Alesia Smith
"Focusing on issues that are bigger than myself."
I joined public service because making a difference is so important.
Being a public servant allows me to dedicate my time to issues that are bigger than myself. Diversity work – which encompasses the range of differences including backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and working styles that employees and stakeholders bring to work – has been something that I have always been passionate about; so much so that I began by volunteering my time and doing non-profit work. Now, I feel grateful to be able to do such important work in my full-time role.
I work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a Diversity & Inclusion Program Analyst. In my role, I work to ensure that the Bureau and the entities that we regulate have diverse workforces. Diversity and inclusion are essential because they drive innovation, collaboration, and engagement, which fuel the tools and solutions we create to serve and protect consumers. In a short time, I have been able to develop and launch an Agency-wide communication tool called Inclusion In(Sight). This blog provides a space for our office to communicate to the Agency about our diversity work and highlight employees in our new feature, Values in Action, which shares the stories of employees who are dedicated to and portray the Agency values. Highlighting and celebrating the diversity of Bureau staff has led to us having an inclusive workplace, where public servants are able to feel comfortable enough to bring their whole selves to work. The work I do will continue to benefit the public by ensuring entities strengthen their diversity policies and programs, including organizations that the public work for and do business with.