Title
Special Recognition - Proclamation Recognizing Olympia Heritage Month and Review of 2021 Preservation Award Nominations
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Proclaim May as Olympia Heritage Month and review the 2021 Heritage Award Nominees recommended by the General Government Committee and the Heritage Commission.
City Manager Recommendation:
Proclaim May as Olympia Heritage Month and review the 2021 Historic Preservation Award nominees.
Report
Issue:
Whether to proclaim May as Heritage Month in Olympia and review nominations for 2021 Historic Preservation Awards.
Staff Contact:
Marygrace Goddu, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8031
Presenter(s):
Marygrace Goddu, Historic Preservation Officer
Holly Davies, Heritage Commission Chair
Background and Analysis:
In May of each year, the City of Olympia recognizes the importance of our local history and heritage by declaring May as Heritage Month and hosting a series of educational events. Heritage Month 2021 will kick off a year-long focus by the Heritage Commission on new and creative ways to share local history and increase everyone's access to it; as well as recognizing and celebrating the stories and contributions of historically under-represented and marginalized groups in our community.
These efforts are motivated and informed by the learnings of 2020, when the Black Lives Matter Movement and the global pandemic together highlighted our long and continuing history of systemic injustice and social inequity. The pressures of the pandemic also inspired new and creative means of gathering, communicating, and educating, lowering barriers of time and space and enabling greater access in unexpected ways.
The Heritage Commission also works to promote excellence in historic preservation. To that end, each year in May the Commission nominates and recommends recipients for Olympia's Annual Historic Preservation Awards. These awards recognize people, pr...
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