Strafford News

City of Dover issued the following announcement on February 11.

Mayor Robert Carrier proclaimed February as Black History Month through a proclamation he read at the Feb. 9 City Council meeting. Carrier called upon Dover citizens to "observe this month with appropriate programs, activities and reflections and to continue our efforts to create a world that is more just, equitable and prosperous for all."

Carrier presented the proclamation to members of the Council's Committee on Racial Equity and Inclusion.

WHEREAS: The Dover City Council takes pride in recognizing February 2022 as Black History Month, celebrating the many notable contributions that people of African descent have made to our country; and

WHEREAS: We celebrate the diversity of Black people in Dover, New Hampshire, our nation and the Black diaspora, whether they self-identify as African, African-American, Afro- Latino, Afro-Caribbean, or Black; and

WHEREAS: We now celebrate Black health and wellness, including the legacy of Black scholars, midwives, nurses, doctors, and practitioners of not only Western medicine, but all the other indigenous ways of promoting health and healing throughout the Black diaspora; and

WHEREAS: We acknowledge that we have never fully lived up to the founding ideals of this country of all people being created equal; and

WHEREAS: Recent deplorable events have re-elevated the mandate of the Black struggle and underscore the need for more than raised voices to bring about the lasting institutional and societal change that is desperately needed in our country; and

WHEREAS: We acknowledge systemic racism has led to African Americans being more likely to die at an early age from all causes, more commonly misdiagnosed, and impacted by health inequities throughout the health care system that have traumatized the Black community; and

WHEREAS: We encourage all people to recognize and confront these issues by standing in the gap at every opportunity and eliminating barriers with fearlessness and determination to empower Black people to promote and protect their health and wellness.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROBERT CARRIER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE MONTH FEBRUARY AS:

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

AND CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF DOVER TO OBSERVE THIS MONTH WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND REFLECTIONS AND TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE A WORLD THAT IS MORE JUST, EQUITABLE AND PROSPEROUS FOR ALL.

Dover Mayor Robert Carrier reads a proclamation in recognition of Black History Month at the February 9 City Council meeting. Assembled around the podium are Ad Hoc Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion members, standing, from left, Tess Beem, Ariel Hayes, Maggie Fogarty, Lina Shayo, and Cora Quisumbing-King.

Original source can be found here.