National League of Cities Selects Six Cities for the Cities for Racial Equity and Racial Healing Technical Assistance Initiative

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2018

National League of Cities Selects Six Cities for the Cities for Racial Equity and Racial Healing Technical Assistance Initiative

WASHINGTON — February 12, 2018 — Today the National League of Cities (NLC) Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) initiative announced six cities that will participate in its Cities for Racial Equity and Racial Healing Technical Assistance Initiative. The 15-month program will provide city leaders with the strategies they need to advance racial equity and racial healing in their communities.

Beginning in early February, each city will meet with NLC three times for a cross-site convening, site visits and a mayor’s leadership academy. In addition to in-person meetings, city staff will have access to REAL team members on coaching calls and webinars throughout the initiative.

The six cities participating in the program include:

• Charlotte, N.C
• Long Beach, Calif.
• Pittsburgh, Penn.
• Rochester, N.Y.
• St. Paul, Minn.
• Pittsburgh, Penn.
• Wichita, Kan.

“City leaders have the capacity to create lasting change in their communities by advancing racial equity,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities (NLC). “The National League of Cities is proud to work on the ground with these six cities and help them take action to address institutional and structural racism.”

The technical assistance initiative will help city leaders identify the impacts of institutional racism within their community’s policies and practices, and take action to address it. Each city will receive tailored coaching to build relationships with communities most impacted by racial inequity, create structures that intentionally address structural racism and normalize the dialogue of governing for racial equity. [TM1] 

“Launching the National Municipal Learning Community for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation last fall was an important step in identifying cities that are well-positioned to make progress,” said Leon Andrews, director of the National League of Cities (NLC) Race, Equity Leadership Initiative. “We look forward to working alongside these six cities as they take meaningful steps to advance racial healing and address institutional and structural racism in their local governments.”

Cities will explore various models for engaging both the community and city staff through dialogues, trainings and other activities with the end goal of understanding and facilitating racial healing and reconciliation.

This program is made possible with the generous support of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and its Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation initiative.

Press contact: Meri St. Jean (202-626-3167 | stjean@nlc.org)

About the W. K. Kellogg Foundation:

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org