by Christiana Brennan and Keshia Crosby

Three Ohio mayors signed a joint, regional mayoral proclamation stating that they will work with their respective city councils to join NLC?s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities. This took place during NLC?s First Tier Suburbs (FTS) Council steering committee summer meeting in Bedford, Ohio, earlier this month.

Nearly 20 city officials from the nation?s first-tier suburbs ? cities or towns outside of a core city in a metropolitan area ? who were attending the July 6-8 meeting, watched as Bedford Mayor Daniel Pocek, chair of the FTS Council; Lakewood, Ohio, Mayor Thomas George; and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson signed the proclamation.

?It is of utmost importance to the City of Cleveland that we have a trusting, working relationship with our first suburbs, especially on issues of diversity,? said Mayor Jackson. ?Creating an inclusive region begins with our educational system and I look forward to engaging with our first suburban city officials on this issue.?

The council further supported the work of NLC President James Hunt, councilmember of Clarksburg, W.Va., by recommending that NLC develop a diversity workshop for the Congress of Cities and Exposition conference, that will take place in Reno, Nev., this December.

It was suggested that the workshop provide city officials with leadership skills to encourage an inclusive, accepting community, whether they need to address issues related to race, ethnicity, aging, sexual orientation or economic diversity. The council is working to co-sponsor the workshop with an NLC constituency group.

During the meeting, the steering committee also prioritized issues to address and activities for the entire FTS Council.

The committee established that the topic for the council meeting during the Congress of Cities will be providing strategies for municipal officials to help citizens keep their homes from foreclosure through loan programs and other city-supported financing options. Other issues to tackle will include education and youth, and regionalism. Resources and examples of successful city programs will be available on these topics at the conference.

?As first suburbs, we have more in common than at first glance,? commented Mayor Pocek. ?Though we may differ in size or density, we are all beginning to share the challenges that once only faced our core cities.?

Pocek added, ?It is always a great experience to have city officials from other parts of the country explore how their colleagues tackle the difficult challenges facing our communities and the First Tier Suburbs Council provides that valuable opportunity.?

Details: For more information on the First Tier Suburbs Council, visit www.nlc.org or contact Christiana Brennan or Keshia Crosby at (202) 626-3000.