Striving for Racial Equity
City of Golden Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Task-Force
The REDI (Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Task Force is composed of community members and city staff who have a key role in implementing aspects of the REDI Action Plan, finalized by the City in November of 2022.
The task force meets monthly in the Public Works & Planning Building (1445 10th St.) on the first Thursday of the month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
The Task Force will focus on promoting accountability for implementing the REDI Action Plan and coordinating community-wide efforts to advance equity.
Each member of the task force was carefully selected to represent different backgrounds and experiences in an effort to create a group of individuals who can help lead this work and these important conversations for the community.
Task Force
Community Members:
- Virginia Ortiz
- Michele Minihane
- Maria Landon-Simpson
- Eric Bartold
- Elijah P. Dimon-Ainscough
Staff:
- Bodhi Horton
- Clarissa Cutrell
- Clare Nowalk
- Angela Gosalvez
Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan - November, 2022
The final Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan is now available. This action plan identifies goals, strategies, and actions to achieve a vision of Golden as a place where all are welcomed, included, represented, honored, and treated fairly, regardless of identity or ability. The REDI action plan reflects the perspectives, interests, and priorities of a diverse cross-section of Golden community members. Over 250 community members participated in a broad range of outreach activities including focus groups, surveys, and training sessions for City staff and elected officials.
The work of promoting racial equity, diversity, and inclusion is ongoing and this plan aims to lay out strategies and actions over five years to achieve the following goals:
- Cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging in the City.
- Increase access to services and resources for diverse community members.
- Foster an organizational culture and environment committed to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Expand economic opportunity for diverse businesses.
Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan Community Conversation: Sept. 29
Based on community feedback gathered through focus groups and a community survey, we have developed draft goals and strategies for our plan. We would like to learn more from the Golden community about how, working together, we can realize our shared vision for Golden.
Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan - April, 2022 Update
An update on the work towards the Golden REDI Action Plan is now available. This update describes the work that has been done on community engagement and the training for City staff. A summary of the findings from community engagement efforts. Through the work so far, the City and its consultants have established a vision for REDI in Golden and how things currently are going, what the major issues facing Golden in this area are, and what ideas have been gathered from the community to date. Additionally, The update describes the equity training that City leadership and staff have participated in so far and what the next steps will be.
You can read through the April 2022 REDI Update on Guiding Golden and continue to be involved by staying updated on future REDI work in Golden.
Read and provide feedback on the Golden REDI Action Plan.
Community Engagement for Golden's Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan - November, 2021
We are excited to announce that we have completed our initial phase of "listening and learning" from the community regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion in Golden. Here are some of the highlights from the three engagement activities:
- Key Influencer Interviews - Seven interviews were conducted in October 2021 with the Golden Anti-Racism Collective; Golden United; the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development; the Mayor and the City Council; and the Golden Executive Management Team.
- Four Community Focus Groups - Four focus groups were conducted in October 2021, including two general community focus groups, a youth focus groups with students of Bell Middle School, and a focus group with students and faculty at the Colorado School of Mines.
- Community Survey - The online survey was open to the community from October 25 through January 3. We received 184 responses. Participation was representative of the community; the majority of respondents have lived and/or worked in Golden for at least six years.
Thank you to our community members who have provided so much rich input into Golden's Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan Process! A full report summarizing community feedback from our engagement activities will be available April 8th. A summary presentation to Council is available REDI Action Plan Community Input Presentation.
We are continuing to listen and learn in to the spring through the following activities:
- Racial Equity Training for City leadership staff to help them establish a common understanding and language as they create the REDI Action Plan;
- A Baseline Equity Assessment of REDI plans, practices, policies, and procedures in the Management Team; and conducting a thorough analysis of the information to create the Baseline Equity Assessment and recommendations for embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the City's operations.
- City Staff Listening Sessions will allow City staff to provide detailed input on REDI needs and opportunities.
As the Plan development moves forward, we'll continue to ask the community for ideas and feedback. This is your plan - we can't do it without you!
Work begins on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan - May, 2021
Staff has meet with the project team to begin work on the assessment phase of the Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Action Plan. We have begun to conduct interviews and focus groups discussions about how Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is viewed in Golden currently. Our approach includes the following goals:
- Leverage Local Networks and Existing Community Engagement Efforts. Build on the variety and depth of existing community involvement initiatives in Golden to effectively and efficiently engage the public in the REDI Action Plan process. Tap into existing community-based networks of local leaders and groups to connect with a wider range of community members.
- Identify Barriers to Participation. Cultivate an understanding of existing or potential barriers to the full participation of all community members, particularly communities of color and low-income populations, in the REDI Action Plan process.
- Create Opportunities for Inclusive and Equitable Participation. Provide multiple and varied opportunities for a broad range of community members, businesses, interest groups and City staff to share meaningful input. Unique methods will be designed to specifically engage communities that have not traditionally participated in planning efforts, including disadvantaged communities, youth and limited-English proficient communities, and address barriers to participation identified above.
- Collaborate and Inform Decision-Making. Collect useful and relevant public input that reflects local expertise and values and informs decision-making related to the REDI Action Plan process.
- Build Long-Term Capacity for Civic Engagement around Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Build social capital and support those engaged through the process to stay involved and share not only concerns and issues, but also solutions and strategies necessary to implement the REDI Action Plan.
- To implement this approach, the Project Team will use a combination of virtual engagement, grassroots outreach support, multi-media communications, and social media outreach. The approach will be informed by the City of Golden’s Community Engagement Planning Guide and will utilize outreach tools identified in the City Tool Box as appropriate.
The overarching goal of the community engagement process is to provide opportunities for meaningful participation and consensus-building among residents, community groups, business organizations, City staff and other stakeholders to define a shared vision for supporting racial equity, diversity and inclusion in the City of Golden.
Council approves hiring MIG to consult on racial equity plan - April, 2021
The City received 12 proposals from firms interested in working with Golden on creating a racial equity plan, which were posted with a short survey to gather input from the community. The JEDI Subcommittee reviewed the proposals based on the criteria outlined in the RFP and the community feedback to narrow the group to the top 6 proposals from firms to interview.
After interviewing the six finalists, the JEDI Subcommittee presented their final recommendation to Council that the City hire MIG to consult on Golden's racial equity plan during the June 8 City Council meeting. The JEDI Subcommittee preferred MIG for its community-focused approach and wide scope. Their work is broken into Phase 1: Listening and Learning: Key Issues, Opportunities, and Priorities, which will take place June-October/November. JEDI believes a thorough learning and listening phase will produce meaningful feedback and information to create the right plan for Golden. Phase 2: Taking Action: Developing the Racial Equity Plan will take place early 2022.
- MIG Collective Purpose Proposal
- Council Memorandum -- JEDI Subcommittee Recommendation
- June 8 City Council Meeting
Working Towards Racial Equity - January, 2021
The City has made a commitment to anti-racism work through significant City Council actions including passing resolutions declaring racism a public health crisis and committing to the hard work of exploring and eradicating racial bias and inequity in our community. City Council created the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) City Council subcommittee (Councilor Trout and Councilor Reed) to help focus on the work and to make recommendations and bring ideas as well as potential actions to City Council for wider discussion.
The next step is making a plan for action. The City is seeking expertise to develop an Equity Plan that may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Conducting surveys and assessments to identify the extent of equity disparities in Golden.
- Identify decision making framework that prioritizes equity in City policy, programming, and budgetary considerations.
- Lay out targets of success; although equity is a path, the Equity Plan will identify milestones along that path.
- Establishing metrics to determine the baseline and to measure progress and successes toward achieving the strategies.
- Gathering relevant input and data and establishing appropriate benchmarks to reduce disparities and increasing the success rates of communities of color, women, immigrants & refugees, LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, plus), and other marginalized communities.
- Making policy recommendations to advance equity in priority areas such as: affordable housing & homelessness, planning, economic development, police & criminal justice reform, education, health, transit & transportation services, and other critical community functions.
- Identifying ongoing training opportunities and best practices to ensure the City is a welcoming and inclusive, and empowering environment for our staff and community.
Community Conversation on Striving for Racial Equity
We had an amazing turnout for our first community-wide conversation on racial equity! On Wednesday, Jan. 13, more than 160 people joined our virtual meeting to share ideas, concerns, and goals for the City of Golden as we grow together into the next chapter.
The conversation was facilitated by Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler, the Chief Catalyst and founder of The Equity Project LLC – an organization designed to support organizations and communities in building diversity, equity and inclusion strategies.
We appreciate the thoughtful, respectful and vulnerable things people shared during the meeting. The City plans to take this insight and use it as a way to develop strategies to move forward in our efforts toward making Golden more welcoming, equitable, and inclusive.
If you were unable to attend the meeting, we invite you to watch it on our YouTube channel.. Please also share your thoughts at the bottom of the page. We look forward to more community conversations and will keep you posted once more events are scheduled.
Striving For Racial Equity - Summer, 2021
The City of Golden strives to be a diverse, inclusive community and a place for all people to feel valued, safe, and welcome. We acknowledge that the work is ongoing to become an anti-racist city and community. The iconic arch over Downtown Golden is a message we want all to know: YOU are welcome here. The strength and endurance behind the message come from the Golden 2030 Heart and Soul values of a city government that is responsive, approachable, good at listening, welcomes participation and involvement, is fair to all parts of the city, and is accountable. In the spirit of these values, the Golden City Council passed a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis on June 11, 2020.
The current pandemic has made clear the health disparities that have existed in America for more than 400 years. It is shining a stark light upon the long-running racial divide; COVID-19 is killing Black people at higher rates than the rate of White people, and Black people are disproportionately suffering in part due to long-standing, unaddressed health disparities as well as systematic racism and other socioeconomic inequities.
The dark and racist history of our city and our entire country has led to many current-day disparities in education, health and safety, job attainment, income and wealth; housing and healthcare; disproportionate incarceration rates for people of color; and other systems of injustice. City Council further recognizes the existence of White privilege, meaning the systemic advantages that White people have relative to people of color and the role it plays in our policies. The deadly police brutality against George Floyd in Minneapolis is one of the most recent examples of this culture of hate and racism that must change. But we can’t wait for change, we must be the change.
The City of Golden is dedicated to listening, learning, and acting to advance racial equity. In light of current events and a loss of trust in law enforcement, we are sharing all of our police procedures and policies so that we can start a dialogue with the community about how we police, and what procedures can use improvement. We encourage our community to join us here on this page to help us find ways to make Golden a more inclusive community. We will also seek out trainings to make us more conscious of issues in our community and continue to find more ways to engage our community in a conversation.
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A Message from Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg - July, 2020
“I want to express my deep sadness and anger about racist incidents and Black lives cut short. People across the country, and here in Denver, are using peaceful protests and rallies to say enough is enough. Enough to ongoing racial prejudice, enough to unequal justice, enough to the killings. Marching, kneeling, or gathering together is a way to express the sadness, the impotence, the frustrations that nothing seems to change or get better. Americans have long used the power of protest in this country to affect changes, but more is needed then just showing up in the streets.”
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The Golden City Council commits to listening & learning, acting, and changing to advance racial equity and improve the quality of life for all in Golden.
Listen & Learn
- We created this page to engage and listen to the community about how Golden can be more welcoming and inclusive.
- We are seeking out trainings that make us more conscious of issues in our community and how to avoid and stamp out systemic racism.
Action - August, 2020
City Council Takes Action Against Racism
At the City Council meeting on Aug. 27, councilors made a commitment to the Golden community to actively address racial inequities and find short and long-term strategies for being a welcoming and inclusive community.
Earlier this year, Council declared racism to be a public health crisis and committed to “listening, learning, and acting to advance racial equity and improve the quality of life and health for all.” This page is dedicated to this important topic. The resolutions passed on Aug. 27 furthered this commitment with some tangible steps forward.
Council authorized a public display of support in the form of a banner under the Welcome to Golden arch that will proclaim, “Golden Stands with Black Lives.” Council member and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Subcommittee member Councilor Trout said “When I say Golden stands with Black lives, it means I recognize the human dignity of each Black person and I value their life. I want to welcome, include, ensure the safety and security, and make sure all Black lives have equal opportunities to thrive… As a city leader, I am telling everyone that I do not tolerate racism and bigotry. I will stand up for anyone facing discrimination. And most importantly, I am committing myself to do the hard work to make the change.”
City Council unanimously voted in favor of the hard work ahead. In July, City Council established the JEDI subcommittee and by resolution on Aug. 27, authorized and directed the subcommittee to research and explore options for developing an anti-racism plan. This includes finding ways to have community conversations about races, equity, and social justice. The Golden Police department will host a listening session and the subcommittee will schedule a facilitated town hall listening session prior to November.
Racism is not welcome in Golden. The work to ensure an equitable community will be ongoing, and our community will play an important role in this process. As listening opportunities and public meetings are scheduled, we will list them on this page.
- Resolution 2736 – Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis
- Resolution 2747 - Declaring Support for Black Lives and Racial Equity Through a Public Display
- Resolution 2748 - Declaring Commitment to Anti-Racism Actions
- Study Session on July 16, 2020 with Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick
- On July 23, 2020, City Council created the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) subcommittee to gather research and information to inform city council conversation and frame discussions that will come to full council for consideration.
- The City has joined the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), nationally-recognized leader in advancing racial equity within government agencies. The City will work with GARE to identify materials and training for the City team and our community.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion discussion has been added to the City Council retreat agenda to discuss the next steps City Council will take to ensure progress on this topic.
Change
Please subscribe to this page by clicking the link bottom right to be contacted with updates to this page, including what changes are happening.
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Start by Educating Yourself
Wondering what you can do? How you can get involved? Here are some resources for you:
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.
- Bicycle/Race by Adonia E. Lugo
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture website
Golden REDI Action Plan
Golden REDI Community Survey Responses
REDI Action Plan Community Input Summary Presentation
Consultant Proposal
A Message from Mayor Laura Weinberg
Past Community Conversations
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On November 30, 2020, Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick and Golden City Manager Jason Slowinski held a virtual community conversation focused on the topic of Racial Equity. This virtual event took a deeper dive into some of the issues brought up during the October Community Listening Session as we seek to make Golden a more welcoming place.
A letter to the Golden Community from Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick
Who's Listening
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Phone 303-384-8012 Email clorentz@cityofgolden.net
Engagement Level
- Inform: City provides timely information and updates to the community.
- Consult: Hear public feedback on relevant parts of a project, keep information updated so community can follow along.
Well, from my own experience. I think you are doing well at least compare to other communities. I'll just suggest you invest in more public infrastructure and amenities
I want to thank the city of Golden and Dr. Nita Tyler for having this discussion. I learned a lot and hope to put the things I learned into action. I am eager for the city of Golden to move forward in it's work for racial equity.
WOW. So you have to use one "race?" We are all One. Human beings. By saying "Black people matter in Golden leaves out ever other "race." Asian, Latino, That is very sad. We all know that EVERY human matters. Stop this "race" thing. It is 2020. Time to understand we are ALL one. ✌️
Are there any protective plans for Golden in the event rioting occurs on election night? If problems occur, what should homeowners do to protect themselves.
I'm proud to live in a community that has declared racial inequality a public health crisis, and that will publicly announce and affirm that it stands with the African American community. I'm white, and in no way do I feel that by affirming Black Lives Matter I am denigrating anyone else's existence. To be for BLM is not to be against the police, or any other group of people. It's an opportunity for inclusion, and to recognize and validate the lives of people we live with. While I see all of this as signs of progress in our community, we also need to take this opportunity to address structural issues within Golden that may prevent us from becoming a more welcoming community. We need to appropriate funding to help support these early initiatives and make our words count. To that extent, I suggest we begin a general fund, supported by a proportional or progressive tax, and use that fund to help offset housing costs, to offer incentives to black or minority owned businesses, to offer scholarships, etc.
I would love to see an integration of the Racial Equity initiative with the Heart of Golden planning. We are spending a lot of time and resources on that plan, and it will impact our community for decades to come. How can we solicit input from appropriate stakeholders to improve our Heart of Golden design ideas to make Golden more welcoming and inclusive for diverse communities?
The following is my opinion regarding the city council's decision to install the "We Stand with Black Lives" under the Golden arch. Perhaps some people who opposed this action will better understand the motives of the BLM movement better if they consider the following:
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Black Live Matter, Too
I commend the city council’s decision to hang the “Golden Stands with Black Lives” banner under the Washington Street arch; this is timely and appropriate. For those opposed to this action I would like to address the two most likely reasons for this opposition.
The first time some of us came across the proclamation “Black Lives Matter”, it was possible to consider this expression as exclusive to other groups’ value. Of course, all lives matter; how dare they! Well, this issue has dominated our news cycles for the better part of a year and anyone paying the least bit of attention should know that the expression is not meant to exclude any other group, but rather to say that black lives matter just as much as everyone else's. Perhaps a better way to have phrased the intended message is, “Black Lives Matter, Too”. Consequently, it’s possible that the retort of “All lives matter” is an attempt to correct the inferred exclusion of non-blacks. But, what is more likely being implied is a partisan and racist dog whistle. Hopefully, most Goldenites are on the side of inclusion and full rights for all.
The second objection is that putting this message on our publicly owned arch is inappropriately putting Golden in the business of advocating a controversial political opinion. There are those who seek to make the Black Lives Matter movement a hotly divided partisan issue to serve election year political means; but this issue is far larger than that. I would compare the Black Lives Matters movement to the Women’s Suffrage movement of the early nineteenth century. Denying an adult American woman the right to vote is arguably less serious than denying our black citizens: equal economic and societal opportunities, and fair and just (and non-fatal) law enforcement. But both fit into the overarching theme of fixing an immoral and unconstitutional disparity.
I, for one, am proud of Golden for hanging this banner and would have given my full support to an earlier banner loudly proclaiming, “Golden Supports Women’s Suffrage”. Making difficult social changes usually requires loud and unsettling actions. Kudos Golden, for being on the right side of history.
The Black Lives banner makes my family and I feel like we are no longer welcome in our own community and we've lived in Golden for nearly a decade. We support equality and have taken initiative to educate ourselves and strive to actively be anti-racist, yet we are now stereotyped as racist simply because of our involvement in law enforcement. Now that the City of Golden has made a stance to support the BLM movement with the banner even with the omission of the word "matter", we no longer feel comfortable supporting our favorite downtown businesses and have discontinued our daily walks along clear creek. Until we know the City of Golden and the council members that voted for this banner also support law enforcement, we don't feel welcome in Golden and feel you have achieved more divide than ever before. It's ironic that there is so much push for equality, yet for GPD and other first responders, they now facing daily prejudice and hate just for their profession.
It feels inclusive in terms of socioeconomic status. It does not feel inclusive in terms of race and ethnicity. Can we incentivize black owned businesses in Golden? At least can we actively recruit black owned businesses in Golden?
It was brought to my attention by the Latin community and Jewish friends that placing a sign under "our" golden welcome sign specifically about the black community is racist within its self. We were under the impression all lives matter not just a specific race. Hopefully you will change the sign to accommodate all races.
This is a great addition and seeing this makes me proud to be part of the Golden community. It would be great if Golden considered doing a mural on a side of a building as well, this would be long lasting and add an artistic expression of this important moment in history and support.
This is SO important. Pleased council passed both resolutions last night let’s keep working as a community to do even more better.
I found the reply below about Buffalo Bill Days very educational. I had not looked at it that way. The comment made me realize that an in depth look at our celebrations and special events including both both the history of the event and and evaluation of each on a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion rubric. The community conversation about this would reach a larger audience if it was included in the Golden Informer. Progress reports from the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Golden Informer. Establish a long term time line of plans to implement, conversations to hold and a record of observable changes would be useful to keep the topic in front of us. Historically social issues tend to fade from public view when the news media no longer can present them as an event or crisis. Possibly being a sister city with an equally sized small town that has a more diverse demographic and promoting zoom or other conversations between the residents there and those here would be meaningful in promoting understanding of the issue.
I think we should put on the “Howdie Folks” banner “All Lives Matter so wear your mask!!!”
Golden can begin to make everyone feel welcome and at home in Golden by displaying a Black Lives Matter banner on the Welcome to Golden Arch sign.
One of the easiest ways to be a welcoming and inclusive community is not to try and turn somebody else's tragedy into "wholesome entertainment for the whole family."
Between 1492 and 1900 the Native American genocide claimed as many as 175 million indigenous lives (https://www.se.edu/native-american/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2019/09/A-NAS-2017-Proceedings-Smith.pdf). Hunting buffalo to near-extinction was not just a thoughtless waste of a natural resource. Buffalo hunt was the military strategy favored by General Philip Sheridan to starve Native Americans onto the reservations (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/where-the-buffalo-no-longer-roamed-3067904/). Sheridan wrote about the buffalo hunters, "These men have done more in the last two years, and will do more in the next year, to settle the vexed Indian question, than the entire regular army has done in the last forty years. They are destroying the Indians’ commissary."
William Cody ("Buffalo Bill") was an enthusiastic participant in both the buffalo hunts and the wars against the Planes Indians. In later years his Wild West Show retailed the genocide as family entertainment along the lines of dime novels. He even hired Native Americans to reenact old battles in which, of course, "Buffalo Bill" always won. One final humiliation: having to make money by reenacting your people's destruction.
While William Cody may have passed through Golden, he had no material connection to our town's history. His expressed desire was to be buried in Wyoming. However, the editors of the "Denver Post" paid Cody's estranged widow to bury him on Lookout Mountain to create a tourist attraction.
Now that Buffalo Bill Days is on hiatus due to COVID-19, the time is right to rethink Golden's connection with Cody. Recently, signs saying "REPLACE ME" and "GENOCIDE CLOWN" were placed on and around the Cody statue at 10th and Washington. In a Golden Facebook group numerous angry, white supremacist comments raged against the anonymous sign-makers. One local realtor even went to far as to say that if Hitler had won the Second World War, then we'd be honoring statues of him--as if the goodness or badness of genocide were culturally relative!
So it appears that the Cody statue is becoming a rallying point for white supremacists, and it would be a shame if these kind of people infiltrated our summer community celebration.
My suggestion is to honor figures more directly connected to our local history such as Mines founder Edward Berthoud who lived at 11th and Washington or White Antelope, a Cheyenne chief who frequented our area, sought peace, and died in the Sand Creek Massacre (https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-great-great-grandfather-and-an-american-indian-tragedy-1416855754).
It's time to relocate the Cody statue to the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum and replace it with an image that doesn't mock others' suffering. It's also time to replace "Buffalo Bill Days" with a celebration that reflects our community's positive values and authentic history.
A personal note: My family came to Golden in 1859, and my great, great grandfather was Golden's first town marshal. I have always found corny nostalgia and western cosplay to be utterly more disrespectful to my family history than critiques of William Cody.
How is the city of Golden engaging community leaders in the public and business sectors to encourage diversity and in their hiring and policy-making practices? Equity begins with a seat at the table.
The real path to racial equity begins with having housing that is affordable for all income levels and jobs that provide living wages.
Will the Golden City Council study session with GPD be open to the public in any capacity (ie live-streamed or minutes)? Thanks