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.

Members

Andrea Foncerrada, co-chair (term ends 2024)

Joe Palumbo, co-chair (term ends 2025)

Nancy Brown (term ends 2026)

Rose Cratsley (term ends 2024)

Josh Lee (term ends 2025)

Kristen Hagerty (term ends 2025)

Robert Munro (term ends 2026)

Ji Orloff (term ends 2026)

Jimi Two Feathers (term ends 2024)

Minutes and Agendas

Minutes and agendas for the Commission can be found in the Agenda Center.

Next Meeting:  May 30, 2023, 7 p.m. in person in the Clock Town Room at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center 

Meeting Schedule

Subject to change.  See the Agenda Center for agendas.

2023 Meeting Schedule  

Next Meeting:  May 30, 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