The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Oak Park Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The people of Oak Park choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a way of life and as a place to seek shelter, refuge and acceptance. Oak Park commits itself to equity, diversity, and inclusion because these values make us a desirable and strong community for all people. Creating a mutually respectful, multicultural and equitable environment does not happen on its own; it must be intentional.

We believe in equity. By embracing equity, with an explicit but not exclusive focus on racial equity, we work to break down systems of oppression, including racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia  and  other  forms  of  bias  and  hate  to  achieve  a  society  where  race  no  longer determines one’s outcomes, where everyone has what they need to thrive. This is both a process and a goal. We reject racial barriers that limit and divide us,  and we  reject bias towards any group of people.

We believe in diversity because our commonalities and differences are both assets. Oak Park is a dynamic community that welcomes, respects, and encourages the contributions of all people, in all our rich variety by race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital and/or familial status, language, mental and/or physical impairment and/or disability, military status, economic class, immigration status, foster status, body size, criminal history, or any of the other characteristics that are often used to divide people.

We acknowledge intersectionality and the compounding effect of multiple forms of discrimination that many in our community experience. We affirm all people as members of the human family. Our goal is for people of widely differing backgrounds to do more than live next to one another. Through intentional interaction and fair treatment, we can respect our differences while fostering unity and developing a shared, intersectional vision for the future.

We  believe  in  inclusion  because  we  need  to  go  beyond  numerical  diversity  and  strive for authentic representation, empowered participation, full access, and a true sense of belonging for all people. Oak Park recognizes that a free, open, and inclusive community is achieved through full and broad participation of all community members and the ongoing commitment to active and intentional engagement across lines of difference. We believe the best decisions are made when everyone is authentically represented in decision-making and power is shared collectively.

The Village of Oak Park commits itself to a future ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of local governance and community life. We strive to make these values aspirational and operational, reflected in our everyday practices and priorities. This includes fair treatment, equal access, and full participation in all of the Village’s institutions and programs, and the goal of racial equity in all Village operating policies. The Village of Oak Park must continue to support its fair housing philosophy that fosters integration and unity in our community. Our intention is that such principles will be a basis for policy and decision making in Oak Park. The President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Oak Park reaffirm their dedication and commitment to these precepts.

- Revision adopted October 7, 2019

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