Building a Welcoming Community

Purpose

The purpose of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEI) is to increase cooperation, understanding, and dialog among residents of diverse cultural, religious, socio-economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and to promote inclusion throughout the town. The Commission shall also critically consider intersections among these groups to facilitate learning, understanding, and unity. The goal is for everyone who lives in Concord, works in Concord, attends school in Concord, participates in a Concord faith community, or visits Concord for whatever reason to be welcomed, valued, respected, and heard.

Diversity refers to population groups that have been historically underrepresented in socially, politically, or economically powerful institutions and organizations. These groups include, but are not restricted to populations of color, such as African Americans and Blacks, Latinx, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. They may also include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations, people with disabilities and other groups distinguished by their ethnicity, native or indigenous origin, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, appearance, language, accent, education, or nationality.

Equity is an approach based in fairness to ensuring everyone is given equal opportunity; this means that resources may be divided and shared unequally to make sure that each person has a fair chance to succeed. Equity takes into account that people have different access to resources because of a system of oppression and privilege. Equity seeks to balance that disparity. Equity prioritizes efforts to ensure the most underserved and marginalized among us has as much of an opportunity to succeed as the most well-served and advantaged. By taking the various advantages and disadvantages that people face into account, we work to ensure that every person has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Inclusion is the dynamic state of operating in which diversity is leveraged to create a healthy, high-performing organization and community. Inclusion refers to the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes within an organization or group. An inclusive environment ensures equitable access to resources and opportunities for all. It also enables individuals and groups to feel safe, respected, engaged, motivated, and valued for who they are and for their contributions toward organizational and societal goals.

Committee Charge

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Commission Charge

Members

Minutes and Agendas

Agendas are posted in advance of the meeting. Minutes are posted following approval. View most recent Agendas & Minutes.

Meeting Schedule

Subject to change.  See the Agenda Center for agendas.

2023 Meeting Schedule  

Next Meeting:  July 25, 2023, 7 p.m. in person in the Clock Town Room at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center 

Contact

Contact the DEI Commission at dei@concordma.gov

Events and Activities

Take the Massachusetts State Seal Survey!

Massachusetts residents are encouraged to help design a new seal and motto for the state! The Special Commission Relative to the Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth has created a survey to “learn how residents view the seal and motto and to gather public input that represents the diversity of communities and perspectives in the Commonwealth.” The current seal and motto depict a hand holding a colonial-era sword over the head of an Indigenous man, surrounded by a motto in Latin that means “she seeks by the sword a quiet peace under liberty.” The current seal is seen as a symbol of violence against the Original peoples of this land and a veneration of settler colonialism.

Take the Survey