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Commission edits Pride and Juneteenth proclamations, plans parade participation and working‑group outreach
Summary
The Commission on Diversity Awareness revised language in draft proclamations for Pride Month and Juneteenth, agreed to outreach to community partner groups to invite them to Council proclamations, and received updates from library and arts working groups about multilingual storytime, Drag Story Hour and asphalt art ideas.
The Commission on Diversity Awareness on May 21 reviewed two draft proclamations — for LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month and Juneteenth — refined wording and agreed to coordinate with community groups to have representatives accept proclamations at City Council.
The item matters because proclamations and the commission’s presence at community events are public signals of city recognition and are used to coordinate outreach and attendance at parades, festivals and partner celebrations.
Chair Carolyn Kidd led discussion of a draft LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month proclamation and commissioners suggested consistency in acronym usage, and a change from the phrase "fight to make possibilities" to the clearer wording "fight to make opportunities ... real for every resident." Commissioners asked staff (Chris) to consolidate edits; Chris said he would incorporate the changes before the item goes to City Council.
On the Juneteenth proclamation commissioners checked spellings and historical references; a commissioner noted the correct spelling for General Gordon Granger. Commissioners agreed staff should invite community partners — including the Southside Community Association, the Live Black Experience Project and African Diaspora Advisory Council members — to accept the proclamation at Council. Staff also noted the Pride and Juneteenth schedules and asked the commission to send event dates and contacts for coordination.
Commissioners discussed commission participation in Pride in the Pines and Juneteenth events. Commissioner Sandra Darling and others described Flagstaff Pride in the Pines plans, including a locals’ pool party at the Americana Hotel, a Pride parade (which will also invite the Live Black Experience Juneteenth parade participants), a star‑gazing family event at Buffalo Park and a festival with two Indigenous pop performers headlining. Juneteenth activities cited by staff include a June 11–15 schedule of community events, a June 13 gala at Little America (ticketed) and a June 14 festival at Murdoch.
Library working group updates: commissioners reported that the library cannot host Drag Story Hour directly but will allow external groups to rent program space; the group discussed piloting a multilingual storytime (a commissioner volunteered to read in Spanish for an initial pilot) because library policy currently requires employees to perform storytime readings; and an oral‑history project is in a temporary hold while a planned staff capstone project is no longer available. Commissioners asked that staff distribute event flyers and contact lists so commissioners can coordinate attendance.
Arts/outreach working group updates: commissioners discussed asphalt art ideas including rainbow crosswalks and a storm‑revealed stamping treatment that shows designs when wet; they said they will collect community input via a short survey before advancing designs.
Next steps: staff will circulate dates and contact lists, compile commissioners’ availability for a coordinated presence at one Pride event and one Juneteenth event, and invite community partners to City Council proclamation ceremonies. Commissioners agreed to provide written suggestions for the proclamations and working group leads will continue outreach and planning.
