Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. Division of Multicultural Affairs.
Entity: 3263
Entity Type: State Government
Prior Names
Department of Heritage and Arts. Office of Multicultural Affairs
Department of Community and Culture Office. Office of Ethnic Affairs
Department of Heritage and Arts. Office of Multicultural Affairs
Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. Office of Multicultural Affairs
Abstract
Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. signed an executive order officially creating the State Office of Ethnic Affairs (OEA) on October 6, 2005. The action merged the former Office of Asian Affairs, Office of Black Affairs, Office of Hispanic Affairs, and Office of Pacific Islander Affairs into the Office of Ethnic Affairs. In March 2005, the Utah Department of Community and Culture (DCC) announced the restructuring of the state's four ethnic offices in an effort to improve their efficiency and make them more responsive. The office was renamed in November 2011 when Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert signed an Executive Order launching the Multicultural Affairs Office and Multicultural Commission. The mission of the Office of Multicultural Affairs is to "Promote a climate of inclusion by facilitating strategic partnerships between the ethnic community, community leaders, state agencies, and state government to provide opportunities and resources that address the needs and concerns unique and common among Utah's ethnic population."
Biography/History Notes
The Office of Ethnic Affairs promotes institutional change by partnering with sister-state agencies to assure equity and access to quality cultural-competent programs and services. OEA coordinates projects and events targeted at improving the quality of services and outreach to the ethnic community through partnerships with other state agencies.
The Office of Ethnic Affairs directly reports to its own director within the Department of Community and Culture.
The Office of Ethnic Affairs is composed of the OEA Director, four directors (Asian Affairs, Black Affairs, Hispanic/Latino Affairs, and Pacific Islander Affairs) and staff members.