• To raise awareness and focus attention on the importance and value of inclusive communities.
• To motivate cities and towns to make a public commitment to building inclusive communities.
• To provide support to local officials in focused efforts around affordable housing, race and ethnic relations, and equal citizen participation in community decision-making.
• To share valuable insights, experiences, and lessons learned among the participating cities and towns.
• To recognize, publicize, and celebrate the work of cities and towns that join the Partnership.

1. The first step in joining the Partnership is passing a resolution reaffirming your community's commitment to promoting inclusion. 
2. Send a copy of your resolution and contact information to NLC.  Once we receive it, your city or town will be enrolled in the Partnership.
3. Our staff will contact you to arrange how to send you a complimentary road sign that will serve as a daily reminder that your community is working toward a better future for its citizens.
4. Our office will continue working with you to point out the programs and activities already available in your community that help promote the values of diversity and inclusiveness.
5. Contact our staff, and read through this website to get additional ideas on what other cities are doing to build inclusive communities.
6. Read through our Tool Kit and other NLC resources to get additional information on the research work of NLC and municipalities to promote equality, effective governance and diversity.

This Tool Kit provides the foundation for cities and towns to participate in the Partnership.

• Download Partnership's Tool Kit (.pdf)

It includes:

• Information on how to join the Partnership
• A sample resolution
• A sample press release
• A list of steps that cities can take to promote inclusive communities, and
• Examples of successful programs, policies and activities that cities have used to build inclusive communities.

Also, for convenience, two items from the Tool Kit are available in Microsoft Word version, which can be modified to meet the individual needs of your city or town.

• Sample Press Release in Word format
• Sample Resolution/Proclamation in Word format

If you are a resident of a city or town, and not an elected official, can you become involved with the Partnership For Working Toward Inclusive Communities? OF COURSE! 

Here is what you can do to support our Partnership:

• If your city is not a partner already, provide your local elected officials with information about the program or point them towards the National League of Cities' website at /.
• Volunteer to help your local elected officials in programs that promote inclusive communities.
• Encourage your neighborhood to participate in events and meetings sponsored by your city or other groups to promote inclusive communities.
• Be a role model by becoming a visible supporter, encouraging others to join your effort to act inclusively.
• Read our Additional Resources and Guides to find more solutions for your city.

To aid in your efforts to build a more inclusive community in your city and town, NLC has produced four new documents:

• Community Change Processes and Progress in Addressing Racial Inequities
  by Maggie Potapchuk
  October, 2007
• INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES FOR ALL:
  The 2005 Futures Report, describes the past and current work that NLC and its members have undertaken toward this goal.  The report also demonstrates the connections among these issues, suggests local roles, and calls for local action. 
   -  Download Inclusive Communities for All (.pdf)
• THE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR WORKING TOWARD INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES:
  The companion piece to the Futures Report, is an annotated compilation of many NLC resources designed to help local officials work toward building inclusive communities in their own cities and towns.  This document is updated regularly.  
  -  Download Online version of the Resource Guide  
• The INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD ISSUE PAPER BY JIM BROOKS:
  Designed to assist U.S. local leaders who wish to apply some global innovations and practical ideas to programs in their hometowns, this issue paper is a tool for American cities and state municipal leagues to embrace the concept of inclusiveness and creating programs to advance this goal.
  -  Download the Inclusive Communities Around the World (.pdf)

Please visit this webpage regularly for updates and upcoming activities.
If you have any questions, please send an email to inclusive@nlc.org or call (202) 626-3030.