Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Wellesley 

Racial equity:   the societal condition when racial identity cannot be used to predict individual or group outcomes (e.g. wealth, income, employment, criminal justice, housing, health care, education) and outcomes for all groups are improved. This includes elimination of policies, practices, attitudes, and cultural messages that reinforce differential outcomes by race or that fail to eliminate them. 

Wellesley is a community that highly values diversity, human dignity, and respect for all individuals. Our community, however, like so many others across the country, continues to experience incidents of discrimination, bias, injustice, and inequity. 

Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias Resolution 

 WHEREAS the United States of America, of which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Town of Wellesley are part, was founded upon the self-evident truths that all humans are created equal, and endowed by their creator with inalienable rights; and

 WHEREAS the United States of America, including Massachusetts and the Town of Wellesley, have made great strides in treating its citizens equally and respectfully upholding undeniable rights; and

 WHEREAS history has shown that despite its clear foundational principles and progress, the United States, including Massachusetts and Wellesley, have, at the same time, perpetuated unequal treatment of people due to their race, skin color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, class, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, disability; and

 WHEREAS the racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, class and disability disparities which persist across a broad spectrum of social measures, including wealth, health, education, housing, and public safety are detrimental to all members of a community; and 

 WHEREAS the people of the Town of Wellesley repudiate discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as race, skin color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, class, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other factors; and

 WHEREAS the Town’s 2019 Unified Plan names diversity as a key value in the Town and recommends that the Town “[e]stablish, implement and support ongoing initiatives to maintain Wellesley as a community that welcomes a diversity of people and households”; and

 WHEREAS the Wellesley Select Board has issued a Statement on Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias and the Wellesley School Committee has issued an Anti-Racism Resolution;

 WHEREAS the people of the Town of Wellesley reaffirm their commitment to ensure that all people in Wellesley will receive and can expect to receive fair and equitable treatment from the Town’s government, institutions and community members, by working to dismantle discrimination and bias and improve and make available opportunities to everyone;

 NOW THEREFORE be it RESOLVED and AFFIRMED, that the Town of Wellesley, acting by its Annual Town Meeting duly assembled, endorses and adopts the following statement for the guidance of all affiliated with its government in any capacity, as well as supports the baseline work to move forward with these commitments: 

•           We commit to working with our constituents, institutions, organizations, businesses, employees, and stakeholders to create a more welcoming and more inclusive Town of Wellesley. 

•           We commit to improving representation, participation, and opportunities available to people of color and other underrepresented groups, as well as to dismantling institutional racism and bias. 

•           As a Town, we will respond to stop intolerance or hate based on race, skin color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, class, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other like characteristic. 

•           We will acknowledge, address, and repudiate any and all expressions of hate, prejudice, and discrimination, including all forms and expressions of exclusion, bigotry, intolerance, and bullying toward any individual or group. 

•           We will also work to transform institutions, policies, procedures, and the workforce to reflect and honor the diversity of the community. 

Approved by Wellesley Annual Town Meeting on April 11, 2023

Read the Wellesley Select Board statements supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for all in our community. 

Learn about the work of the DEI Task Force created by the Select Board Office, Wellesley Executive Director Meghan Jop, and Assistant Executive Director Amy Frigulietti.