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Meet Eunice Makinde: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Manager

Post Date:08/29/2023

Eunice Makinde’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is foundational for her work serving Hillsboro community members. We asked Eunice to share what inspires her and what she hopes to hear from people in Hillsboro.

Eunice, tell us more about yourself.

I’m first generation Nigerian-American born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, but I have been in Portland since 2007. I moved to Oregon for college in 2007 on a track and field scholarship, where I was a sprinter and hurdler (100m hurdles to be exact), and part of the 2011 NAIA women’s track and field national champions team.

I received my first degree in secondary education language arts, and my master’s degree in community psychology. My professional career has spanned across higher education, nonprofit, public, and private sectors, and I even ran a consulting business at one point. These experiences have all encompassed recruitment, retention, and working to create equitable outcomes for marginalized communities across Oregon.

Eunice Makinde presenting

I love watching live sports, going to live concerts (I love music), enjoying the outdoors, baking, and spending time with family and friends. If you met me, you’d immediately know that I am a loyal person, passionate about making the world a better place.

What inspired you to work for the City of Hillsboro as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager?

I heard about the work the City of Hillsboro is doing in the DEI space in terms of equity and accessibility, and after doing DEI work for over 10 years, you don’t hear a lot of cities using the word equity as a goal or outcome. That is huge!

It’s been a rough 5+ years for anyone working in the DEI space, so coming to a place where the leaders are committed to the work – and don’t shy away from asking the tough questions – is huge.

How does your job directly benefit Hillsboro community members?

I am a firm believer that what is happening internally greatly affects what is happening in the community. So, when we say our goal is racial equity, there falls a responsibility on us in the City to make sure racial equity is happening within. I have the fortunate blessing to make sure that’s happening within first.

Community members at an event

What does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean for community members?

It means a greater sense of belonging. It means equal access to resources. It means opportunity. It means having a seat at the table, and knowing where the tables exist.

What do you like most about your work?

How passionate people are about public service. The people I work with genuinely love what they do and it shows, and that excites me to show up and put my best foot forward. I also love that I get to think creatively each day on how to bring out the best of our community internally, with hopes of us bringing the best of ourselves to the external community. Lastly, getting to put my fields of study to work every day is pretty rewarding.

What goals are you focusing on?

Personally, choosing well-being of self and believing that the outpouring of that is something beautiful for me, the communities I serve, and the people I love.

Professionally, getting to know people in the City of Hillsboro. Developing better communication streams as it relates to DEI to have more cross-collaboration and equitable practices and outcomes internally.

As you reach out to community members for input and feedback, what are you hoping to hear?

I hope community members feel seen, appreciated, and safe when interacting with City employees and when entering our facilities. They know they will receive the help they need when they reach out to us.

I want to hear how we can improve or do a better job of improving the overall well-being of the community. This, to me, shows that communities feel they can express concerns and be heard.

Community members talking with City staff

Within the organization, I hope to hear employees love working for the City of Hillsboro. It is a place where they found a sense of belonging and an improved sense of well-being. They see themselves having opportunities for growth. They look around and feel welcomed, supported, and, for folks from communities of color, they are not the sole representer of their communities.

Who inspires you?

My mom and, honestly, all the women I get to call friends and family in my life. Collectively, we’ve experienced a lot of loss and tragedy over the last few years, yet we’ve all managed to make tough, but necessary, decisions to take care of our mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

Eunice Makinde with friends

Choosing ourselves over the pressures of societal norms that say we have to be all things to all people. I’ve seen them navigate tough moments with so much grace, authenticity, and a lot of tears, but laughter. Making lemonade from lemons. I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have taken the leap to make some crucial life decisions that resulted in me being at the City of Hillsboro. Their support and communal help is unmatched. Shout out to all of them!

Tell us something people wouldn’t guess about you?

I love hosting dinner parties and can connect with almost anybody. I don’t think a lot of people would guess that because I come off as quiet, reserved, and introspective at first. I am all those things, but I love being in the company of good people and bringing folks who otherwise wouldn’t connect together.

Eunice Makinde in London

Because I am so introspective, I am intentional with my questions and observant when meeting people. Don’t sleep on the quieter folks among you. That silent confidence can move mountains of change.

What else would you like people to know about youand how you serve the community?

I am super relational and work hard to stay open-minded in every area of life. The posture I take in life is about living life with a mirror in hand. When you judge others or make assumptions or prejudices about people, I like to say, “Take a moment to hold the mirror up”. When you do this, you quickly realize that none of us are really in a place to judge others too harshly if at all.

I’ve found at times when I’ve wanted to become a harsh critic of others, that in putting a mirror up to my face I quickly realize the only option left for me in that moment is to proceed in and lead with love. To lean into learning and listening, to be humble. I serve the community this way, “staying humble, listening, learning, loving, and then Moving”.

I am not afraid to speak up for others. I am super intuitive and observant. I feel confident in my ability to connect the dots on tough issues that matter to communities and move the needle forward toward more equitable outcomes. I’m big on the relational first and then collaborative implementation and change.

What do you like most about Hillsboro?

This is going to sound strange for me to say this, but the diversity. I still commute from Portland and I was surprised to find myself in restaurants and look around and not be the only Person of Color. I then learned that Hillsboro is over 40% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), which to that I was like, no wonder!

There is something nice about being in an ethnically diverse city. For one, you know the food is going to be amazing! I am still fairly new to these parts, so please any restaurants or recommendations from folks here are welcome!