Investments and we made loans to minority and women small business people and I was criticized for it. Because some of the people who got the loans went bankrupt. And so my good friends in the Press said mayor, how could you waste taxpayers money and giving loans 211 Solace when Juan Gonzalez went bankrupt and I said because no one else would dare give one alone. And it seems to me someone's got to try and my record in giving good loans is better than the record of half the banks in the city anyway, which was true by the way, but that wasn't printed but we've got to ensure that from the economic development point of view. We're serious about involving the diverse elements in our (00:20:10) community in a very substantial and direct way. (00:20:13) The same is true with government contracts for example prior to the time to my taking office in 1983. You could count. The number of minority contractors are women contractors probably on one hand who got business with the city and I completely turn that around and we said every major project is city has is going to have (00:20:33) goals and objectives and we're going to involve (00:20:35) minority and women-owned Enterprises (00:20:38) both in construction and in procurement and it was controversial and people threaten to sue me. Some construction companies that that's not right. You can't do that. I said, yes, we can (00:20:49) there's a new Supreme Court decision that Hatter's rewrite our city law. (00:20:52) We did we went through the motions. We rewrote the law and continue to give out those contracts on a competitive basis. (00:20:59) I'm proud of the fact that in the state of Colorado. We were able to build a (00:21:03) major construction Public Works project the (00:21:06) construction of a new convention center in Denver which costs a hundred and forty million dollars and it had a joint venture between a traditional Construction Company Hensel Phelps and a Hispanic Construction Company Alvarado construction run and owned by a (00:21:21) woman. Who happens to be Hispanic and (00:21:24) people said how can you do that? How can you entrust the construction of this very important building to that kind of a joint venture to the small Hispanic company? It's going to joint venture with his larger company. It's not going to (00:21:36) work. The convention center was built on time and under budget. Not bad for government work, but great for a woman-owned Hispanic construction company. So that issue has been put aside (00:21:51) but someone's got to do it first and I was shocked that that had never happened in the history of Colorado that no one was willing to take that chance (00:22:00) now, it's well understood that is Deborah proceeds to build one of the world's largest airports 2.4 billion dollars, which will open up November 1st 1993. (00:22:09) That in that process (00:22:11) we are involving minority and women-owned businesses in the construction and concessions in every aspect of that airport opportunities were hit which heretofore had been closed to those groups. So we've got to ensure that we open up those doors. (00:22:26) And what about the business Community is it just government that has its responsibilities? No again, I was talking about the full breadth of the community the business Community has an obligation here Corporate America has an obligation the Chamber of Commerce. We're very fortunate in Denver. They have a chamber of commerce, which is fairly enlightened this year. The chamber elected its first woman (00:22:48) chairperson of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce. She may be the only chairperson of a major chamber in the United States. I don't know. (00:22:55) But that chamber has found ways to reach out to all the minority Chambers to the women Chamber of (00:23:00) Commerce to do marketing training and Small Business Development training for all those of small Enterprises to help them get on the fast track. So to speak what about Banks and financial institutions. I mentioned earlier in jokingly mentioned that your bank you're taking over Denver which they are but (00:23:19) let's pull out the board of directors of all the banks and financial institutions of our cities. And let's see who's on them. (00:23:29) Does anybody (00:23:29) know? Any Bank board members? couple of you, maybe one or two (00:23:37) But if we're serious about this issue of (00:23:41) embracing diversity to better start at the very top (00:23:45) foundations, you're very lucky to (00:23:48) have the Minneapolis Foundation which is doing its work. But what about the other foundations in the (00:23:52) community are they all (00:23:53) engaged in this commitment? (00:23:56) As this Foundation (00:23:56) is perhaps they are. (00:24:00) And lastly to those corporations and I'm thrilled to see that (00:24:04) many of our corporations are now trying to Market their products in communities that heretofore had been overlooked. Well, (00:24:15) that's fine, but it's not enough to all of a sudden all of a sudden start doing beer commercials in Spanish. I mean we used to complain that there were no beer (00:24:26) commercials in Spanish. Now we're thrilled that there are beer commercials in Spanish. However, what about the executive level positions in those corporations? (00:24:35) Are we seeing diversity there or is the diversity of the community (00:24:38) being seen as a new market? If that's it, it's not enough we have to do more so (00:24:48) you can think yourselves of all (00:24:50) the aspects of the corporate and business World in your own community and ask yourself the question if we're going to recognize and celebrate diversity. It's got to be in its in the total the width and breadth of Economic Development. (00:25:05) Let's talk a little about social and (00:25:06) Civic inclusiveness another area where I think we must do a lot of work there. I did some things that were again fairly controversial. I'll throw out a few examples. We had a major Bond project that we had to get past in Denver and I put together a committee of (00:25:21) 92 citizens from every Walk of Life in (00:25:23) Denver representing every group (00:25:26) every community and people said you can't possibly do that too large. Well, I did I did something even worse than that. I opponent co-chairs of the committee and one was a great gentleman named Harry Lewis who came out of the business Community good friend of mine was a third-generation Denver, right? Well known throughout the community. Ready and everybody applauded that and then I said wait a minute. That's only one of the chairpersons. We need somebody else from the community (00:25:51) to be a CO chair next to this business person. And so I pointed the young man. His name is Tim sandals who's Hispanic (00:26:00) very closely tied to Hispanic (00:26:01) Community, but not very well known in the community and people thought well, who is this guy? Well, they did such a great job that when they were through with the bond issue which had to go to a vote of the people (00:26:14) and they decided to let people vote on 10 different items. (00:26:17) You could vote for 90 million dollars for roads or 30 million dollars or Parks or (00:26:21) ten million dollars for air conditioning the mayor's office or whatever it was. And so you had a choice you could vote yea or known, you know, whatever all 10 items past. All 10 items pass and they passed with the highest voter turnout of any bond issue in the history of the city and passed by the largest margin of victory of any bond (00:26:43) election in the history of the city diversity works. If you include people in your social Civic agenda it can work. (00:26:55) Some of you may know that (00:26:56) Denver was recently awarded a baseball (00:26:59) franchise. (00:27:02) We're not going to do a little two twins, obviously, but one of the exciting things that we see in the new baseball ownership is that there is now minority participation in the ownership of the baseball team are Denver Nuggets, which was sold two years ago is now owned by two individuals who happen to be black the only NBA team in America owned by minority individuals and (00:27:26) why not? All you have to do is look at who's on the playing field. Why shouldn't we have minority ownership of the NBA teams? It seems to me one's not enough and if you look at your hospitals your (00:27:39) museums your (00:27:41) Symphony. All these wonderful institutions (00:27:46) do they all Embrace diversity and are they committed to ensuring that every aspect of the community is involved in their Boards of Trustees? (00:27:56) What about country (00:27:57) clubs? I won't talk about the country (00:28:01) clubs in Denver because they have done a lousy job (00:28:04) of including diversity. (00:28:06) But if we're serious we have to (00:28:08) ensure that diversity is embraced in the Civic in the social aspects of our community. (00:28:13) What about political involvement here? I believe we've made the most progress in Denver and Colorado really (00:28:18) has a little bit to brag about and I'll tell you that story. (00:28:22) We have the only (00:28:24) Congress person in the United States who is an American Indian who comes from Colorado the American Indian population in Colorado is less than 3% (00:28:34) At the state level in our state (00:28:35) legislature. There are a hundred legislators (00:28:37) 10 are Hispanic. The state (00:28:39) population of Hispanics is about 12 percent 3 percent are black the state population of blacks is 3% So we've matched that almost an exact parenting at the city level my election 1983 was an aberration because Denver for those who do not know. This is only about 18 percent Hispanic and so my election was was sort of strange and (00:29:00) I've told you about some of (00:29:02) the controversial decisions that I've made which most people 51 percent at least supported and endorsed. Although there was a lot of criticism for many of the changes that I brought (00:29:12) and this past year when I decided I was not going to seek a third (00:29:15) term a very (00:29:16) interesting thing happened (00:29:18) seven individuals came forward and said they wanted to become mayor the City and County of Denver (00:29:23) and two of those individuals happen to be African-American one was a district attorney and one was a city auditor both of whom had already won Citywide elections in a city. That is only (00:29:33) thirteen percent black (00:29:35) and these are nonpartisan races people run just as (00:29:37) individuals and lo and behold there was a runoff because no one got 51 percent and (00:29:43) who do you think with a two individuals in the (00:29:46) runoff? The two individuals were black. In a city, there's only 13 percent African-American. No other city in the country in my opinion has ended up with that kind of very interesting situation (00:29:58) and people were not asking the (00:29:59) question. Well is that person of this color or that they were voting for the best person the most qualified person. It's a now Denver today for the first time in its history has elected a mayor who happens to be black and I think that's a tribute to the sophistication of the voters in the City and County of Denver. (00:30:17) Can we spread that kind of (00:30:20) recognition of the value of diversity to other cities in the country? I hope so what are the results including diversity in your political institutions in Denver we've had record voter (00:30:33) turnouts. So for political scientist in our country who are always complaining that we have low voter turnout. I've got the secret have some diverse candidates and you'll have a high voter turnout and you'll have high voter registration drives. We have broadened acceptance by the community groups and individuals who heretofore had been complaining that they were excluded from government and who are on the outside banging on the walls are now on the inside running city government there now serving (00:31:05) on the board of the water department or the planning board or any other agency of the city, so they have now been included in government are running the government are now part of the successes or failures of our political institution. And of course, I think that with people becoming involved politically they continue their involvement in many other aspects of the community lifeblood of your various cities. Let me move on because I don't (00:31:31) take too much time fourthly. Let me talk a little about the culture in the artistic life. I talked a little bit about your museums the composition of your boards the city support for cultural institutions. We started to think all the 1% for the art program in Denver. I think you have that in Minneapolis, but part of that was to ensure that women and minority artists who had not been previously given the opportunity to participate were also participating in that 1% programmed and because of the massive Public Works projects that we're doing in Denver outside of Los Angeles. We have the second (00:32:05) highest volume of Arts commission's going to local artist of any city in the United States and many of those artists are small budding minority and women artists who really didn't have an opportunity to participate before (00:32:20) We had a potentially explosive situation last year where the Italian-American community of our city decided to celebrate Columbus Day good idea Columbus. By the way was his name Christopher (00:32:31) Columbus. What was his name? (00:32:35) Cristobal Colon? I was always asked that you know, why do we call him Christopher Columbus was he from Britain? I don't know (00:32:42) Christopher. I didn't think was anyway, so the Italian-American do decide to have a Columbus Day Parade great idea, except for one problem. The American Indian movement didn't think was a good idea. So Russell Means came to Denver and after pouring blood or fake blood on the Statue of Christopher Columbus. And of (00:32:59) course the cops arrested him and his lawyers finally at the court found agree that that was protected free speech and so it was always a taxpayer's money. Anyway, (00:33:09) he came down to confront the parade. And said this prayer is not going to happen a very peculiar thing happened. The Italian-American organized a parade say wait a minute. You were here first. Why don't you join our parade better get in front of the parade lead the parade and will come behind (00:33:27) you. Russell Means was (00:33:30) flabbergasted when interviewed after the parade and report it said Mr. Means. What do you think of this out? I've never experienced this anywhere in America. You know, let's bring in diversity. Let's celebrate diversity. It's not be shocked or threatened by it and react to it (00:33:48) as we so often do because of our upbringing or because of something else some Community pressure that's on (00:33:52) I give credit to the Italian American leadership in Denver who had the vision, you know, and the courage to do what they did and they made an instant decision on the spot with the TV cameras in front of the police ready to make arrests and the dogs all (00:34:08) around A surgeon right there. (00:34:13) I've been asked by the Natural History (00:34:15) Museum to head a Citizens committee for an exhibit which is coming to Denver with that like to invite all of you to (00:34:21) attend next year call Aztec and it is a Art Exhibit or not an art exhibit (00:34:27) exhibit coming from Mexico (00:34:28) City, which will portray the city of (00:34:31) Tenochtitlan where Montezuma (00:34:34) ruled prior to the time that Cortez came to Mexico and invaded Mexico and I was asked to serve as the head of the (00:34:42) community outreach organization whose mission is to invite people from around the world and on the United States and to make sure that the all the community in general was part of that exhibit and I said sure I'd be happy to but I have one question. (00:34:54) What's your goal here and the result the answer from the museum trustees was we would like to surpass the attendance record that was set by Ramsey's two years ago, which was 750,000 people. We'd like to break (00:35:08) that record. I said, okay, that's a nice goal. You know, it's good for the city and I think it's a good idea. (00:35:13) However, I'll do this if we're able to make one little change to the way in which we (00:35:17) Market this exhibit next year. And so what's that? Well, why (00:35:21) don't we say that since 1992 is going to be the year Where We As (00:35:26) Americans and people around the world are going to recognize the historical feet of Cristobal Colon in that year, isn't it? Also appropriate to recognize and celebrate the outstanding civilization which existed prior to the time that mr. Columbus arrived and before Cortez arrived in Mexico. And why can't we be the only city in the United States celebrating both things in a very positive unifying way not in a distant affiant way but in a unifying way they said yes I said, yes, you're all welcome to come to Denver next year to see the exhibit (00:36:07) lastly educational opportunities. I think here we have seen our biggest failure (00:36:12) and we probably have our greatest challenge. (00:36:14) I'm not going to bore you with the tragic Litany (00:36:18) of facts indicating the failure rate of minority children in Denver. I have a feeling that probably you're experiencing the same kinds of problems here, but I would say that if we're going to recognize and embrace diversity we must make sure that in the educational Arena and not just in the elementary and secondary Arena but in our colleges and universities where I think we're losing ground, it would gotta do something very drastic to ensure that people's of whatever background are fully given the opportunity to succeed and to acquire the educational skills that they so much want to have the lots of other areas that I can discuss tonight, but we don't have time and I promise Don I would answer some questions, but let me just raise two more. (00:37:03) One is the media. (00:37:06) And the other is religious institutions again, let me speak to my own perspective in Denver. We have two newspapers the Rocky Mountain news and The Denver Post. Neither of those newspapers endorsing my second election, which shows you the kind of clout they have I gotta like it anyway. (00:37:23) But if you go to the editorial boards, you will find not one Hispanic not one black not one Asian and surely not an American Indian sitting on any of the (00:37:34) editorial Boards of those newspapers. (00:37:36) And if you look at the reporters who are writing for those (00:37:39) papers. maybe that many in two major newspapers. I don't know what the situation is here in this community. But I think we need to look at (00:37:51) that issue. Why does it make any difference or minority writers any better than none minority writers or editorial writers any (00:37:58) different not necessarily (00:38:00) but I can tell you this we won't have a repetition of what I saw in Denver last year were certain reporter wrote an article about a city council person and said City councilperson Joe comma who is Black comma happened to both the following way. I said now wait a minute. What report on the actions of the White City Council people do we say mr. Smith comma who is white comma voted? I don't understand this. We can avoid at least those (00:38:29) kinds of situations and what about your TV stations (00:38:32) in terms of the anchor people and the other people who effect instantly. The minds of millions of people who are watching TV and listening to (00:38:42) stories of how the reported what about our religious institutions. What is their role in including (00:38:48) diversity? I can talk a little bit about (00:38:50) my church the Catholic church (00:38:52) and I can tell you that we're going through a little tension right now just a little bit. I happened to attend a church in Denver, which is considered to be I don't want to use the word Renegade church, but we do have our conflicts with our Archbishop and the church that I attend is largely Hispanic. The masses are bilingual and it's very (00:39:15) active in political issues and social issues and it speaks out on many issues oftentimes the dismay of some of the Catholic hierarchy, (00:39:22) but now the Catholic church is very concerned about embracing the growing Hispanic Community In America, which is terrific (00:39:31) because the church can't find any priest anymore. (00:39:35) And for other reasons, (00:39:36) I think if you look at any religious institution, you might find the same kinds of tensions will let me (00:39:40) close by (00:39:42) talking about the (00:39:44) goal. Why are we doing all this? Why do it again assuming that this is something that we want to do? Why are we doing? Are we doing it just to buyers a little piece. Because it's a little tension somewhere in the community is that the reason if it is at the wrong (00:39:57) reason in my opinion, (00:39:59) it seems to me that we should do it getting back (00:40:02) to the analogy of the V8 engine to make sure that all the Pistons that all our cylinders are all firing so that we can increase productivity in our cities. We can make this nation more efficient and more competitive globally. (00:40:18) It seems to me we ought to do it to improve International (00:40:20) Relationships by having ambassadors and people in our Diplomatic Corps who represent the various cultures and languages and parts of the world rather than having to send somebody to our Blitz class to learn Vietnamese. (00:40:35) And it seems to me lastly that by embracing (00:40:37) diversity and bring it into our constitutions that this (00:40:41) will continue that very great American tradition that Arthur Schlessinger talks about a Pluribus Unum (00:40:49) out of few out of a lot one and certainly (00:40:54) if we can demonstrate as a nation that we can put together the most powerful military force in the world the most efficient most destructive and most capable military force in the world led by someone who happens to be African-American. Composed of every diverse element of our community whether you are Hispanic or black American Indian or Asian or a woman all part of that incredible military force and to be the best in the world. It seems to me that as Americans we can do the very same (00:41:28) thing to make this country the most productive country in the world by embracing that very same diversity. All it takes is political will all it takes is a long-term commitment to embracing diversity and it begins here. It begins tonight and will probably be passed on to our children and their children. This is our goal. This is our challenge. This is our mission As Americans as a nation and frankly? I believe we have no choice. Thank you very much. My answer to that is I don't have an answer which I think will satisfy myself on that (00:42:14) question. I think it's probably going to depend on community (00:42:18) to community in different parts of the country. I think in some communities if the community Embraces that as the solution to the education of our kids and get behind it and put everything they can into it. I think it will succeed in other communities and they may believe that that's not the best way to go about educating those children, but one thing I can be sure of In my opinion that (00:42:42) unless (00:42:43) that proposal is embraced by the total community and everyone supports it with all of its resources. I'm concerned that it may not succeed. And (00:42:54) why do I make that statement? Because I know that a lot of people in the various Community saying wait a minute it's time for us to take care of our own problems right and not rely on other people and what I say to my friends in Denver is this (00:43:06) if my Chamber of Commerce can raise over a million dollars to wage to elections (00:43:12) to help (00:43:13) construct this new airport because it was very important to the community having every elected official campaigning for it. Why can't we put the same kind of energy and money and resources into educating our kids and to developing the finest educational system in Denver or in st. Paul or in Minneapolis or wherever (00:43:33) and so I think that I have seen City succeed I have seen us As (00:43:38) Americans succeed under some very difficult circumstances and to tackle very difficult challenges (00:43:47) and when we put our all (00:43:48) into it, whether it's fighting their war in Iraq or sending somebody to the Moon (00:43:55) I seen a succeed and so I would hope that whatever approach we take (00:44:00) we say to the entire Community, you've got to be a part of this and it can't be just one group that is trying to tackle this problem. I just don't think it will generate the kind of success that we otherwise could could have (00:44:14) I think part of it (00:44:15) is is simply the natural condition of the human if we are (00:44:24) if citizen X has had power (00:44:27) for 50 years. It has conducted himself or herself in a certain way for 50 years and Along Comes This (00:44:36) 36 year old Hispanic who's not even from Denver (00:44:39) by the way, he's a Texan (00:44:42) who wants to come in and do things differently. What's the reaction going to (00:44:45) be? (00:44:47) This person is going to ruin everything that I've worked (00:44:49) for 450 years to build my community and I'm proud of my community and I don't know what he's going to do. And what's this talk about bringing in minorities into the cabinet. And what's this talk about opening up contracts for (00:45:00) so I think that's that's part of it (00:45:01) a fear that somehow it will fail. I think we've proven that it's not going to (00:45:07) feel secondly I think it's a (00:45:09) fear that power political economic institutional is going to be shared among people who before didn't have the opportunity to share in that power. And that's hard to do that's hard to give up. I think those are probably the two main reasons for the kind of resistance interestingly after eight years of this and I took my you know, my bones and bruises for doing those kind of things today. It's not an issue in Denver. (00:45:44) It's expected that whoever becomes a future mayor of Denver is of course going to (00:45:49) have a city government which reflects the community (00:45:53) that's not even discussed (00:45:54) anymore. It's a given why did it take so (00:45:57) long? (00:45:59) I think that's part of our problem as a country and that is to recognizing the anticipating the need for change and then changing before we have a problem. We're usually dragged into. Resolving conflict and resolving problems in trying to be futuristic, you know Kicking and Screaming. I think that's part of the our predicament is America. (00:46:23) We were going through a major (00:46:24) recession in Denver and in Colorado while I was doing these things and (00:46:29) so clearly if you were a (00:46:30) contractor who didn't have business anywhere else and for the past 10 years you have been doing business with the private sector you didn't need to rely on government construction contracts, and now all of a sudden all that work had gone away and your only business is government construction contracts. And also the mayor was saying (00:46:47) time out guys. It's going to be spread among groups that hadn't had that opportunity. (00:46:53) Yes. There are people will say now wait a minute. I need that business or for the and I read in one of the Articles of the complaint by one of the firefighters same problem in Denver. We're certain police officers and firefighters saying (00:47:05) wait a minute. Why am I not being promoted? Why is this other person now being promoted ahead of me when I've been waiting for five or ten (00:47:13) years so job security and salary and (00:47:15) so sure those are real real (00:47:17) issues and I I don't have an answer for dealing with those issues other than to say that overall it's the right thing to do. There's always going to be some discomfort when you have change, but hopefully as a nation most people recognize that when you go through change, those are going to be some of the painful times that you're simply going to have to work through as you get to a position, which is just and right now I think it's up to us to pay that way and to make it as an acceptable to as many people as possible but not to stop because someone is saying well, I'm not getting my promotion interestingly in one of your articles. It was the Denver example was used as a good example because what we did was not only did we set goals and we settled a lawsuit to have more in this case blacks in the police department and the fire department. We went beyond that. We also gave special training programs before the tests were given In particular, I think it was to the firefighters and the police recruit so they could learn how to take the test and become more Adept at taking the test and in the materials that you had that's used as a very good example. (00:48:33) Let me tell you it was criticized roundly in Denver and the media came down on the bat heavily on (00:48:38) that and the public was very critical (00:48:39) same how can you do that? You're giving an advantage to the minority applicants by teaching them about the test and why isn't so we had a open up the door and invite anybody who wanted to (00:48:50) come to the training sessions that come to training sessions with the minority applicants did do better and they got some of the (00:48:56) positions (00:49:00) I'll try and repeat the question isn't part of the problem behind the forces which are arguing that there's going to be disunity coming from groups that are trying to abuse that issue and the example used was a Willie Horton case it isn't it really required that we have responsible politicians who will take the high road. So to speak and embrace this notion that I'm trying to espouse not only in economic development, but sort of as a communal Community leader or a spiritual leader and the answer is yes. I have found that one person makes a difference. Don't need 10,000 people standing up and saying this is right. (00:49:44) If you have a key corporate (00:49:45) leader in your community stand up and say this is right you get a lot of (00:49:48) attention. (00:49:50) In Denver, we had former head of uswest. I know this in u.s. West people who stood up one day and gave a speech before the Rotary Club unannounced and said the business Community has got to get involved in education and I concluded it's now (00:50:06) time. So I want all you corporate (00:50:08) leaders to join with me and work with the Denver public schools and trying to find a way to form a real work of a partnership with the Denver public schools one person and all these corporate leader sort of said, that's a great (00:50:17) idea. Why didn't I think of that (00:50:21) and so I guess what I'm saying is don't wait for a large group of people to start raising these issues. Sometimes it's just one or two key people who happened to be in positions which are either political or in the corporate Arena or in the Civic or religious leaders who can stand up and make these statements and get people to realize that it is the high road and is the right thing to do. Now will there be critics? Yes, they're always going to be critics. But it seems to me that we've got to find those people, please that's one way of a protein. Because our nation is no longer competing globally because our children are being graduated with skills that don't even fall within the top 15 developing nations in the world because we're seeing the implosion of economies of cities in this country. And all you've got to do is start with a few along the east coast, but over the next two or three years ago to see more cities that are going into bankruptcy because the federal budget will continue to be a major drain in this country basically because it's going to be bad (00:51:27) business. The country is in trouble and it goes back to that car analogy of an Indian. It's only working on six cylinders. How can you compete in a race with somebody's car that's operating? All eight cylinders, you (00:51:41) can't. You got a burn oil and it weighs more money and you lose. That's gonna be a bumpy ride. (00:51:50) So I think a lot of corporate leaders are now I know the ones that I work with very closely and now recognizing that (00:51:56) and they're now saying all these issues that used to be sort of a soft tissues like early childhood education or parental leave or you know, some of these Partnerships with schools are now American issues. It's a question of National Security. (00:52:12) I think it's finally being (00:52:14) understood that this is a competitive issue that if we're going to compete as a nation as a city is a state we've got to behave differently and do things too. And that's why I say ultimately people will have no choice. We can't continue to going down the road that we're going because I think it will end up in a disaster essentially.