Aurora diversity 14th in U.S.

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In a national study of the diversity in America’s largest cities, Aurora ranks as one of the most diverse places in the country.

Personal finance website, WalletHub, published its comprehensive report comparing the demographic profiles of more than 500 of the largest cities.

The second-largest city in Illinois ranks as the fourteenth-most diverse city in the United States.

“America is undergoing an extreme makeover, thanks to rapid demographic diversification,” said Adam McCann of WalletHub. “As the U.S. diversifies, it must stamp out hatred and promote unity, and there’s a lot of work to do.”

The study compared cities across five major diversity categories cultural, religious, household, socioeconomic, and economic.

“One of the biggest assets of Aurora is our diversity,” said Aurora mayor Richard C. Irvin. “But in order to turn the asset into strength, diversity alone isn’t enough. We must continue to focus on equity, inclusion, and belonging across the board.”

Illinois governor JB Pritzker recently lauded Aurora for Covid-19 vaccine equity initiatives.

In collaboration with a network of community organizations, Mayor Irvin and the City of Aurora launched Black Vax Aurora, Latin Vax Aurora, and Indian Vax Aurora to promote vaccine equity and decrease vaccine hesitancy among the most impacted populations. Thousands of Aurorans were vaccinated as a result.

“What Aurora is doing is best in class outreach,” said governor Pritzker. “It is a model.”

The initiatives were supported by the City’s cultural advisory boards – the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board and the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board – and several churches, parishes and temples in Aurora.

To promote religious inclusivity, mayor Irvin implemented in 2017 ecumenical invocations at City Council meetings, where leaders of different faith communities lead the prayers. Last month, invocations were led by members of the Islamic faith in honor of the month of Ramadan and the Sikh community in honor of Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month.

This month, the City will honor Asian American Pacific Islander Month in a special celebration at Pacifica Square in Aurora, the recent economic development project, which will be the largest Asian-themed shopping center in the United States.

“Aurora is a diverse place where every person can be an integral part of the fabric of our community,” said alderman-elect Shweta Baid, who will be sworn in next week as the first Indian American elected to the Aurora City Council. “This is an ideal place to call home.”

WalletHub’s report ranks other cities in Illinois, including Elgin, 39th; Rockford, 119th; Joliet, 140th; Peoria, 143rd; and Naperville, 222nd.

—City of Aurora government

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