City Launches Embrace Naperville to Foster Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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NAPERVILLE, Ill. — As part of its mission to create an inclusive community that values diversity, the City of Naperville is introducing a series of events called Embrace Naperville: Empowering our Mission Through a Year of Learning. All are invited to attend the first Embrace Naperville roundtable – The Power of Inclusion – at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 in Council Chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

The event will include a keynote from Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, and a breakout session led by Nader Najjar, executive director of educational equity for Indian Prairie School District 204. Registration is required for this free event. Find details and a link to register at naperville.il.us/embracenaperville.

The City's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Manager, Dr. Geneace Williams, is leading the Embrace Naperville series as part of her three-part listening, learning and leveraging framework. By listening to the community since she began her position in February 2021, Williams has learned that many residents want to understand DEI better and that partnering with organizations to increase awareness can make significant strides toward creating an inclusive community that values diversity.

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"I could not be happier than to have progressed to where we are today," Williams said. "After meeting with residents and organizations, building relationships – without which this work would not be possible – and putting together a plan for the next year, I am excited for the work to unfold. I am grateful to all who helped us get to this place. DEI is not my work – it is our work. Together we are making Naperville an even stronger community."

Embrace Naperville events are one way the City is creating space for storytelling and conversations that foster a sense of belonging within our increasingly diverse community. These events follow City Council actions in 2019 to add "creating an inclusive community that values diversity" to the City's mission statement and to issue a resolution celebrating diversity and denouncing all acts of racism, intolerance and unlawful discrimination.

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