Washington, D.C. – The National League of Cities (NLC) has selected four municipalities as this year’s 2025 City Cultural Diversity Award winners. These awards are presented annually during NLC’s Congressional City Conference in Washington, DC, and recognize outstanding leadership in developing creative and effective programs that demonstrate community belonging and innovation in cultural diversity.
Submissions for the awards were categorized by city population and assessed based on creativity, community impact and program scope. The winning communities were chosen from dozens of municipalities across the country that applied for this esteemed award.
2025 Diversity Award Winners
Population of 500,001 and above:
City of Kansas City, MO: KC Futures Office
Population of 200,001-500,000:
City of Rochester, NY: Police Department Workforce Development Program
Population of 50,001-200,000:
City of Miramar, FL: Miramar Business Academy
Population under 50,000:
City of Lawrenceville, GA: ReCAST Lawrenceville
“I am honored to celebrate each of these municipalities and the creative programs they have implemented in their communities,” said National League of Cities President Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, OH. “Creating spaces that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion is essential in strengthening our communities, as it builds connection and engagement. These programs create environments where residents from all backgrounds can feel welcomed, supported and included.”
In addition to the top four winners, three municipalities also received honorable mentions for their community leadership.
Honorable Mentions
Population of 200,001-500,000:
City of Tallahassee, FL: MLK Celebration
Population of 50,001-200,000:
Town of Stratford, CT: Latin Music Festival
Population under 50,000:
City of Maywood, IL: Multi-Ethnic Coalition of the Healthy Maywood Initiative
The City Cultural Diversity Awards program is a joint initiative hosted by all six NLC Constituency Groups. Each group appoints one juror from its membership to review the applications.
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.