by Amy Elsbree

Corporate leaders have stepped up to support NLC and its member cities in addressing issues of racism, diversity and inclusiveness.

Recognizing that the work of building inclusive communities does not reside with local government leaders alone, members of NLC?s Corporate Partners Leadership Council have commended Clarksburg, W.Va., Councilmember and NLC President James Hunt?s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities and have pledged their support for the program.

?President Hunt bonded NLC member cities and their corporate partners together with the powerful theme of inclusiveness,? said Phillip Bracken, executive vice president, Government & Industry Relations at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and chairman of the Corporate Partners Leadership Council.

?I have followed Jim?s lead by asking each of the Corporate Partners to share examples of how their company practices inclusiveness. For us at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, it means fair and responsible lending practices for all applicants. As an ?inclusive? company, we?re proud to be a Corporate Partner of the NLC and equally proud of Jim Hunt?s strong example of leadership.?

As cities across the country make plans to participate in NLC?s 7th Annual Race Equality and Inclusive Communities Week, from Sept. 25-29, NLC is recognizing the contributions that its corporate partners make in building an inclusive environment within their workplace and in the communities in which they live.

At Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc. (ESRI), a company that designs and develops geographic information system technology, the focus on inclusiveness extends to the more than 400 foreign nationals from 57 different countries who work at the corporate headquarters in Redlands, Calif.

ESRI recognized that they had a role to play in helping the transition for these employees into a new community and have, therefore, created a strong support base for new arrivals, providing them with not only a continuing connection to home, but also a connection to their new community as well.

Richard Leadbeater, industry manager, State Government and Trade Associations for ESRI, explained that with such a wide representation of cultures and experience in the workplace, the company was able to build a professional environment that is both encouraging and respectful of differences, forming a unique setting for our international and domestic employees.

ESRI also maintains regional offices in 10 different cities through the U.S. Leadbeater said, ?As a corporate citizen of these cities, we recognize the need to strive toward ? and the benefits of ? a barrier free work and community environment.?

In addition to its basic commitment to create homeownership opportunities for as many people as possible, Wells Fargo has focused on ways to make their services available to more people in ethnic minority families. They were the first major financial services company in the U.S. to help Mexican nationals move from the risky cash economy into the American financial services sector by promoting acceptance of the Matricula card as a primary form of identification for them to open bank accounts.

For many corporations, the hard work to promote equity begins with equal employment opportunity programs and internal diversity programs. At ICMA-RC, an organization that provides retirement programs and services for more than 650,000 public sector employees, they recognize that attracting, developing and retaining a diverse work force is key to remaining an industry leader, and they are committed to making that a reality.

Waste Management Inc., a provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services, has a strong business ethics and diversity program. In addition to creating an inclusive environment in the workplace, Waste Management extends its inclusiveness to the broader community through its focus on identifying and developing qualified minority- and women-owned suppliers.

At the Fannie Mae Foundation, the mission of the organization is built on the principle of creating opportunity. The mission is to, ?Open doors too long closed to too many: The door to an affordable home, the door to the American dream.? The foundation also focuses on increasing the supply of affordable homes for families of public service employees such as firefighters, nurses and teachers.

The foundation is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has taken steps to support community efforts in D.C., such as helping transform public schools to give all students a chance for a better education, and supporting the Washington Area Women?s Foundation that helps women improve their lives and the lives of their children. According to a recent Fannie Mae Foundation statement, ?For more than 25 years, the Fannie Mae Foundation has welcomed the challenge of creating a more inclusive society.?

NLC's Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities now includes 86 partner cities in 30 states representing over 8.5 million people.  Cities interested in joining the Partnership should go to www.nlc.org to obtain the tool kit that provides a sample resolution, a list of steps cities can take to promote inclusive communities and examples of successful programs, policies and activities that cities have used to build inclusive communities.

Details: These are just a few examples of NLC Corporate Partner initiatives that support racial equality and inclusiveness. In the coming weeks, Nation?s Cities Weekly will highlight efforts by partner organizations and individual city practices.

To learn more about Race Equality and Inclusive Communities Week and related activities, contact Christopher Hoene at hoene@nlc.org or (220) 626-3172. To learn more about NLC?s Corporate Partners Program, contact Amy Elsbree at elsbree@nlc.org or (202) 626-3126.

NLC Encourages Cities to Share Race Equality And Inclusive Communities Week Activities

For cities sponsoring activities related to NLC?s 7th Annual Race Equality and Inclusive Communities Week, held Sept. 25-29, NLC wants to hear about them.

NLC will highlight the activities of cities in Nation?s Cities Weekly and on their website,  www.nlc.org.

To share activities, send the title of the event with a short description of it to Chris Hoene via e-mail at hoene@nlc.org or fax at (202) 626-3043. For more information about the week and a tool kit containing sample resolutions and press releases, as well as examples of activities in other cities, visit NLC?s website.