Valpo announces plan to hold diversity summit

VALPARAISO | To promote diversity and improve race relations, the city and Valparaiso University joined Wednesday to call for a summit on those issues, probably in the fall.

"This is a response to a number of incidents we've had lately that have had racial overtones," Mayor Jon Costas said. "This is a way for us to bring the issues to the forefront and a way to express that Valparaiso is tolerant and respectful of all citizens, and these are values we aspire to and that define our community. We want to have the summit to allow citizens to have input in how we improve the community in this respect."

The task force will include members of the city's Human Relations Council, the VU Diversity Concerns Committee and the Valparaiso Diversity Network Association. They will be involved in planning the summit and when to hold it, and they will be assisted by schools, churches, businesses, nonprofits and other community organizations. Costas said the fall might be the best time because that's when students return to classes at VU.

In a joint statement issued by the university on behalf of Costas and VU President Mark Heckler, the two leaders said, "The city and Valparaiso University stand united against acts of racism that continue to occur within our community.

"We live together in a diverse world and our future success requires that Valparaiso be a community with a culture of inclusivity that embraces the individuals of many and varied faiths, nationalities, races, beliefs and backgrounds, who come here to work, live and learn," the statement said. "We must speak out when we see intolerance and hate in our community. We must understand that our strength as a community lies in our diversity.

"We call this summit today to focus attention on the continuing dialogue that our community must engage in regarding diversity and race relations."

The announcement came following a series of fights at Valparaiso High School this week that appeared to be race-related. Costas and Heckler expect to make appointments to the task force within the next week.

Anyone interested in joining the ongoing conversations about diversity and race relations can contact Costas' executive assistant, Lori Good, at (219) 462-1161 or VU Associate Provost Renu Juneja at (219) 464-6880.