HomeMy WebLinkAboutProclamation Centering Equity
PROCLAMATION
CENTERING EQUITY IN THE CITY’S RESPONSE
TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
WHEREAS, The City of Edina is committed to acting courageously to advance equity and create a
vibrant, safe and healthy community where people of all races thrive; and
WHEREAS, Emerging COVID-19 infection and mortality data illuminates a disturbing,
disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, most specifically
African American communities; and
WHEREAS, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, undocumented Minnesotans, people with disabilities,
are more likely to be low-wage, essential frontline workers, such as service workers and
health care workers, and thus at higher risk of exposure and are disproportionally
burden by the virus and its impacts; and
WHEREAS, The State of Minnesota has recently seen a rise in reports of discrimination toward the
Asian American community; and
WHEREAS, We recognize the unequal allocation of power and resources as a root cause of racial
and other health inequities; and
WHEREAS, Our City commits to lifting up the health and social needs of the most marginalized
members of our communities, and sharing examples of how centering their needs can
ensure that we are all safe and healthy; and
WHEREAS, Our City is committed to providing targeted education and resource information to
communities of color, immigrants and refugees who are realizing significant adverse
health and socioeconomic impacts; and
WHEREAS, Our City commits to standing in solidarity against xenophobic and racist attacks on
Asian Americans; and
WHEREAS, Our City will work side-by-side with community partners to identify and address the
ways that this infection may exacerbate existing inequities in our communities and how
we can reduce these inequities; and
WHEREAS, This moment is an opportunity for our City and community to better understand how
we are all impacted when some of us lack the unequal access to resources, health and
opportunities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, James B. Hovland, Mayor of Edina, do proclaim that the City of Edina
commits to centering equity in our community’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic in
partnership with surrounding cities like Bloomington and Richfield.
Dated this 2nd day of June, 2020.
________________________________
James B. Hovland, Mayor