Yeah. Going further, another part of "being serious" is training and a demonstration of commitment to the employees after they're hired.
Something like "Yes, this individual did not have a great education in youth because their local school district sucked. Nevertheless, this individual has potential. So we're committed to keeping this person on board and providing the necessary training. We will go to great lengths to make this person a useful and vital part of this company."
Amen to that. It's a whole pipeline thing that begins before they even interview, and extends at least as far as their first few promotions.
And you do it not just because you want to tick off some numbers, but you do it because a diverse workforce is going to create a more valuable and relevant company.
Something like "Yes, this individual did not have a great education in youth because their local school district sucked. Nevertheless, this individual has potential. So we're committed to keeping this person on board and providing the necessary training. We will go to great lengths to make this person a useful and vital part of this company."