Why Communities Thrive When Inclusion Is Not Optional
Steven Zylstra, Contributing Writer
Five years ago, in reflecting on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I wrote about the enduring relevance of his call for dignity, fairness and opportunity for all. Those lessons have not faded. If anything, they are being tested again, this time not only in our national discourse, but in the choices made by local communities.
Recent events in Scottsdale, where I live, are deeply unfortunate. They point to a broader trend in which diversity, equity and inclusion — often reduced to the shorthand DEI — are being dismantled or politicized rather than understood for what they truly are: practical tools that help communities function better, compete more effectively and treat people fairly.
This is not an abstract debate. Cities are ecosystems. When trust erodes between residents and leadership, when voices are marginalized, or when inclusion is treated as expendable, the entire system weakens. Businesses hesitate. Talent looks elsewhere. Civic pride gives way to division.
DEI is not about quotas or ideology. At its core, it is about belonging, the simple but powerful idea that people who live, work and invest in a community should feel seen, respected and able to contribute. Research shows clearly that communities that embrace this principle are more innovative, more resilient and more economically successful. Those that reject it often learn too late that exclusion carries real costs.
Arizona’s growth over the past many decades has been fueled by openness. People from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences have chosen to build lives here because they believed they could succeed on merit and contribute meaningfully. That diversity has strengthened our workforce, enriched our culture and helped our economy compete globally.
When DEI frameworks are dismantled, the message, intended or not, is that some perspectives matter less than others. That message ripples outward. It affects employee morale, student engagement, public trust and ultimately a city’s reputation. In today’s economy, reputation matters. Talent is mobile. Capital is discerning. Communities are compared not just on tax rates or infrastructure but on values.
Preserving DEI is not about resisting change; it is about safeguarding progress. It is about ensuring that leadership reflects the communities it serves, that decisions are informed by a full range of perspectives and that opportunity remains accessible. These principles do not weaken institutions, they strengthen them.
Dr. King warned that progress is not inevitable. It requires vigilance, courage and a willingness to choose the harder right over the easier wrong. That wisdom applies just as much to city halls and school boards as it does to Congress.
Arizona’s future depends on whether we continue to be a place where people believe they belong and can thrive. Inclusion is not a liability to be shed when convenient. It is an asset, one that enriches every person in a community, whether they recognize it or not.
Now is not the time to retreat from those values. It is the time to reaffirm them.
Steve Zylstra is president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.