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Diversity consultant begins study of ways La Crosse County government can be more inclusive

Chanin Kelly-Rae, diversity consultant, speaks to the La Crosse County Board on Feb. 6th, 2023

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According to the last census, three years ago, La Crosse County is 91 percent white. 

The largest ethnic group is the Hmong and Asian population, which accounts for 5 percent of people living in the county. 

In order to meet the needs of all population groups, the county hired a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant from Seattle. 

Chanin Kelly-Rae spoke Wednesday to the county board, saying she hopes to hear from as many people as possible during her study.

“If there are people that are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness, I want to go to where they are and talk to them, because not everybody has access to social media, or access to the internet,” Kelly-Rae said. “But we want to make sure that we hear from everybody.”

Kelly-Rae, who’s originally from Milwaukee, said information about under served groups can help the county provide job training, improve neighborhoods and increase access to voting.

“It’s your duty and responsibility to make sure that you increase access to affordable healthy local food, access to health and human services, access to parks and natural resources, access to safe and efficient transportation,” Kelly-Rae said.

Interviews and focus groups will be included in Kelly-Rae’s research. Her company will prepare “road maps” for county departments to follow in becoming more inclusive over the next five years.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Kent

    February 9, 2023 at 6:45 am

    How much is this crap costing us

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