Ethnic officials hoping to increase influence

When Nadeem Ahmed, a Muslim and native of Pakistan, joined the Asian Advisory Council about four years ago, he hoped to make a difference for his community. Instead, he says his role has been "very symbolic."

"I was very ambitious, and I wanted to do something," Ahmed said. "We should be involved in decisionmaking. Unfortunately, this medium has not been used very well."

Ahmed isn't alone. Other members of the Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander advisory councils complain that meetings with the governor's office have been sporadic at best and that they have no real influence over policy.

But they're also hopeful things will change under Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s administration, which created for the first time a Cabinet position to oversee the new state Department of Community and Culture, which includes the ethnic offices.

And with some vacancies to be filled, there's a hope that new ideas and energy will be brought to the councils.

Community and culture executive director Yvette Donosso Diaz said she wants to see the advisory councils take a more active role and work closely with the state's ethnic directors.

The 15-member volunteer advisory councils were created by an executive order in 1996 to gather information on and concerns from their ethnic communities, and advise the governor and state agencies on how to better serve them.

The ethnic boards, like most boards under her purview, are advisory and that's appropriate, Diaz said. "Our job is to review the policies and programs of state agencies and make recommendations on how to better serve (ethnic communities)."

One thing the council members say they agree on is a need to work together on issues common to all the state's ethnic communities. Last year, the advisory councils for the first time held a joint retreat.

"These offices exist to try and improve upon the quality of life for minority citizens who are routinely left out of the political process," said Ron Stallworth, chairman of the Black Advisory Council. "All we want is inclusion."

Stallworth says the addition of a Cabinet member gives his council "a little more clout."

But he says, the state needs to help bring about change by codifying the ethnic offices and give them the funding needed to address real issues.