**WS-3’s CONVERSATION. **
**This is my compilation of an online exchange and analysis of factual changes to policies and their broader implications for civil rights and economic opportunity from my conversation with both conservative practitioners and others from “the Left”.
#CivilRights #EconomicOpportunity #Diversity #Leadership #FederalPolicy
THE PROBLEM WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’s “DEI" EXECUTIVE ORDER — As I was engaging with practitioners on both sides of the aisle “all day” yesterday. EVERYONE BELIEVES – An actual turning point for Civil Rights and Economic Opportunity is going to devastate communities of color, because of President Trump’s Executive Order.
**A COMPILATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS. **
The Trump administration has repealed Executive Order 11246—a foundational policy that, for nearly 60 years, safeguarded diversity and civil rights in federal contracting. This isn’t just about workplace diversity—it’s a direct hit to the civil rights framework that has opened doors to economic opportunities and equal treatment under the law for millions of Americans.
**What’s Changing? **
This decision disrupts decades of progress, affecting not only diversity initiatives in workplaces but also contracting opportunities for entrepreneurs of color and women. Federal contractors are now required to remove these programs, DEI staff are being sidelined, and investigations into so-called “discriminatory” practices are beginning.
But the consequences extend far beyond federal contractors. This change will ripple through:
• Civil rights compliance programs at state and local levels, which rely on federal guidance and funding.
• Universities, nonprofits, and other organizations tied to federal grants, which may now feel pressure to reduce or eliminate diversity programs.
• Entrepreneurs of color and women business owners who have historically benefited from targeted contracting opportunities.
For the first time since 1965, we’re witnessing the dismantling of protections that helped level the playing field. These protections, which predate even the Civil Rights Act, have survived six Republican administrations until now.
Why It Matters:
This isn’t just a legal or administrative issue—it’s a rollback of a core civil rights enforcement mechanism. Without these protections, enforcement agencies at all levels could lose critical tools to hold organizations accountable for discrimination. Entrepreneurs who have relied on fair access to contracting opportunities could find themselves shut out of markets entirely.
State and local entities that operate civil rights compliance programs, often modeled after federal standards, now face uncertainty. These programs may be forced to navigate conflicting guidance, reduced funding, or diminished oversight authority—all of which weaken the broader civil rights framework.
**The Call to Action: **
With the 90-day implementation clock ticking, organizations, policymakers, and advocates must act quickly to assess their obligations and develop strategies to protect what remains of the civil rights infrastructure. This is a watershed moment. Are we going to let decades of hard-fought progress unravel—or rise to defend it?
WS-3’s COMMENTARY
I’ve submitted this exchange, because as a practitioner myself, THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE.
THIS NATIONAL PROJECT (see below) is proof of my experience.
FYI - I started this nonprofit and established the “viable project”. This entire website is ACTUAL EVIDENCE OF “healthy DEI policy” surrounding the conversation from above. LINK: (http://www.reconnectrondo.com/)
I was formerly the Interim Executive Director and the Strategic Development Consultant for the Rondo Land Bridge Project of ReConnectRondo, Inc.
REACH RONDO: A “new” Community Engagement Innovation, and strategic partnership between ReConnectRondo, Inc. and HGA…
VIDEO LINK: (https://youtu.be/wglgD2Uu4Ks?si=II5Si5pJ-Qv30jrY)
WS-3 CONSULTANCY EMPHASIS WITH RONDO COMMUNITY:
• Civic Ecological Frameworks
• Cultural District Areas
• Infrastructure Reuse
• P4 — Public, Private, Philanthropic with Community Benefit
• Smart Cities
• Land-Bridge Development
END OF POLICY AND PROJECT INFO.
I CREATED THESE TWO IMAGES TO GIVE A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF “WHY” HEALTHY DEI IS NECESSARY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
! [image1|646x500] (upload://ksKQAcoLDPMccfrdDT58mXEFtyr.jpeg)
! [image0|646x500] (upload://xYLBGUVOUdv9YmFvq7y5iYXvGG5.jpeg)