The Lyons Board of Trustees recently adopted a proclamation committing to inclusiveness and unconditional respect following the presidential election that has stirred uncertainty about the future.
Town Mayor Connie Sullivan said the board elected to unanimously sign a proclamation Jan. 3, rather than simply releasing a statement, to signify they’re putting action behind their words that could bridge a divide between people holding different views.
“We don’t want to be considered pro-Democrat or pro-Republican,” she said. “It’s more about, how do we protect our differences and how we can all communicate better?”
The single page of commitments includes cherishing diversity; sharing hospitality; servicing all residents; ensuring all Lyons citizens are heard; supporting communities of color, LGBTQ, immigrants, refugees, indigenous people and those with or without religious backgrounds; as well as empowering citizens to cultivate a society that doesn’t tolerate discrimination, racism, misogyny or oppression.
Sullivan said the formal document establishes the town’s values that date back before the election, but she said the announcement will hold them accountable when evaluating policies and ordinances in the current sensitive climate.
With the exception of a few changes by the board, she said, the language was almost entirely written by members of the Lyons community group Colorado Conscious Action, which came to the board in December with the idea and a draft.
One of three spearheading the group, Jasmine Lok, owner of Mayama Movement Studio, said her students came to class the day after the election crying and regretful they hadn’t done more to advocate for equality.
“It was clear to me that they were seeking a place to talk about how they were feeling and seeking support,” Lok said.
She said Lori Stott and Andrea Dugan drafted the proclamation as the group’s first effort. She said the group then organized to send more than 200 people to the Women’s March in Denver and 10 people to the event in Washington, D.C., last month.
Lok said the group’s mission is to bring “conscious voice and action to create and nurture a new culture of unity that benefits the diversity of all life on earth.”
CCA, which has held eight meetings since forming in November, is seeking a place for sharing personal stories to raise awareness to any discrimination in the community.
Sullivan said she has heard stories from people in the community, such as those who have called on behalf of undocumented workers who are unsure of where to turn.
“The sanctuary cities are getting a lot of attention,” Sullivan said, “but I’ve heard from our citizens who are undocumented, ‘What does this mean for us?’ It’s not just a big city issue. This is impacting people who live in small towns.”
The proclamation, she said, has prompted the board to evaluate a few ways the board operates.
“Does what we have in place make it harder for anyone to participate?” Sullivan said.
She said, for example, the board in the coming months plans to discuss compensation to ensure an hourly person isn’t unable to participate and assess mechanisms for someone to ask for a non-Christian holiday off.
Lyons also released a joint statement Jan. 27 with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office vowing to not take someone into custody based solely on a person’s immigration status.
Others officials in Boulder County — such as Longmont, Boulder and Lafayette — have declared similar inclusive policies and values.
Amelia Arvesen: 303-684-5212, arvesena@times-call.com or twitter.com/ameliaarvesen
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