The Arboretum board responds to charges

Less than a week after Cece Cox, Steve Atkinson and Kate Newman sent a letter to the board to the Dallas Arboretum, board chair Jim Ryan has responded. Cox said the letter also went to members of the Dallas City Council and the parks board. In his letter, Ryan outlined the steps the board is taking to address charges of employment discrimination.

Protesters have been demonstrating outside the gate of the Arboretum for a couple of months and EEOC complaints have been filed charging homophobia and racism at the facility that stands on city property. On June 16, the board held a special meeting to address the charges and an ad hoc committee has been appointed. Among the steps taken are changes to the employee manual and diversity, equity and inclusion policy have been made. A human resources consultant has been hired and and mandatory training entitled “Our Respectful Workplace” is being implemented. And to settle a lawsuit by a former employee, the board hopes to be able to negotiate a settlement with Lambda Legal.