8.3 Pl

Resolution 072020-01

WHEREAS race is a social construct with no biological basis;

WHEREAS racism is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the
social interpretation of how one looks and causes persistent discrimination, both intentional and
unintentional;

WHEREAS racism is a system of power that exists at both the individual level as interpersonal
and/or internalized racism and at the system level as institutional and/or structural racism;
WHEREAS racism unfairly disadvantages specific individuals and communities while unfairly
giving advantages to other individuals and communities;

WHEREAS racism saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources;
WHEREAS racism is a root cause of poverty, constricts economic and social mobility, creates
barriers to resources, and has created a wealth divide;

WHEREAS racism results in segregation and inequities in many areas of life, including
economic stability, housing, education, physical environment, food security, employment,
healthcare, and criminal justice and policing resulting in a health divide with Black, Native
American/Indigenous Peoples, Asian/Paci?c {slander and Hispanic/Latin}; residents being more
likely to experience poor health outcomes and bearing a disproportionate burden of illness and
mortality;

WHEREAS more than l00 studies have linked racism to worse health outcomes and the 2016
and 2019 Community Health Assessments of the Health Improvement Collaborative of
Southeastern Connecticut, of which the City of New London is a member, identified numerous
racial inequities in health outcomes and social determinants of health in New London and the
region, and the 2019 Community Health Improvement Plan includes addressing racism as a
public health issue;

WHEREAS the collective prosperity and wellbeing of the City of New London depends upon

equitable access to opportunity for every resident regardless of the color of their skin:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the City Council of New London asserts that racism is a
public health crisis affecting our city and all of Connecticut and is committed to:

Working to progress as an equity and justice-oriented community by continuing to