Deerfield Officials Endorse Lake County's 'Welcoming and Inclusive' Community Pledge

DEERFIELD, IL - Village of Deerfield officials offered their formal support this month to Lake County's vow to stand against discrimination and serve as a welcoming community for all.

Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution April 3 that backs the Lake County Welcoming and Inclusive Community Pledge. In doing so, officials affirmed their commitment to continuing to promote "core American values" including celebrating and not targeting individuals who have diverse racial, ethnic, immigration or refugee statuses, as well as those with varying religions, sexual orientations or other social identities.

Rosenthal joined village staff and residents at the meeting to recite aloud the following pledge:

I pledge to stand against hate and discrimination and affirm that Lake County should be a welcoming
community for all.

I am proud of Lake County’s diversity. I recognize that at every level of American society, people of all
backgrounds contribute to our democracy, culture, and economy. We must advance the fundamental
rights and principles upon which the United States was founded, establishing the equality and dignity of
all people regardless of their background.

I condemn any verbal or non-verbal attacks, harassment, or intimidation based on race, ethnicity, color,
immigration or refugee status, religion or creed, gender or sexual orientation, age, mental or physical
disability, veteran status, or other social identities, as well as discourse that disrespects or degrades
people’s identities, needs, and beliefs. From our schools to our neighborhoods and our government
buildings, Lake County must be a place that respects our differences and believes that diverse
perspectives create better outcomes.

The initiative began with The Partnership for a Safer Lake County, a group of organizations and
individuals committed to ending violence in the county. Through public awareness, coordination of services,
and advocacy, the partnership seeks to combat civil and human rights infractions of all kinds including child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, LGBTQ crimes and domestic violence.

At the Lake County Summit of Leaders in February, the group's members asked communities to consider passing the resolution to support the welcoming and inclusive initiative tagged across social media as "#LCLeadByExample."

Village officials encourage residents to formalize their support for the movement by signing Deerfield's Community Pledge Board located in the main lobby of Village Hall at 850 Waukegan Road. Residents can also join online by visiting https://goo.gl/Ef4BJk and using the hashtag #LCLeadByExample.

For more information, contact the Village Manager’s Office at 847-719-7400.

Patch file photo