HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution - 21-11- 20210414 - DEI and Condemning DiscriRESOLUTION 21-11
RESOLUTION OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT UPHOLDING ITS LONGSTANDING VALUES OF
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AND CONDEMNING
DISCRIMINATION, HATE, AND BIGOTRY IN ALL FORMS
WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution established the United States as a
country committed to the principle of tolerance and religious freedom, and the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution established equal protection of the laws as the foundation for
justice in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) embodies these
values through its partnerships, community outreach and engagement, and interactions with all
members of the public and its staff, consistent with the Board of Directors (Board) Policy on
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and
WHEREAS, the District strongly believes that all people, regardless of nationality, age,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical ability, language, race,
ethnicity, religion, or any other background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of
belonging; and
WHEREAS, upholding these principles through our individual and collective actions
and words is vital to the progress and prosperity of our whole community; and
WHEREAS, the District wholeheartedly welcomes all people to enjoy, be inspired by,
and receive renewed hope from their public open space lands as a resource that is providing
critical essential services for the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region; and
WHEREAS, the District continues to promote the public health and safety of all people
who visit their public open space lands, and to leverage opportunities to strengthen community
connections among our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and staff through shared values and
experiences; and
WHEREAS, a number of our community members across the Bay Area and the nation
have been exploited and persecuted with verbal attacks, vitriol incitement, and violence,
including people who identify as Black, Asian/Asian American, Pacific Islander,
Latinx/Hispanic, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as members of our Jewish, Muslim,
Hindu, Sikh, LGBTQ(+), and immigrant communities; and
WHEREAS, the increase in violence and hate crimes has resulted in a rise in fear and
instability within our communities, threatening human rights and civility for all; and
WHEREAS, every person has a stake in upholding the values of diversity, equity, and
inclusion and fighting every form of discrimination, hatred, and bigotry.
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Resolutions/202 VR-21-11_DEImdCondmnlegDie-^nafionImemdlligotry
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District is committed to diversity and inclusion and advancing equity and belonging for all
people, treating everyone with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to value the humanity,
existence, and contributions of every single person.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District on April 14, 2021 at a regular meeting thereof, by the following roll call
vote:
AYES: CYR, HASSETT, HOLMAN, KERSTEEN-TUCKER, KISHIMOTO, RIFFLE,
SIEMENS
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ATTEST:
Board of Directors
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Hilary Stevenson, General Counsel
APPRQVED:
Curt Riffle, President
Board of Directors
I, the District Clerk of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, hereby certify
that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District by the above vote at a meeting thereof duly
held and called on the above day.
;'-'niferW/oodworth, District Clerk
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