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Oak Park board affirms diversity, equity and inclusion statement
Summary
The Village of Oak Park board unanimously reaffirmed and adopted a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) statement that acknowledges indigenous dispossession, commits to racial equity and lists operational expectations; trustees voted to adopt the statement and a Spanish translation was noted as available.
The Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees voted to adopt a formal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement and reaffirm its commitment from the dais. Trustee Anyon moved the resolution and Trustee Straw seconded; the board voted in favor.
Village President Vicki Skamen read the statement aloud during the meeting. The statement begins by recognizing the land as the “original homelands of numerous native nations” and says the village “acknowledges this painful history to ground the work of becoming a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.” It commits the village to operationalizing DEI — describing it as an intentional process to remove barriers and center racial equity while rejecting forms of bias including racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia and xenophobia.
Skamen noted that a Spanish translation of the statement is included in the agenda and on the village website. The president also thanked Trustee Lucia Robinson “for her consistent advocacy to make sure that we continue to do better in being accessible to all, including language barriers.”
The board did not elaborate further policy or budget specifics tied to the adoption during the meeting; the statement was presented as a reaffirmation and an operational commitment rather than a stand-alone ordinance or budget item.
