Northfield Resident Hopes Council Adopts Diversity Statement

Ross Currier wants it in writing.

Currier drafted a statement with the help of a small group of Northfielders that addresses the importance of creating a safe and welcoming community.

“It’s important for Northfield to make a statement,” said Currier, executive director of the Northfield Downtown Development Corp.

The document, entitled “City of Northfield Statement for Our Safe and Welcoming Community," is aimed “to ensure that the City of Northfield is committed to creating and nurturing a community that is safe and welcoming to all people.”

The statement’s format was inspired by three similar statements, which Currier found online. The template statements were written on behalf of Green Bay, WI, Omaha, NE, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Currier last week emailed the statement to City Administrator Tim Madigan and members of the Northfield City Council.

Mayor Mary Rossing said she has read the document, but said her knowledge of the statement and its purpose ends there.

“I don’t have enough information at this time,” she told Northfield Patch. “There’s been nothing presented.”

Rossing and the will get to hear more about the draft at tonight's Council meeting. Currier intends to use the public comment portion of the meeting to pitch it to the Council and hopes the Council will adopt the statement ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day., which is Jan. 16.

The statement advocates for community safety and equality, which are ideals close to Currier’s heart. Currier grew up in Virginia in the early 1970s, in the midst of the desegregation era, and was bussed to a predominantly black school.

“My whole life I’ve been very conscious of majority/minority populations,” said Currier.

However, for Currier, this statement is more than a personal declaration in support of diversity. He feels that adopting the statement will greatly benefit the community. 

He noted that many businesses in downtown Northfield generate revenue internationally, specifically citing , , and . For these businesses, Currier feels, creating a safe and welcoming community is particularly important.

In his e-mail to the Council, Currier said "Northfield's economy is driven by knowledge workers, the 'creative class,' or economic innovators. These individuals, businesses, and institutions 'export' their information-based products and services around the country and the world. Their clients and customers reflect the diversity our our country and our world.

"In addition, our economic future is based on our community's ability to continue to attract and retain these people and these organizations. Northfield must be safe and welcoming to all people."

IF YOU GO
WHAT: City Council meeting
WHERE:
WHEN: 7 p.m. tonight 

FOR MORE DISCUSSION
Head to Locally Grown Northfield

FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT

Purpose:

To ensure that the City of Northfield is committed to creating and nurturing a communitythat is safe and welcoming to all people.

Statement:

Northfield, Minnesota is a multi-cultural community of people from diverse racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds, national origins, religious and political beliefs, genders, sexual orientations, and physical abilities. Our community is, and its individual members are, enriched by our acceptance of one another as we live, work, and play together in an environment of positive engagement and mutual respect.

Northfield is home to a dynamic and innovative mix of businesses and institutions. Many of these organizations serve markets that are national or international, reflecting the diversity of our world. Our businesses and institutions often host people from around the country and around the world. It is essential to our success that our community be safe and welcoming to all people.

Northfield celebrates the diverse contributions of all people. We accept the responsibility as individuals and a community, to actively participate in building a community where diverse attributes, perspectives, cultures, and values are accepted, appreciated, supported, and celebrated. We will challenge bigotry wherever it appears.

All who live, work, and recreate in our community have a right to be in and a responsibility to create an environment that is safe and welcoming to all people. The City of Northfield, by this statement, publicly declares its commitment to creating and nurturing a safe and welcoming community.