Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Principles | Willamalane Park and Recreation District

Willamalane welcomes all community members and staff of all identities. We recognize that people from oppressed groups have not always had full access to parks and recreation.

Willamalane is committed to taking action against oppression by:

Creating inclusive spaces where everybody feels welcome and valued.
Identifying and removing obstacles to belonging.
Improving accessibility for indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the district.
Improving training, resources, recruitment, accountability, and work environment practices.
Expanding outreach to oppressed community groups.

Willamalane invites all community members and staff to embrace its values: respect, engagement, collaboration, and safety.

Strategic Action Plan

The Strategic Action Plan sets a five-year course for making Willamalane’s work environment, operations, hiring, outreach, recreational facilities, programs, outdoor spaces, and activities accessible, welcoming, equitable, and inclusive to all.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Supervisor reports on progress at public Board of Directors meetings. The Strategic Action Plan is subject to annual updates.

Status Update

In February 2024, the DEI quarterly board report was organized around DEI departmental goals and the 2021 Strategic Action Plan. The 9 key goals, each with objectives and actions that aid with implementation, are as follows:

Goal 1. Develop a Support System for DEI Initiatives.
Goal 2. Demonstrate Leadership and Staff Commitment and Accountability.
Goal 3. Design a Cohesive and Inclusive Work Culture.
Goal 4. Ensure Recruitment, Hiring Practices, Selection, and Promotion Processes Encourage Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Goal 5. Create and implement policies and procedures that are socially responsible for staff, stakeholders, patrons, participants, and vendors.
Goal 6. Engage Minoritized Communities.
Goal 7. Support Departmental DEI Efforts.
Goal 8. Provide Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace.
Goal 9. Measure, Assess, and Evaluate DEI Goals and Objectives.

Events

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Key Partnerships

Equity Community Consortium (ECC)

The Equity and Community Consortium is an information and resource sharing and coordination forum for agencies and jurisdictions that provide governmental and public services in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area. The group of participating agencies is comprised of the Bethel School District, City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Eugene School District 4J, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Lane Community College, Lane Council of Governments, Lane County, Lane Education Service District, Lane Transit District, Springfield School District, Springfield Utility Board, University of Oregon, and Willamalane Park and Recreation District.

The main goals of the ECC are:

To create a safe and supportive space for individuals and agencies to share, learn, build trust and continue elevating their personal and professional equity leadership.
To develop and share information about equity and service to our community and to create opportunities for the mutual benefit of the participating agencies and the people that they serve.
To share experience, progress and challenges associated with each agency’s goals to improve and enhance internal working environments and creating more equitable workplaces.
To improve equity with respect to each agency’s goods, services, bids, and employment, and to build capacity for each agency to engage in equity work.
To proactively communicate about the importance of equity in our organizations and the community and stand together against hate and bias.
To work together while also allowing each agency to make informed, independent action-oriented decisions relying on information and idea exchange and mutual support that is created by the ECC.

Other key partnerships include:

Willamalane Land Acknowledgment

About the Land Acknowledgement

A land acknowledgment is usually spoken at the beginning of a public event to recognize the event is taking place on the land of Indigenous people, in this case, the Kalapuya people.

This land acknowledgment is to bring awareness to the first peoples of this land we call home. It is important to understand the history that has brought you to reside on the land and to seek to understand your place in that history.

An Indigenous land acknowledgment should be used to recognize the Indigenous past, present, and future of our location and to understand our place in that relationship.

We do not want this land acknowledgment to just be empty words. We want it to be a call to action and next steps, and a contribution to our community. A land acknowledgment is just the beginning.

We hope to inspire others to take action to support Indigenous peoples and communities.

The Willamalane Land Acknowledgement Statement

We are located on Kalapuya Ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. The Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homelands following the treaties between 1851 and 1855. Then the Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to the Grand Ronde Reservation west of Salem. Today, Kalapuya descendants are primarily citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, they continue to make important contributions to their communities, our local community, the state of Oregon, and the world. We recognize these lands and waters and their significance for the Kalapuya people who lived and continue to live in this region.

We also express our respect to the many tribes that have ancestral connections to this land, and all Indigenous people who call this land their home.

This was adopted by the Willamalane Board of Directors on Oct. 11, 2023.

Contact Willamalane

If you have ideas, comments, or questions, please contact Willamalane's diversity, equity, and inclusion supervisor at kris.wright@willamalane.org. Your feedback will help improve the district's diversity, equity, and inclusion conditions.

You are also welcome and encouraged to attend monthly Board of Directors meetings. Monthly meetings have opportunities for public comment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion updates are given periodically.