By Fort Collins (CO) Mayor Ray Martinez
February 18, 2002

Trust, integrity, and honesty. These are all traits we want to practice in our daily lives and instill as positive values in our communities, especially with our young people. There is a way to do this. In Fort Collins and Larimer County, we are pursuing a program called Character First. I attended a conference a couple of years ago about the program. The program centers on honesty, trust, integrity, orderliness and attentiveness. These values are modeled and taught as part of the school day curriculum and experience.

I had the pleasure of attending an Arbor Day event at one of the local elementary schools. All over the building were posters created by students describing what integrity or honesty meant to them. I was in another elementary school not too long ago and talked to the students about positive character traits. I was truly amazed at their answers about what accountability meant and how to be responsible. Not only was I impressed, but I began to think about what all of this meant in terms of broader community values and what I could do as the Mayor.

School violence serves as the alarming illustration of what happens when children and young adults are not exposed to a value system that teaches and practices respect and accountability. I am a believer. Character is essential.

I have asked other mayors and elected leaders in other municipalities of our great state to join me and declare their city or town a character community. Doing so affords the opportunity to work with your local school district, county commissioners and other key civic and business groups. In May 2000, Colorado State Senate Joint Resolution 00-024 was adopted, which enables schools to provide instruction on core character qualities. Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar addressed the issue of character in the context of his anti-bullying campaign with school officials around the state.

We the people of Fort Collins want to ensure that Fort Collins is a place where families are strong, homes and streets are safe, education is effective, business is productive, neighbors generally care about one another, and citizens are free to make wise choices about their lives and families. We recognize that individuals are responsible for their actions and that daily decisions should be based on objective moral standards which are the basis of universally recognized character qualities including respect for others, honesty, truthfulness, diligence, civility, generosity, kindness, loyalty, and courage. If people fail to demonstrate such qualities to make inappropriate choices, the health, safety and welfare of the citizens are in danger, and thRecognizing positive character qualities among employees has undoubtedly resulted in increased workplace morale, employee safety, and corporate profits. Living by and infusing positive character attributes into every sector of society can only occur as individuals commit themselves to doing so in their personal lives and inspiring others of do the same.

Recognizing positive character qualities among employees has undoubtedly resulted in increased workplace morale, employee safety, and corporate profits. Living by and infusing positive character attributes into every sector of society can only occur as individuals commit themselves to doing so in their personal lives and inspiring others of do the same.

On September 4th, 2001, the Council of the City of Fort Collins adopted Resolution 2001 _117 supporting the City of Character initiative. The City Council pledged "Éits commitment to character and encourages its citizens to do all in their power to become known as a city of character by promoting character in our schools, businesses, homes, churches, city government, media and community groups, and the City Council further hereby urges the leader of each of the jurisdictions to do likewise."