Background

In September 2020, the Glendale City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution recognizing Glendale’s racist history, including acknowledging that Glendale was a “Sundown Town,” apologizing for the pain caused in the past, and vowing to move forward in an actively anti-racist, inclusive direction. The resolution in part called for the City of Glendale to “continue to examine the historical role that racism has played in Glendale” and to “review and revise its policies, procedures, ordinance, values, goals and missions through an anti-racism lens to foster an unbiased and inclusive environment that is free of discrimination and harassment toward any person or group.” Glendale Library, Arts & Culture (GLAC) and the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) acknowledge our collective cultural humility and on-going desire to actively educate ourselves on how to navigate complex culturally sensitive situations and have developed the following I.D.E.A. (Inclusion. Diversity. Equity. Anti-Racism.) Statement in an effort to align with the priorities outlined in the resolution and to guide future work.

 

Statement

GLAC and ACC believe that all people have the right to participate freely in the arts and the cultural life of the community, and to equitably access information, lifelong learning and public library spaces and resources. GLAC’s definition of diversity includes all ways in which people differ, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, geography, citizenship status, religion, language, physical appearance, and the intersection of these identities. We commit to ensuring inclusion, diversity, equity, and antiracism in all GLAC and ACC policies and practices. To implement the principles of this statement, GLAC and the ACC will:

• Ensure the equitable use of resources to intentionally support and serve diverse populations. This will inform funding, decision-making, leadership, staffing, resource allocation, policies, partnerships, and programs.

• Seek out opportunities to acknowledge the past exclusion of groups who have experienced prejudice, and actively work to encourage participation from marginalized groups.

• Make systemic change that removes barriers to accessing all GLAC and ACC offerings and provide programs, services and collections that meet the needs of our diverse community.

• Remain accountable through continued evaluation of inclusion, diversity, equity, and antiracism efforts and by making the results of evaluations publicly accessible.

• Provide ongoing training and support for all GLAC staff in developing cultural competencies and the knowledge, skills, and abilities to support inclusion, diversity, equity, and antiracism efforts. 

• Endeavor to create an environment of care and support for our community, staff and partners that is inclusive, diverse, equitable and antiracist on every level.

 

As these commitments evolve, GLAC and ACC invite the community to join our journey of learning, experimentation, tolerance, growth, and positive change. GLAC and ACC pledge to listen and change accordingly in alignment with the principles outlined in this statement.

 

For more information, please visit eglendalelac.org. For additional information about Glendale Library, Arts & Culture’s Cultural Equity Statement, please contact Jennifer Fukutomi-Jones, Principal Arts & Culture Administrator, jfjones@glendaleca.gov or 818-937-7808.