Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Jericho Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee aspires to create a more diverse, welcoming, and equitable community. Working in advisory capacity to the Select Board, the Committee seeks to identify ways to ensure all residents are able to and feel welcome in participating in the civic life of the community and are well served by town government. The Committee seeks to engage the community, including local leaders, in conversations to better understand the lived experience and needs of Jericho’s historically and currently marginalized residents.

Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month.

The goal of the committee

The Jericho Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee aspires to create a more diverse, welcoming, and equitable community. Working in advisory capacity to the Select Board, the Committee seeks to identify ways to ensure all residents are able to and feel welcome in participating in the civic life of the community and are well served by town government. The Committee seeks to engage the community, including local leaders, in conversations to better understand the lived experience and needs of Jericho’s historically and currently marginalized residents.

Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month.

The goal of the committee is to ensure that all residents and Town employees of Jericho receive equitable treatment and opportunity regardless of, but not limited to, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, disability, gender identity, and gender expression.

To that end the committee will:

  • Build capacity for all facets of the Town local government to apply an equity and inclusion lens to their work
  • Serve in an advisory capacity to the Town regulatory bodies
  • Facilitate opportunities for Jericho residents to learn about and discuss the ways in which racism, power, privilege, implicit bias, and other forms of injustice impact marginalized communities
  • Support the safety and well-being of community members when sharing or disclosing lived experiences, identity-based insight and suggestions for community improvement.
  • Use current best practices to promote a climate of town-wide engagement in diversity, equity and inclusion initiative

If you would like to serve on this committee click here for an application.

  • Town Meeting Day Discussion/Public Feedback

    The DEI Committee's mission is to explore ways to make Jericho a more inclusive community. Currently, we are studying the extent to which Town Meeting is accessible to all residents. We recognize the value of public participation to the Town's budget process and that changing the way this feedback is incorporated is a complicated question.

    The DEI Committee believes that reflecting on our current Town Meeting practices is important. While we don't have answers to all of our questions, we believe it is important to start the conversation.

    We invite you to participate in this conversation by:

    • Attending the December 4th DEI Committee meeting (7:00 pm via Zoom) to listen to a presentation by Kate Larose, Pandemic Equity Coordinator with the Vermont Center for Independent Living. She will share her experiences and those of other disabled Vermonters in being unable to participate in local government due to inaccessibility. The link will be found in the agenda when that is posted closer to the meeting date.
    • Completing a survey about your experiences with Town Meeting. You can access the survey here https://jerichovt.org/embeds/projects/17327/survey-tools/19268
    • Reading this FAQ to learn more current Jericho's Town Meeting practice https://jerichovt.org/diversity-equity-inclusion/widgets/73297/faqs
    • Sharing your personal story, either at the meeting or via email: DEIchair@jerichovt.gov.

  • Town of Jericho Declaration of Inclusion

    Declaration of Inclusion:

    The Town of Jericho is committed to building strong community relationships and
    creating a culture of inclusion and access for all of our residents, businesses, and visitors.


    As a town, we formally condemn discrimination in all of its forms and commit to fair and equal treatment of everyone in our community. The Town of Jericho welcomes all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, socioeconomic status, disability, or political affiliation.

    We will strive and work together to ensure all of our actions, policies, and operating procedures reflect this commitment.

Page last updated: 01 Nov 2024, 02:58 PM