Cities Across the Nation Participate in National League of Cities Race Equality Week Sept. 29 - Oct. 4

9/29/2003

From: John Pionke, 202-626-3051, or Michael Reinemer, 202-626-3003, both of the National League of Cities

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Cities, large and small, are prepared to participate in the National League of Cities (NLC) Race Equality Week September 23-29. The week has been designated to spotlight issues surrounding racism in America and what cities can do to promote diversity and strengthen ethnic relations.

Issues like racial profiling, predatory lending, fairness in hiring practices, affordable housing, and health care are among the top issues that NLC and cities will be focusing on throughout the week. Many cities will be kicking off new race initiatives and programs to promote race equality in their communities.

This year's activities are a continuation of the focus of former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight who dedicated his year as NLC president to undoing racism. NLC President and New Haven, Conn. Mayor John DeStefano has called for a renewed commitment to promoting racial justice and equality in every community across America.

"Since September of 2000 when we first observed this event, hundreds of cities have stepped forward to support this effort," said DeStefano. "We hope each city and town will observe Race Equality Week in some way, and more importantly, make race equality a top goal for their community."

NLC has Race Equality Week event kits to offer ideas and examples to help local officials get started. These kits are now available at http://www.nlc.org.

Some Local Events Planned for Race Equality Week

The city of Houston, Tex., will hold a Community Picnic celebrating the Northeast Houston Multi-Cultural Coalition, comprised of the Asian businesses and the African-American churches in the area. The event will promote a better understanding between these two communities.

The City of Mesa, Ariz., Human Relations Advisory Board and the Diversity Office will host its 3rd annual Diversity Conference. This year's theme is entitled, "Many Paths, One Destination: Best Practices in Building Community," is part Mesa's observance of Race Equality Week. Over 150 individuals representing many sectors of Mesa's community are expected to attend. Leaders from various segments of the community will be asked to share their perspectives on diversity issues and attendees will be asked to pledge to continue their efforts to promote racial equality.

Ozark, Ala. has a full week of events planned. The Ozark/Dale County public Library will host "A Bibliography in Living Color." The program will present dramatic vignettes and readings highlighting the works James Weldon Johnson, Phyllis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, Mary Love Edwards and Judge Frank M. Johnson. The Second Annual Festival of Foods, which will feature various racial, ethnic and national foods of Ozark, will be held at the Perry Recreation Center. "A Salsa Evening" will highlight art and dance from the Ozark area's Latin community. There will be presentations on Latin culture and art, and a participatory Latin dance demonstration.

The City of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department and Human Relations Commission will host a diversity dialogue and reception in recognition of Race Equality Week. Human Relations commissioners, city officials, human and civil rights advocacy groups and community leaders have been invited to attend. A mayoral proclamation on race equality will be read by representatives of the Mayor's office. During the reception, conversational next steps will be discussed to guide the Human Relations commission in its future efforts.

Charlotte, N.C., along with 12 other organizations, is sponsoring a public viewing of the PBS documentary "Race: The Power of an Illusion" on three consecutive Thursdays beginning Sept. 25. After each viewing, group facilitators will lead a discussion with topic experts and community members about how race impacts our lives and the Charlotte community.

Westport, Conn., has established a multicultural awareness initiative with 19 appointed residents called "Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism" (TEAM). Its mission is to bring together diverse members of the community to learn from one another, analyze issues, evaluate options and recommend actions to the city. TEAM will celebrate Racial Equality Week with a potluck supper showing the multiculturalism of Westport.

University Heights, Ohio is sponsoring a Festival of Cultures for the entire community. It will be followed by a discussion to illustrate how the citizens of University Heights live in a "Festival of Cultures." The city also has a multicultural diversity program entitled "Series of Discoveries," which provides a forum for thoughtful discussion for residents.

In Avondale, Ariz., the mayor and city council will sign a Declaration of Tolerance and then open it to the public who will also be invited to sign. Avondale is also planning a "People of the World" cultural display at the public library, a presentation by the Freedom Foundation entitled "My Life Under Hitler", and a discussion sponsored by the Avondale Youth Commission entitled "Nine Steps -- Exploring Racial Prejudice in Society", among other planned events.

In Riverside, Calif., the mayor has established a multi-cultural forum, which meets quarterly to discuss issues around diversity. The Human Rights Commission has sponsored a youth mural project called "Being Young in Riverside." The city will also have its annual Multicultural Festival to celebrate many different cultures and to educate young people and their families as to diversity.

The city of Coral Springs, Fla., will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for their new Multi-Cultural Gardens, a place where many ethnicities will be represented in art, recreation, and native vegetation. The plan is to work through area artists who will work with the art departments of the local schools in creating the artwork to be displayed. Coral Springs is also planning a Cultural Competency Workshop for the business community to better serve that part of the community.

Lake City, S.C. will hold a Race Relations and Cultural Diversity Summit on October 4th. The event will be a day long series of speakers, facilitated break out sessions to discuss diversity issues.

In Virginia Beach, Va., their Human Rights Commission (HRC) is sponsoring a dialogue series entitled "Building Bridges of Understanding." This will be the first of four discussions between members of the Commission and selected community groups that will include a discussion about opportunities for partnership, community issues to be addressed, and other race related issues. The Virginia Beach HRC will also launch a web page called the HRC's Building Bridges of Understanding Online. The page will include a dictionary of multi-cultural terms and resources available on human rights issues and organizations.

Winston-Salem, N.C. will hold a mayor's conference and unity breakfast to kick of Race Equality Week. They will also hold a Culture Fest, which will sponsor ethnic music, dancing, face painting, story telling and food. The Reynolds High School will also sponsor a race relations forum called Students Together Against Racism (STARS) program in which high school students and parents will discuss the state of race relations in their high school. The city is also holding an Asian film festival, which will be open to the public.

Ocala, Fla., Race Equality Week will kick off with the Hispanic Festival, a celebration of that culture through music, dance and food. A prayer breakfast with the theme, "One Ocala, One America" will focus on racial harmony and cultural diversity. Also planned is "Upbeat Drum Circle," to be held in the downtown square in which a professional facilitator uses drumbeats to help forge group cohesiveness. Ocala's Harmony Walk and Movie on the square invites the public to participate in a racial harmony walk to be followed by an outdoor movie that is in keeping with the week's theme. Finally, a Multicultural Festival will wind up the week's activities, which will include an international show of flags, cultural dance, ethnic foods and heritage crafts.

Lufkin, Tex., has just completed a review of all city hiring and employee practices and made revisions in city policy to ensure racial equity. The Race Equality Week theme is "Building Bridges Through Understanding" which will include cultural exhibits at city hall, the public library and the Museum of East Texas.

Port Angeles, Wash., is holding an essay contest in the public schools in grades 4, 7 and 10 on the subject of Racial Equality. They have also developed a pledge that describes the city's commitment to race equality.

In addition to events, a number of cities have issued proclamations declaring Race Equality Week, including Liberty Mo., Tigard, Ore., Arvada, Ore., Winston-Salem, N.C., Riverside, Calif., and Muskegon Heights, Mich., Greenacres, Fla., and Cooper City Fla., to name a few.

Other NLC Resources for Communities

The NLC has also launched a three-year project to help local officials reduce racism and improve race relations. The NLC Racial Justice and Race Relations Project is supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation. Some of the projects objectives are to conduct a broad information outreach strategy, perform research and development, and to create materials and workshops to help local leaders become more effective in addressing racism.

In addition the NLC has released a resource book for cities entitled "Promoting Racial Justice: A Workbook for Cities." The book can be used as a guide to give cities new ideas and tips on how to promote racial justice in their communities. In addition to the new workbook the NLC also has another guidebook entitled "Ensuring Racial Equality: Resources for Local Officials." The books can be downloaded from the NLC website at http://www.nlc.org.

The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest municipal organization with a membership of nearly 1,800 cities and towns of all sizes. All of the nation's 49 state municipal associations are members of NLC. Visit http://www.nlc.org.

For more information on the NLC Race Equality Week please contact Gwen Wright at 202-626-3037 or by email at wright@nlc.org, or John Pionke at 202-626-3051 or by e-mail at pionke@nlc.org