Ethnic offices undergo changes to regain 'trust'

The state's ethnic offices have been restructured in an effort to earn the "trust" of the state's minority communities, says Yvette Diaz, executive director of the new Department of Community and Culture.

In addition to announcing new directors Friday for three of the ethnic offices, Diaz said each office will have a 100-day plan in place by June 30.

Longtime northern Utah community activist AnnaJane Arroyo expressed some skepticism, saying the ethnic offices seem to be no more than "token offices."

Diaz replied: "That's exactly what we want to change. . . . There is not a lot of trust. We're going to do everything in our power to earn that trust."

The new appointees: Leo Gonzalez, senior quality manager at Discover Financial Services, will head Hispanic Affairs; Fotu Osaiasi Katoa, retail coordinator of Deseret Layton Industries, will head Pacific Islander Affairs; and Michael Styles, coordinator of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission, will direct the Black Affairs office.

Diaz said the ethnic office directors will now report directly to her, a member of Gov. John Huntsman Jr.'s Cabinet, and will work together as partners with state agencies rather than as community ombudsmen.

"The major change is that the offices will no longer work as individual silos," Diaz said.

The offices, which have been operating in a $70,000 deficit in each of the past few years, received $227,000 in new funds from elsewhere in the department's budget, she said.

Arroyo said she's hopeful this transition will be different than others that showed no continuity. She said she's watched the ethnic affairs offices become diluted over the years, after initial success at empowering minorities.

"I am encouraged by the fact Yvette is who she is," Arroyo said. "She will speak up."

With Styles' appointment, the King commission will continue its mission, but under the leadership of the ethnic affairs offices, Diaz said. The move is one that it is hoped will dispel the myth that King's message relates only to the black community, said Styles.

The new directors said they were ready to start meeting with their communities, community-based organizations and state agencies to find out what the needs are.

"I believe it's important for us to be accountable to the community," Gonzalez said.

Other new positions announced: Luz Robles, who will serve as research analyst, and Andrea Sainz, who will serve as community outreach coordinator.

The new appointees will work with Asian Affairs director Edith Mitko; Forrest Cuch, director of the Division of Indian Affairs; and special projects coordinator Elizabeth Balcazar.