FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 8, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:
Janice Keller, Communications Director
City of Bellingham
jkeller@cob.org
(360) 201-9500

Race and Justice Listening Series Hosted by City of Bellingham and Whatcom County

Bellingham and Whatcom County officials are hosting a listening series on race and justice, an opportunity for community members to share their experiences and their ideas for how leaders can make meaningful, effective changes.

Four sessions are scheduled for:

  • 7:00-9:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 28
  • 6:00-8:00, Monday, August 10
  • 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 15
  • 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18

City And County Leaders Host Listening Series On Race And Justice

All sessions will be held via Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person meetings. All sessions are open to the public, with options to log in via computer or smartphone or dial in via a telephone number. All meetings will be aired live on BTV and the City's YouTube channel.

“We intend this to be the beginning step in a continuum that includes joining communities nationwide in doing the hard work of identifying how we dismantle structural racism in our organizations and our community," Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood, who helped initiate the series, said.

He said the purpose of the series is to provide the public with opportunities to share while following COVID-19 restrictions, to inform commitments to effective change, to create a public, historic record of people's ideas and experiences, and to elevate the importance of these issues and ensure accountability for addressing them.

The series is sponsored by the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Lummi Nation and Western Washington University. While the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Bellingham Police Department were originally listed as event sponsors, they are not participating formally in the virtual meeting space by request from and out of respect for community members. ​

Mayor Fleetwood said sponsors would like most to hear from people of color about their experiences with racial inequities and injustice in our community.

“We wish to hear from our neighbors whose lives have an element of fear and anxiety simply because of the color of their skin," he said. “We are committed to listening, promoting awareness, facilitating dialogue, and taking actions that make the safety, dignity and humanity of all people our priority."

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu said community leaders are receiving many requests for action.

“We intend this listening series to be the first step in a process of understanding our community's experiences with racism and injustice and taking steps to effectively address these issues," he said. “It is the beginning of a dialogue that will result in necessary changes."


​How to participate

Comment via Zoom

Anyone wishing to speak at any of the scheduled meetings may do so by joining at the following links:

DATE   ​​URL TO REGISTERMEETING IDPASSWORD
​July 28www.cob.org/listen0728 ​958 0522 4763 ​123​
​August 10www.cob.org/listen0810997 6322 7294​123​
​August 15www.cob.org/listen0815 ​962 2738 1401​123
​August 18www.cob.org/listen0818977 0880 4687​123​

These links can be used before each meeting to pre-register or used during each meeting to register and immediately join the meeting. Pre-registration is encouraged, as we will invite speakers in order of sign-in. Full name not required for registration; you may use any identifier you wish. We only need a way to call upon you when it is your turn.

Comment or listen by telephone

Those who would like to comment or listen in by phone can do so using any of the following phone numbers:

  • (253) 215-8782
  • (346) 248-7799
  • (669) 900-6833
  • (301) 715-8592
  • (312) 626-6799
  • (929) 205-6099​

Watch or listen only

If you wish to watch or listen to any meetings but not speak, meetings will be aired live on BTV and on the City's YouTube channel. (Comcast channels 10 and 321)

Guidelines for commenting

We invite all to speak –​ passionately if that's how you best express yourself. Please limit your comments to 3-5 minutes so that everyone has a chance. We may interrupt comments that involve:

  • Name-calling or personal attacks.
  • Obscene or indecent remarks.
  • Advertising or promoting the sale of products, services, or private enterprise.
  • Promoting any contest or lottery.
  • Promoting candidates for public office or upcoming ballot measures.​

        We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253 - Check Hours
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone: 360-671-3990
Visiting?

Places to Stay
Itineraries
Getting Here
Sightsee
Read Blogs
Engage!

Events
Photo Contest
Communities
Attend
Contact Us
Tourism Talk

Industry Resources
Join as a Partner
Media Inquiries
Sports
About Us
Site by Drozian Webworks
©2024 Visit Bellingham Whatcom County