The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About35149 / 88-401 �ecember I , 1988 #401 RESOLUTION (CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: ADOPT COMMUNITY VAWES POLICY STATEMENT INITIATED BY: MAYOR MATHER BE IT RESOLVE� by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the attached memo "A Statement of Community Values . . . a Commitment to Diversity" is hereby adopted as a City policy. . _.. ..,�;� Lt � _.., ..,., G%��,��'�L�� - 31 - A Statement of Community Values . . . a Commitment to Diversiry THE SHARED VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING OUR DIVERSITY Oshkash is a proud communiry with a s[rong spirit. We cherish and are strengthened by aw communiry spirit. We respect our neighbors and we welcome guests and visitors. We are firmly committed to main[aining the progressiveness of our vibrant communiry. We understand that a ciry in which diversity and the digniry and rights of all our neighbors and guests are respected and honored is a hea[thy city. Racia! discrimination or harassment and other attitudes, values, or beliefs that revea! intolerance for diversiry af race, sex, age, or religion are inconsistent with that understanding. I ask the citizens of Oshkosh to join with me m ensure that the future of our communiry is ar brighr as the hopes and aspirations of ouryouth. James A.Mather,Mayor - 31a - 2 RAClSM/S . . . Racism is the belief that race is a primary determinant of human [raits and inrellecmal or physical abilides or that racial differences create an inherent superiority or inferiority. Racism is expressed when an individual, goup, organization, or instimdon bases its actions, decisions, or policies on assumptions relating ro race and makes prejudicial judgments in order[o gain power, control, or influence over o[hers. Racism injures individuals, racial groups, and the community atlarge. RACIAL HARASSMENT IS . . . Racial hazassment is any hos[ile or offensive condition crea[ed by an individual's verbal or physical conduct, wbe[her in[entional or not, tha[is directed at the race, na[ional origin, or ethnic chazacteristics of ac� individual or racial group. Verbal hazassment includes, for example, name calling, racial slurs and epithets, or statements (whether intended as a "joke" or otherwise) that serve to demean or belitde the racial background, wlture, hisrory, or other chazacteristics of a racial group. Physical hazassment includes threats or injuries to an individual's body, possessions, or property which aze based on race. - 31b - 3 RACIAL D/SCRIM7NATIONlS . . . Racial discrimination cecurs when an individual receives different treatment on the basis of race. Racism and racial hazassment can also result in racial discrimination. /n the emplaymen[confext and whi/e on the jo6, discrimination or hamssment on !he basis ojrace, nadonal origin and other protecfed characferistics are prohibited by s[afe and federa![aws. Individuals and employers can be he(d lega[[y liable jor damages re[aling to discriminaJiort and hamssment. Comp[nints and lawsuits can be expensive arsd time- consuming to dejend against. Ijproven, fhe damage nwarAs can be quite substantial. Further, lhe resulting publicity harms our community. Clearly, we all /tnve a stake in ensuring Ihat discrimination and harnssment do rso[occur, and that iJit does occur, th¢[i[is promptly reclified OUR SHARED RESPONSIBIL/TY All members of the community aze responsible for creaung and m;¢ntaining a community climate in which all individuals aze able to develop and realize their potential without feaz of discrimina[ion or hazassmen[. We aze equally responsible . for helping ro recdfy instances of racial hazassment. - 31c - 4 The Community-University Human RelaHons Council is available as n community resource to help address prob[ems and concerns. The jo(lowing genemi suggestions may also prove useju[. What You Should Do If you are subjected to ar confron(ed 6y racisf words, behaviors, or acfions, you may be able to effect clwnge by poinHng ou[--firm/y but courteously-- thal you and others are ojfended. Ijyou do not receive a response that you consider lo be acceptable,you may also report the incident to the Community-University Human Refalions Counci[or other appropriate authorilies tha[are listed in 1he(as!secfion of this brochure. In some cases,jor some jorms of discriminaHon or harnssment,yau also may have a right[o j(e a jormal comp/aint or grievance wilh agencies/isled under "Where to Go For He(p." Y�'kat You Shou[d No[Do 1. Don't respond to the discrimination or harassment with words or actions which make matters worse. Ijnat proper/y handled, some situations run the risk of esca[adng into larger controversies. Let others assist you in taking positive steps to solve the problem. - 31d - 5 l. Dodt be in[imidated into not reporting[he incident. /ncidents are likely to continue unti[positive action is faken. You may nol be fhe on[y victim. By speaking uq you will he[p the enflre community. 3. Don't delay. Remember lhat fhe problem can be so[ved only if reporfrng rs done in a timely way. 4. Dodt blame yourself. You have a right to participale in the life of the community free ojharassment. 5. Don't blame the community. The misguided and mis&rected indiscrelions oj individua[s do not speak far the entire community. WHERE TO GO FOR HELP University of Wisconsin Oshkosh OJfice of Ajfirmative Action Dempsey 217 424-3I11 For Equai Opportunities in Housing Department of Commnnity Developmen[ P.O. IIox 1130 236-SOSS For Other Kinds of Problems City Atlorney's Office P.O. Ojfice Box II30 236-5175 District Attorney's Ojfice Winnebago County CouHhouse 235-2500 - 31e - 6 For Empluyment Problems Equal Rights Division DILHR P.O. Box 8928 Madison, WI 608/266-6860 Federal anti dixriminadon and equal opportunity laws differ from state employment laws. Prceedures used by the federal government in processing complaints are also different. If you wan[more infortnation conceming federal laws or complaint procedures, contact[he U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 310 West Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203, 414/291-1 ll 1. If you have questions about federal housing laws, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 300 South Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, 60606, or telephone � 312/353-0157 or 1-800-424-8590. - 31f - Cl 3 O V� D A ao m �* a � � ti n a o A u lD rF O • ir O 3 ID rt o - Q 3 S ` m m n p � � o 0 � � � � � aa • c o � o � mmo N (/� L �D �+ � W `� W ^V C �-�- w c m v W 0 : � � � �