Respecting Differences

The City of Portage is proud to have been a sponsor of the annual Respecting Differences event, held in April at Miller Auditorium. This annual event promotes workplace cultures that embrace the acceptance and understanding of individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

 The 2025 theme, “Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace,” featured keynote speakers Jason Reid, an Invisible Disability Expert, and Kristin Light, a mental health and neuroinclusion advocate. Reid, who lives with Crohn’s disease and arthritis, shared how he doubled his department’s productivity by removing disability-related barriers in the workplace. Light, who has navigated a variety of neurodivergent and mental health challenges, spoke about fostering engagement and inclusion for all employees.

City of Portage employees joined colleagues from other sponsoring organizations, including the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Employees attend this annual event to gain new perspectives, build empathy, and learn actionable strategies to help create more inclusive and supportive work environments.

Respecting Differences continues to be a powerful reminder that embracing our differences strengthens teams, improves productivity, and enhances employee well-being.