HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-02 ProclamationAttachments:Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific
Islander Day Against Bullying proclamation
Item Number: 2.a.
May 2, 2023
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Asia American and Pacific Islander Day Against
Bullying
City of Iowa City YY
PROCLAMATION
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Whereas,Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was first proposed as a commemorative week by
Rep. Frank Horton of New York, and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter,with the week's first
recognition being in 1979, but was amended to its present form of an annual celebratory month in
1992;and
Whereas, the term "Asian Pacific" is very broad and includes many peoples and cultures, from the
entire Asian continent to the Pacific Island groups of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, and thus
encompasses diverse populations within one group designation;and
Whereas,the contributions Americans of Asian and Pacific Island heritage have made to this society
are too many and varied to list comprehensively, and
Whereas, the API community is the fastest growing racial group in America and today is an
important moment to recognize not only our longtime communities but also our newcomers. Asian
Pacific Americans have made contributions ranging from building connections to the rest of the US
with the Transcontinental Railroad,to service with valor in our armed forces,to the fields of
agriculture,business, education,health, and technology; and
Whereas, the API community has been marked by a struggle for freedom, equality, and justice,
prevailing over the adversity of exclusion, persecution, incarceration, and disparities; and
Whereas, May 18 is the birthday of Vincent Chin, who was brutally murdered in a hate crime in
1982. His murder fueled a national Asian American activist movement that continues to this day;
and
Whereas,we have seen a staggering rise in bullying, discrimination, and hate crimes against the
Asian American and Pacific Islander(API)community during the COVID-19 pandemic;and
Whereas, in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Vincent Chin birthday, May
18 shall bean API Day Against Bullying and Hate; and
Whereas, Act to Change is a national nonprofit dedicated to fighting bullying in the Asian American
and Pacific Islander community.To find resources, visit ActToChange.org; and
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2023
to be
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
And do hereby proclaim Wednesday,May 18,2023 to be
Asian American and Pacific Islander Day Against Bullying
in Iowa City and urge all community members to join Act to Change. The City of Iowa City is
committed to this important issue and encourages the public to foster dialogue, share resources. 'r
; and learn more about what tIey can do to fight bullying.
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Signed in Iowa City,Iowa, 7
44:1 op, the 2'day of May 2023. ;y,
Attachments:Bicycle Month and Bike to Work Week proclamation
Item Number: 2.b.
May 2, 2023
Bicycle Month and Bike to Work Week
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, the bicycle is an economical, healthy, and environmentally sound form of
} transportation, recreation, and enjoyment; and
Whereas, increasing bicycle access and safety enables residents of Iowa City,
including young people, to participate more fully in the educational, social, and
economic life of our community; and
Whereas, the Metro Area bicycle network, including our off-street trail system, now
attracts bicycle tourism and economic development that helps to support and sustain
local businesses; and
Whereas, throughout the month of May, residents of Iowa City can experience the
joys of bicycling by participating in educational programs, rides, commuting events,
charity events, or by simply going for a ride; and
Whereas, these activities create greater public awareness of rights and
responsibilities of bicyclists to improve safety for all.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim May
2023 to be
Bicycle Month
and
May 15-21 as Bike to Work Week
in Iowa City and urge all residents who are able to join in this observance by bicycling
for fitness, recreation, or to commute to work. Further, I ask all motorists to drive
safely and with full attention to the road by putting away electronic devices; obeying
all traffic signs, signals, and speed limits; sharing the road by allowing no less than 5
feet of separation when passing a bicyclist or taking to the adjacent lane to pass on
roads with speed limits over 25 MPH; and yielding to bicyclists and pedestrians as
required by law.
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Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
"tt;1M4 the 2nd day of May 2023.
Attachments:Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation
Item Number: 2.c.
May 2, 2023
Jewish American Heritage Month
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION :;,iip
Whereas, the Jewish American experience, as President Biden so aptly proclaimed, " is
a story of faith, fortitude, and progress. It is a quintessential American experience — one
that is connected to key tenets of American identity, including our Nation's commitment
to freedom of religion and conscience. This month, we honor Jewish Americans — past
and present who have inextricably woven their experience and their accomplishments
into the fabric of our national identity. Generations of Jewish people have come to this
Nation fleeing oppression, discrimination, and persecution in search of a better life for
themselves and their children. These Jewish Americans have created lives for themselves
and their families and played indispensable roles in our Nation's civic and community
life, making invaluable contributions to our Nation through their leadership and
achievements"; and
'Whereas, equal opportunity for all- regardless of age, color, creed, disability, familial
status, gender identity, marital status, national origin, presence or absence of dependents,
public assistance, source of income, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation- is a
fundamental goal of our city; and
Whereas, we recognize the historic accomplishments of Jewish Americans, such as
Moses Bloom, the mayor of Iowa City from 1873 to 1875 and the first Jewish mayor of
an American city; Libbie Hyman of Des Moines, author of the 1919 volume A
Laboratory Manual for Elementary Zoology; Phillip Roth, American novelist who taught
at the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop in 1960; and
Whereas, as the President further proclaimed, "[a]longside this narrative of
achievement and opportunity, there is also a history of racism, bigotry, and other forms of
injustice. This includes the scourge of anti-Semitism. In recent years, Jewish Americans
have increasingly been the target of white nationalism and the antisemitic violence it
fuels. As our Nation strives to heal these wounds and overcome these challenges, let us
acknowledge and celebrate the crucial contributions that Jewish Americans have made to
our collective struggle for a more just and fair society; leading movements for social
justice, working to ensure that the opportunities they have secured are extended to others,
and heeding the words of the Torah, 'Justice,justice shall you pursue....'[W]e honor
Jewish Americans, who, inspired by Jewish values and American ideals, have engaged in
the ongoing work of forming a more perfect union."
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim May 2023
to be
y Jewish American H ritage Month
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' i Signed n Iowa City, Iowa,
' the 2nd day of May 2023. r
Attachments:Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Day proclamation
Item Number: 2.d.
May 2, 2023
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Day
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, Indigenous women go missing and are murdered at rates higher than any
other ethnic group in the United States; and
Whereas, the National Center for Disease Control reports that homicide is a leading
cause of death for Indigenous women and girls; and
Whereas, an accurate count of how many Indigenous women are affected is difficult to
determine, making the scope of the epidemic uncertain; and
Whereas, Indigenous women are worthy of personal sovereignty and equal protection
under the law; and
Whereas, the City of Iowa City stands with the Indigenous communities in
condemning and preventing acts of violence and discrimination, and we commit to
ensuring opportunities exist for generations to come.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim May 5,
2023 to be
Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women's Day
and encourage all community members to observe, recognize, and encourage collective
action to bring the MMIW crisis to an end.
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Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
the 2nd day of May 2023.
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Attachments:NAMI Mental Health Awareness Day proclamation
Item Number: 2.e.
May 2, 2023
NAMI Mental Health Awareness Day
City of Iowa City6e-
I 4 PROCLAMATION
Whereas, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest
grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of
Americans affected by mental illness; and
Whereas, the face of mental illness isn't some stranger. It's our co-workers, our
neighbors, our friends, our families, and sometimes ourselves; and
Whereas, mental illness does not discriminate. It affects adults, children, and people of
every ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, or political background; and
Whereas, one of five adults in the United States experiences a diagnosable mental
disorder, and one in five youth age 13-18 experiences a severe mental disorder in a given
year; and
Whereas, suicide is the second leading cause of death for America's youth ages 15-24
and the vast majority of those who die by suicide have a mental illness that is often
undiagnosed or untreated; and
Whereas, half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14 and three-quarters begins
by age 24; therefore, treating cases early could address and reduce disability before
mental illnesses become more severe; and
Whereas, NAMI Johnson County will hold its annual walk at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May
6, at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area in Iowa City. The walk aims to inspire and
initiate a community conversation about the impact that mental illness has on every part
of our collective lives—from family systems, to primary healthcare, to the education
system, to the business community and beyond.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim May 6th,
2023, as
NAMI Mental Health Awareness Day
and urge all residents to increase the awareness and understanding of mental health and
be informed of the treatment options available in our county for individuals with mental
illness.
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Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 2nd day of May 2023.
Attachments:Older Americans Month proclamation
Item Number: 2.f.
May 2, 2023
Older Americans Month
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, Iowa City includes a growing number of older Americans who enrich our
community through their diverse life experiences; and
Whereas, Iowa City is committed to strengthening our community by connecting with
and supporting older adults, their families, and caregivers and acknowledging their many
valuable contributions to society; and
Whereas, Iowa City recognizes the importance of bringing together all generations and
engaging in activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being for the
benefit of all; and
Whereas, Iowa City can enhance the lives of older Americans in our community by
promoting home- and community-based services that support independent living;
involving older adults in community events and other activities; and providing
opportunities for older adults to work, volunteer, learn, lead, and mentor.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim May 2023
to be
Older Americans Month
in Iowa City, and urge every resident to take time this month to celebrate older adults and
the people who serve and support them.
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Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
the 2nd day of May 2023.
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