Title
Resolve: That the Malden City Council acknowledges the detrimental impact that racism has on our residents and community and will establish a Racial Equity Commission to further examine the consequences of racism on public health and propose recommendations for a Racial Equity Plan for the City of Malden.
WHEREAS the 2020 Decennial Census estimates that over 60% of all Malden residents identify as Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, American Indian or multiracial
WHEREAS over 43% of residents are unable to effectively communicate in English which has an impact on their abilities to live healthy and fulfilling lives
WHEREAS last year MHS students and staff issued a petition asking the city to support initiatives and spaces to hold dialogue around issues related to race and instances of racism in their school
WHEREAS Mayor Gary Christenson declared that racism is a public health crisis in the City of Malden
WHEREAS the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has acknowledged the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents of color and commissioned a report to study racial justice and health equity
WHEREAS racism and racial inequities can cause undue harm to residents’ wellbeing, mental health, access to healthcare, jobs, housing, educational attainment, and economic mobility
BE IT RESOLVED that the Malden City Council
I. Supports the establishment of an ad-hoc Racial Equity Commission who--over the course of 18 months--will develop surveys, conduct focus groups, conduct research and interviews with impacted community members, leaders, and organizations to document the impacts of racism and discrimination, study language access, healthcare, mental health and wellbeing; employment and economic mobility, and educational needs of the city at the municipal level, in the business community, nonprofit and faith-based communities, schools, and beyond
II. Recommends that the Commission is Chaired by the Mayor’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator and further established as follows: Mayor appoints 1 member, the the Malden City Council appoints 2 members, that the School Committee appoint 1 member from the student body of MPS, and that the these 5 members nominate 2 additional members.
III. Desires that the composition of the commission should be as proportionate as possible with the racial demographics of the city as reported by the 2020 US Decennial Census
IV. Will provide updates to the Mayor and City Council at 6 and 12 month intervals during a public meeting, to be followed by a final report and presentation 18 months after commencement of start of the work.