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PROCLAMATION    

 

 

WHEREAS, the City of Newberg takes pride in honoring and celebrating February as Black History Month; and 

WHEREAS, since 1926, Charles G. Woodson’s vision to establish an annual exploration of the Black experience has been accompanied by a theme that focuses public attention on important developments that merit emphasis; and  

WHEREAS, the 2022 theme of “Black Health and Wellness” recognizes and celebrates the legacies of Black scholars, medical practitioners in western medicine, naturopathic physicians, and other grass root initiatives Black communities have embarked on to achieve wellness, such as mutual aid, community clinics, and an increased focus in mental health and preventative care; and

WHEREAS, we also seek to showcase often overlooked Black pioneers like Dr. Charles Richard Drew who discovered the method of long-term preservation of blood plasma which saved thousands of lives and innovated procedures used by the American Red Cross; and Dr. Mae C. Jemison who is not only a physician, researcher, and author, but also the first Black woman to travel in space as a NASA Astronaut; and   

WHEREAS, this year’s Black history month theme also serves to acknowledge the historical and modern-day disparities in quality and access of healthcare for Black Americans; and 

WHEREAS, it is vital for non-Black individuals to seek an accurate education on the systemic inequities of our society that are not obvious in their lived experiences; and

WHEREAS, we encourage all residents to reflect on our State and Country’s history to inform a commitment to prioritizing racial equity, inclusion, and respect for human dignity in all that we do; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in celebration of the legacies and continued influence of Black Oregonians and Americans, the Mayor and City Council, and on behalf of the people of the City of Newberg, Oregon, hereby proclaim February 2022 as Black History Month.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I Mayor Rick Rogers have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the City of Newberg to be affixed on this 7th of February 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rick Rogers, Mayor