At Highlands Council, we want you to know that WE BELIEVE BLACK LIVES MATTER. Our board of trustees and staff have taken time to think and reflect about our role in building an inclusive community in Issaquah Highlands that fosters a sense of belonging for all residents. We stand with members of our community who have experienced marginalization or discrimination.
We know we need to do more, and are committed to listening, learning, growing, and taking ongoing action with you as a community, as well as within our organization. To date, we’ve taken the following steps:
- On May 31, Highlands Council Executive Director Christy Garrard made a statement on the Issaquah Highlands official Facebook page regarding how deeply affected she felt about what had happened in Seattle the night before.
- On June 1, Highlands Council, on behalf of the Issaquah Highlands community, sent a letter to the city of Issaquah in support of its Anti-Discrimination Resolution.
Highlands Council stands with you against all forms of systemic racism – we are STRONGER TOGETHER. We are committed to working with you to build a stronger and more welcoming anti-racist community. Continue reading to learn how we’re getting started and how you can support the Black Lives Matter movement in Issaquah Highlands and beyond.
Share Your Story
We are listening! Please take a few minutes to answer this short survey, which can be answered anonymously. We may share your stories so, as a community, we become more familiar and aware of what’s happening, and use what we learn to shape our actions as an organization moving forward. If you would prefer to reach out to us directly, please feel free to contact any member of our staff.
We also welcome your involvement in our Cross-Cultural Committee, event planning, or however you choose to participate. Please visit our Get Involved page for more information.
Virtual City Council Meeting – June 15
The Issaquah City Council will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, June 15 (starting at 7:00 p.m.), to continue their ongoing dialog with the community about racism, covering the topics of the Issaquah Police Department’s policies, the Issaquah Municipal Court’s efforts to address racial bias, and equity initiatives within the city administration and community.
Christy Garrard, Highlands Council executive director, will speak at the meeting to read a letter to City Council on behalf of Highlands Council.
All are invited to join and provide your perspective. To speak during audience comments, you must sign up by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15.
Juneteenth
We want to recognize this week’s Juneteenth holiday and its importance to our Black community, as well as our commitment to honoring the holiday in the years ahead. Juneteenth is the annual American celebration of freedom on June 19, commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation. For an overview of Juneteenth, see this June 13, 2020 USA Today article.
If you would like to participate in virtual Juneteenth Week celebrations, there are many happening across the country including:
- Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County Juneteenth Week
- Emancipation Park Conservancy’s 148th Annual Juneteenth Celebration
- 33rd Annual Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival
In addition, we encourage you to print our Black Lives Matter image to place in your window to show your support of our Black community:
