by Laura Sweeny
Today, NLC announced that Yuma, Ariz., has been honored as the 100th city to join NLC?s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities. Since March, cities and towns from across the United States have declared their commitment to building more inclusive communities by joining the partnership and working to increase citizen participation and engagement, while promoting equal opportunity and fairness.
In an era that has become increasingly partisan and turbulent, NLC President James Hunt, councilmember, Clarksburg, W.Va., believes cities that embrace their differences and look for inclusive solutions to problems will have the most success in tackling the tough issues ahead.
?Open dialogue among citizens can be the key to finding workable solutions to many of the problems facing cities and towns,? Hunt said. ?Cities like Yuma recognize this and are working to make sure every citizen?s voice has a chance to be heard ? regardless of race, economic and social status, disability or any distinction.?
The Yuma City Council passed a formal resolution on Sept. 20, reaffirming the city?s pledge to promote inclusion among all citizens.
?We are very proud of Yuma?s already diverse population and our current work to celebrate it,? said Yuma City Administrator Mark Watson. ?The inclusive communities partnership will help our city make sure we continue to reach out to all our citizens, increase involvement by a wider representation of citizens and find new ways to embrace our unique diversities.?
Currently, the City of Yuma builds inclusiveness through such programs and events as the Yuma Coalition to End Homelessness; interaction with sister cities San Luis Rio, Colo., and Mexicali, Mexico; the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day; the Neighborhood Leadership Academy and numerous cultural activities and performances.
In February 2007, the city will open the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Memorial Creative Playground, built through a unique and inclusive collaboration of municipal and private resources and volunteers. The playground, located in the Yuma West Wetlands Park, will be a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind play area based on design input from more than 5,000 Yuma-area school children.
Launched in March, the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities has grown to include 100 cities in less than nine months, signifying municipal leaders? recognition that ensuring all citizens feel they are valued is vital for the health and well-being of a community. The current list of partnership members represents the diversity and inclusiveness the program aims to foster, with member cities of varied sizes, demographics, geographic locations and economic situations.
Municipalities that wish to join the partnership must pass a formal resolution declaring their commitment to the program. NLC then provides each city with a large street sign stating, ?Welcome. We are building an inclusive community.? Cities are encouraged to post the sign as a public symbol of the city?s pledge to continually address issues of inclusiveness.
Details: Cities interested in joining the partnership can find additional resources and information at www.nlc.org. A complete list of cities in the partnership may also be found at the NLC website. Contact Bill Barnes at (202) 626-3030 or barnes@nlc.org with questions about the program.
100 Cities Join Inclusive Communities Partnership
As of today, 100 cities have joined NLC?s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities. In the Aug. 7 issue of Nation?s Cities Weekly, the 68 cities that had joined by then were listed. The following is a list of the 32 cities that have joined since that count.
Berkeley, Mo.
University City, Mo.
Greenacres, Fla.
Apple Valley, Calif.
Alexandria, Va.
San Jose, Calif.
Leesburg, Va.
Bedford, Ohio
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Baltimore, Md.
Grand Prairie, Texas
Moscow, Idaho
Corpus Christi, Texas
Brighton, Colo.
Northglenn, Colo.
Northfield, Minn.
Bryan, Texas
State College, Pa.
Sanford, Fla.
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Maryville, Tenn.
Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan.
Manitowoc, Wis.
Lawton, Okla.
South Sioux City, Neb.
Medford, Mass.
St. Louis, Mo.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Roanoke, Va.
Sarasota, Fla.
Enfield, Conn.
Yuma, Ariz.