This Is Why Diversity Benefits Economic Development In New Hampshire
The more people that participate in the economy, the more it grows. Dwight Davis, Chair of NHCJE, shows why diversity is key to creating robust, fair economies.
With Dr. Martin Luther King Day just around the corner, there is no better time to address the importance of Social and Economic Justice in New Hampshire, and how it undeniably benefits the state’s economic development. As we know, Dr. Martin Luther King’s death took place against the backdrop of the Poor People’s Campaign, which demanded economic and human rights for poor people from all backgrounds across America. This legacy and desire for economic justice still lives on today at the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity and several other local organizations and movements.
In the words of Dwight Davis, Chair of the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity (NHCJE) - an organization that acts as a Convener across various stakeholders and sectors, building relationships and connections on behalf of the State’s communities of color and underrepresented minorities - everything is more challenging without a firm economic base:
“I grew up in a segregated society and I’ve seen what it can do to an economy. As New Hampshire is opening up its economy and its opportunities to people of color, women, to members of the LGBTQ community, the state can maximize the workforce, maximize our population’s potential, and maximize all the superpowers that everybody has.”
Diversity and inclusion allow the state to leverage all the opportunities to strengthen the economy
Especially in the context of the current workforce shortage, making NH more welcoming can introduce diversity into the economy and expand the hiring pool. Mr. Davis believes that here is a big opportunity to grow New Hampshire’s workforce:
“For New Hampshire to overlook the importance of people of color would be a mistake and would cause us to lose our status as a state that is a great place to live, with low unemployment and high quality of life.”
And recent data shows that New Hampshire is more and more a welcoming state for communities of color. According to Ken Johnson, a senior demographer at the Carsey School of Public Policy, the bulk of the recent [population] growth is due to migration into the state. Between 2000 and 2018, the growth of populations of color accounted for about two-thirds of the overall population increase in New Hampshire, he pointed out.
The arrival of new people from different backgrounds to the Granite State not only presents an opportunity for economic development, but it is also an opportunity to rejuvenate the state, as “many migrants and immigrants would love to have a chance to live and work and play and raise their families in a state as beautiful as New Hampshire.” said Mr. Davis.
Part of Mr. Davis’ work at NHCJE “is meeting with economic stakeholders and letting them know about the opportunities that exist for them if they're willing to meet with and work with the people we represent.” Some companies, as well as large corporations, will even reach out to the organization asking for direction and assistance with hiring more diverse employees.
Small businesses are the fabric of New Hampshire’s economy, but only a few are minority-owned and need support.
According to 2021 data from the US Small Business Administration, 99 percent of the businesses in New Hampshire are small businesses and these account for almost half of the state’s workforce. However, the fact that only 5 percent of small businesses are owned by racial and ethnic minorities shows that there is untapped potential here. Several studies have shown that entrepreneurship is an effective way to reduce poverty, allowing families to grow wealth and become less dependent on financial assistance.
Moreover, the creation of new businesses boosts competitiveness and innovation, which are engines of economic development. As such, one of the solutions to improve the financial well-being of communities of color is to empower them and bridge the gaps in resource access so that the business ownership landscape becomes more diverse.
Supporting communities of color in the development of economic opportunity is necessary. Together with relevant partner organizations like BAPOC - the Business Alliance for People of Color, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, CDFA - the Community Development Finance Authority, or the Black Heritage Trail, the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity is working to address the root causes of racial inequity and resource disparities across six key domains: Economic Development, Education, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Civic Engagement and Government. This multilateral effort is based on a Power-Building Framework, in which impacted communities are at the center of an ecosystem of organizations collaborating through policy, systems change, and community to address longer-term racial and structural inequities and transform systems of oppression.
Communities need to feel welcome to want to work and live in New Hampshire
Community building is also an essential goal of organizations such as NHCJE, as there is even more impact when people work together:
“A part of the problem too is that, without community, people of color who may come here typically leave after 12, or 15 months because they feel isolated. Humans are social beings and people want to be in a place where they have some community, where they can identify with the group, where they feel represented, and New Hampshire falls short in that aspect.”
And there is something else that may push communities of color away: “Some of the dark things that are happening in other states in terms of white supremacy are on the horizon up here in New Hampshire. There is a saying that says contempt prior to the investigation will keep someone in ever-lasting ignorance. And many of our white neighbors have contempt prior to investigating, investigating who we are and what we're about.”, he added. Fortunately, it has been reported that residents in New Hampshire and all across New England are standing up against hate speech, and there is hope that the voices working toward racial equity and justice are louder.
Towards equitable economic development and prosperity for all
Social change requires a deep understanding of complex systems, power sharing, trust, and communications; all these factors must be aligned and simultaneously addressed over time to achieve desired outcomes. When it comes to economic development, the focus is on elevating and empowering communities of color to a level where they can have the same opportunities and outcomes as the majority of the population. That is what equity and justice are about. For Dwight Davis, Chair of the NHCJE:
“This organization will do some great things over the next 5, 10 years. It will be a template for other states to follow. I’m sure of that. For me, an equitable society is one where, if I were to fill out a job application, I would be judged by the information I provide, my experience, and my skills, and not by the color of my skin, my ethnicity, or my name. It is one where I am the best candidate solely based on the skills that I share with them relating to the role. That would be an equitable society.”
Dwight Davis, a native of Houston, Texas, is the Board Chair of New Hampshire’s Center for Equity and Justice, as well as President of Black Heritage Trail NH, and President and Owner of Senior Helpers of Southern New Hampshire. He graduated from the University of Houston and is a former professional basketball player - the third player selected in 1970 to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dwight Davis came to New Hampshire in 2004 and has been very active in the community. His basketball background has been a platform to connect with the youth about the advantages of getting a good education, and he was part of the NH Workforce Youth Council.
Dwight Davis, Board Chair of New Hampshire’s Center for Equity and Justice