Diversity, equity and inclusion aren't political, Jody Barlow said. They're "how we survive," said Barlow, a senior analyst with the city of Eugene's employee resource center — what the city calls its revamped human resources department. "The more diverse something is, the more options it has to be successful," said Barlow, who describes herself as a woman of color. Multiple national studies have shown companies and organizations that are more diverse are more successful, and increased diversity in government agencies, such as law enforcement, builds trust with the community. Eugene, Springfield and Lane County have turned those findings into practice in recent years, striving to have their government workspaces be more inclusive and seeking more diverse applicants.