As the City of Oakland Park works toward building for its second century it also works on embracing diversity. To that end, on Friday January 15th the City unveiled new signage to reflect its steadfast commitment to diversity. In total the City will install 14 signs in conspicuous locations throughout Oakland Park in order to flaunt its pride in being a welcoming community that embraces diversity and inclusion.
The City's Commitment to Diversity Runs Deep
The new signage is a more visible and outward example of the City’s ongoing commitment to diversity. Behind the scenes, the City has been working hard to make sure the idea of diversity is embraced by its employees. During the heightened racial tensions the country experienced last year, the City took the time to engage its employees in thoughtful dialogue about race and equality. More than 50 City employees, from all level of the government, participated in these talks. From the talks a group called that called themselves “Diversity Ambassadors” emerged. This new group had the idea of creating and installing the inclusive signage around the City.
In order to honor one of the great proponents of the idea of equality for all, Martin Luther King Jr., the City aptly timed the unveiling of the signage for January 15th, the beginning of MLK holiday weekend.
Present at the unveiling were Oakland Park’s elected representatives, Mayor Jane Bolin, Vice Mayor Michael Carn, Commissioners Aisha Gordon and Matthew Sparks, former Oakland Park Mayor, Tim Lonergan, as well as County leaders, Broward County Commissioners Dale Holness and Lamar Fisher and one of Broward County’s newest School Board Member, Sarah Leonardi.
Inclusion of All
The new signs show Oakland Park’s commitment to welcoming people of “all races, religions, genders, ages, abilities, sexual orientations, and countries of origin.” The sign further reiterates this commitment by concluding with the statement “Our community STANDS with you”.
The first of the fourteen total signs that will be installed is at the intersection of NW 39 Street and 29 Avenue. Over the next few months more signs will be installed in key locations throughout the City.
In 2020, the City of Oakland Park earned a near perfect score, 99/100, on the Municipality Equality Index Scorecard issued by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
The City will continue to support human rights and equality for all as it moves toward celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2029. The City’s inclusion signs are just one more step in its efforts to support and ensure that when Oakland Park enters its 2nd Century that it is a 2nd century that is for all and inclusive of all.
