FARGO (KVRR) – Fargo’s former Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion is speaking out in his first interview since the city shut down the department in a cost-cutting move last September.
Dr. Terry Hogan led the department from 2021 until 2024, when it was eliminated by the Fargo City Commission.
“It was a scary, scary, scary thought for me, when people are asking me to stay, and I have no programs,” Hogan said.
Hogan has been recently putting the final touches on a non-profit called “Unity In Action Initiative.” He says he hopes to expand and improve upon the work he was doing for the city.
“Empowerment, unification, bridging gaps. Doing whatever I can to help everybody. I want to make that explicitly clear, to help everybody,” Hogan said.
Hogan says the organization will be involved in a number of areas including mentoring youth, community service, unity festivals, and civic leadership workshops.
“I want to continue the work, but the work is not DEI. The work is a community movement of bridging gaps and letting everyone know they are included,” Hogan said. “I wanted to look at this thing from a community perspective. I wanted to look at this thing as if everybody can pitch in to feel inclusive and belong. So, with that being said, yes, it is a challenging process, but it doesn’t say it can’t be done because you have to crawl before you walk.”
Regarding the city’s elimination of the DEI department, Hogan says he prefers to look to the future, but is still clearly disappointed with what happened.
“It was a very disheartening situation for me, but at the end of the day, things are looking up for me. The city does what the city does. And my thing and what I need to do is…if I want to see change, I’m part of that change. I make things happen…with, or without the city,” Hogan said.
Hogan says his organization is a registered 501(c)(3) and has a board of directors. He says he plans to work without a salary and says he’ll be transparent about the non-profit’s finances.
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