HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 262 - Welcoming Week & Intercultural Cities Initiative
RESOLUTION
Recognizing Welcoming Week & Intercultural Cities Initiative.
WHEREAS, Rochester’s continued high quality of life depends on making sure all people
feel safe and welcome in our community; and
WHEREAS, foreign-born residents are a vital, contributing members of our community by
sharing new perspectives and making Rochester a vibrant, stronger, and diverse place;
and
WHEREAS, Rochester has many community organizations who embrace, celebrate and
foster an inclusive, equitable and diverse city; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rochester’s Foundational Principles includes social equity and
we are designated as a City of Compassion; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge that, like communities across the country and world, we
have been a part of systemic, structural, and institutional racism; and
WHEREAS, we aim to be a community that opposes hate, racism, discrimination or
oppression; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rochester is the first city in the United States to be recognized as
an Intercultural City (ICC) and is committed to reviewing and responding to the recently
completed ICC Index analysis and results performed by the Council of Europe; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor has declared Rochester a Welcoming City in partnership with the
Southeastern Minnesota League of Municipalities (SEMLM) and Olmsted County; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rochester has committed to advancing the Foundational Principle
of social equity through the ongoing work of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity
(GARE), the hiring of the City’s first ever Diversity + Equity + Inclusion Director, the
development of an organizational equity plan and a commitment to more equitable
policies and practices; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Rochester
that September 12-20, 2020 be recognized as Welcoming Week and the City of
Rochester will annually celebrate Welcoming Week city from this point forward.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Rochester move forward, with purpose, to
create policies and practices, in a community co-designed way, that demonstrates our
belief that diversity is a strength that is recognized and valued.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City of Rochester teammates are asked to develop a
comprehensive and community co-designed Intercultural Action Plan, using the
information and opportunities identified in the ICC Index report.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS __________ DAY OF _______________, 2020.
___________________________________
PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL
ATTEST: __________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________, 2020.
___________________________________
MAYOR OF SAID CITY
(Seal of the City of
Rochester, Minnesota)