February 3rd, 2025
A message from Acting OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Throughout February, we join people nationwide in observing Black History Month and exploring this year’s theme, "African Americans and Labor." The theme for 2025 focuses on “the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.” It encourages us to think about how we can collectively improve each other’s sense of belonging in the workplace and continue to invest in our workforce.
Each year, we at OPWDD delve into how the annual theme selected for Black History Month relates to us and people within our service system. Whether it’s people we support, their family members, or people we employ, we cannot understate the contributions that Black communities add to our system and people’s lives. In fact, 40% of frontline staff working at service providers across New York State self-identify as Black, according to the most recent National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Survey.
At a time when diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts are under attack and are the subject of hostile rhetoric both in the public and private sectors, New York and OPWDD will continue prioritizing work in this space as we promote shared understanding and genuine inclusion.
If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a moment to view New York’s tribute film to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., aptly titled “We Press On,” which speaks further to New York’s continued commitment to this work.
I encourage us all to recognize the significant contributions of members of the Black Community. I want you to know that we see you and we value you all year, and especially as we celebrate and honor Black History Month.
Sincerely,
Willow Baer
Acting Commissioner