City of Highland Park Announces New Values Statement, Updated Statement Against Hate
August 23, 2023 – Reflective of the City of Highland Park’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as well as its updated mission and expanded core priorities, the City is proud to announce a new Values Statement and an updated Statement Against Hate. Developed in close collaboration between the Mayor and City Council, City staff, and resident volunteers appointed to the Human Relations Advisory Group, the Values Statement and Statement Against Hate provide a strong and unequivocal endorsement of the principles which form the foundation of the City’s public-facing community services and internal employee engagement. Three commitments guide the operationalization of the Values Statement in alignment with the City’s mission: working through an equity lens, operating with transparency, and condemning any act of hate or discrimination.
“Highland Park is deeply proud of our longstanding efforts to be an affirming and welcoming community, where we honor and celebrate the cultures, faith traditions, languages, racial identities, gender and sexuality identities and other characteristics of the diverse individuals who live, work, visit, and study in our city,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering.
The Values Statement offers a strong declaration of the City’s commitment to engaging, supporting, and inviting diverse individuals to call Highland Park home. The adoption of the City’s Values Statement complements existing efforts to collaborate with individuals and organizations dedicated to supporting increased access and engagement with diverse communities, including the Ten Shared Principles of Public Safety, which guides the Police Department Strategic Plan. The City will begin referencing the Values Statement as appropriate in developing major projects, communications, planning, and service enhancement.
Since its initial development in 2017, the Statement Against Hate serves a key role in City communications with its dual focus of unequivocally condemning hate in all its forms, whether occurring in Highland Park or elsewhere, and reinforcing the City’s commitment to both proactive and responsive law enforcement relative to any potential threats against Highland Park.
City of Highland Park Values Statement
Highland Park is an inclusive and welcoming community that honors and affirms the intrinsic worth and unique perspectives of all who reside, work, study, and visit here. The City of Highland Park celebrates the diverse characteristics of persons of every race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, language, religion and faith tradition, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, age, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and immigration status. These individual characteristics bring richness to our community. We are committed to ensuring that our priorities, policies, and behaviors nurture a sustainable citywide culture of inclusion that embraces the full diversity of our community. We invite all members of our community to participate and contribute to a more just and equitable future.
As a City, we will work to live up to this Values Statement by always:
- Working through an equity lens.
We will ensure access, processes, policies, and outcomes do not inadvertently exclude anyone. - Operating with transparency.
We believe that open communication, honest discussion, and inclusion of the diverse voices of our community lead to trust. - Condemning any act of hate or discrimination.
We will uphold the City’s Statement Against Hate in a timely, unequivocal, and actionable way.
City of Highland Park Statement Against Hate
Hate has no home in Highland Park. The City strives to embody our inclusive and affirming values as an open and welcoming community. The City of Highland Park strongly opposes prejudice, bias, hostility, discrimination or violence against individuals based on their race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, gender, or gender identity. The City unequivocally condemns any racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+, ableist, or otherwise hate-motived groups or individuals who threaten any form of violence towards, harassment, or discrimination against our residents, visitors, students, or City staff. This behavior is never acceptable.
Recognizing the critical responsibility of responding swiftly to safeguard our community from hate, the City of Highland Park will take every possible action to ensure that residents, workers, students, and visitors will not face discrimination or harassment. Hate crimes and violence have no place in our city, state, or country and will not be tolerated. If a report of such a hate crime is received in Highland Park, the City’s Police Department will thoroughly investigate, in partnership with appropriate partner agencies, to ensure the continued safety of our community.
It is essential that our community stand together in denouncing all acts of bigotry and violence in accordance with our values. Hate has no home in Highland Park or anywhere.
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