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Standing up for positive change
In the Wake of the international unrest following George Floyd's killing, the ICMA Executive Board issued an unequivocal statement affirming its commitment to racial equity and social justice. This statement was not a new articulation of values, but an amplification of principles enshrined in ICMAs Declaration of Ideals, specifically: "ICMA was founded with a commitment to the preservation of the values and integrity of representative local government and local democracy.... To fulfill the spirit of this commitment, ICMA works.to achieve equity and social justice, to affirm human dignity, and to improve the quality of life for the individual and the community"
ICMA has an honorable history of standing up for positive change when course corrections are called for. The time-honored principle of neutrality, so esteemed in local governance, can only permit ethical treatment of all when the policies employed consistently produce equitable outcomes for all. If, at any point, those policies are found to result in disparate or unjust treatment, however unintended, we have a moral and ethical obligation to identify the disparities and take action to change them.
Thus, on the heels of the executive board's statement, Executive Director Marc Ott directed the creation of the Racial Equity and Social Justice Action Team to carry forward ICMA's charge for equity and justice. In simple terms:
* We are here to listen to you; to engage with you and understand what you need to deliver on the work of ICMA's mission and vision through the lens of...