Article on The Power of Diversity by Dr. Lori Peek, Director of the Natural Hazards Center of the University of CO.

“Over the past 25 years, I’ve witnessed the hazards and disaster community grow larger and substantially more diverse. Our numbers make us stronger, but diversity is our superpower. It allows us to see challenges from many angles and develop comprehensive programs and policies to address seemingly intractable problems. Put simply, our distinct perspectives help us to help more people.

This stance obviously runs counter to recent efforts to dismiss the very notion of diversity. That’s why it feels important to discuss the terminology and emphasize some of the ways it matters in the hazards and disaster field.

When it comes to diversity, I’m referencing two distinct but intertwined concepts—demographic diversity and functional diversity.”