By Désirée Ávila | editor@livinginoaklandpark.com
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.
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About the Author
Désirée Ávila has called Oakland Park her home for over 33 years. In addition to publishing LivingInOaklandPark.com, Désirée has been featured in print publications, locally and abroad. Désirée was an award winning teacher for 10 years and has a doctoral level education in Educational Technology. She is currently a licensed Florida Realtor® and is committed to a high-level of professionalism.
Désirée consistently professionally develops herself and has earned several different professional designations and certifications in real estate including the PSA, e-Pro, AHWD, SRS, ABR, and SFR. She was also awarded the C2EX, Commitment to Excellence award by the National Association for Realtors (NAR). This award is given to Realtors® that distinguish themselves for their commitment to excellence in the real estate industry.
She is esteemed by her real estate colleagues and has consistently received 5 star reviews from her clients. Her philosophy about real estate is that being a Realtor® is a way of teaching and helping people, and in the process a real estate transaction may occur, that is to say her foremost priority is and has always been about helping others.
She is dedicated to her hometown of Oakland Park and works consistently on building and fostering a strong community. She is passionate about photography and loves to read books about history ; the more detail the better! In addition to English, Désirée is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian.
Check out her real estate websites: DesireeAvila.com and OaklandParkRealEstateAgent.com
Visit her real estate blog at www.DesireeRealtor.com
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