The City of Hillsboro has an Equity Statement.

The Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to approve the official Equity Statement during its December 3, 2019 meeting. The statement expresses the City’s commitment to and role in achieving a common vision of equity within the organization and in providing public services.

The Equity Statement reads:

The City of Hillsboro is committed to equity. Equity work aims to remove barriers and eliminate social and economic disparities by centering those who have been excluded from the decision-making process. Equity is the pursuit of equal outcomes.

We acknowledge that equity, particularly racial equity, is essential to providing exceptional public services — and to creating an inclusive and safe work environment for everyone.

The City recognizes that people of color and other communities have historically been and continue to be marginalized and excluded — both intentionally and unintentionally — from constructing the institutions that govern our lives and the services we depend on to protect our health, safety, and well-being. We further acknowledge that structural and cultural barriers impact access to, and representation in, City government.

The City of Hillsboro has a pivotal role in creating a sense of belonging for all people. We must be inclusive in developing and implementing policies to ensure that City services are responsive to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and other individual identities.

We acknowledge that without an intentional focus on equity, we will continue to perpetuate and deepen inequality.

To realize our mission and core values, the City of Hillsboro commits to integrating equity into the fabric of our organization and the delivery of public services in pursuit of equal, fair, and just outcomes for all.

The Equity Statement is intended to be a framework of values and principles to guide all City services and policy-making process in a manner similar to the City’s mission and core values.

The City Council’s approval of the finalized statement follows revisions made based on suggestions from community members, City employees, and members of the Council.
In August, the City began a month-long community outreach effort to gather input on the draft Equity Statement through the City’s website, on social media, and at listening sessions held at Hillsboro’s two library branches and the Civic Center.

From the 135 comments and suggestions received, three themes emerged:

• Provide greater clarity on the definition of equity.
• Ensure community members know the City's Equity Statement is internally focused to guide the City's work in providing external services to the public.
• Re-examine terms and wording choices, and revise the Equity Statement with feedback in mind.

Based on the Council’s direction during a work session in September, City of Hillsboro employees on the City’s Equity Team then began to revise the statement.

“We want to express our gratitude for everyone who took the time to read the Equity Statement draft, give it deep thought, and then share honest feedback,” said Mayor Steve Callaway in September. “Your passion for equity and your passion for Hillsboro are deeply appreciated.”

In 2019, the Hillsboro City Council made it a City priority to “Support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in City policy-making and in the delivery of services by adopting an equity statement, continuing DEI training, and utilizing an equity lens.” Additionally, the Council declared it a guiding principle to “Instill diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of policy-making and the delivery of City services.”

Read more about the City's work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion