by Laura Sweeney

Public service announcements (PSAs) encouraging citizens to help build inclusiveness in their communities have started airing in television markets served by Comcast Cable throughout the country.

Comcast produced and distributed the PSAs as its contribution to NLC?s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities program, which is aimed at emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness to the character, growth and development of America?s cities and towns.

Comcast is airing the PSAs across its programming spectrum. The four PSAs include ?Embrace the Power of ?We,?? ?The Faces of America,? ?Embrace the Human Race,? and ?Signs That Make Everyone Welcome.? They highlight the inclusive communities message, concluding with the words, ?Remember, the U.S. is ALL of us.?

?We are pleased that Comcast is helping spread our message of hope by bringing these PSAs into American homes,? said NLC President James Hunt, councilmember, Clarksburg, W.Va. ?As our message is heard, we know that more community members and local leaders will begin to re-examine their efforts to make all feel welcome.?

Bret Perkins, vice president of government affairs for Comcast, believes this is an exciting partnership.

?Comcast has a longstanding commitment to supporting diversity in the neighborhoods we serve across our country,? said Perkins. ?We are excited to collaborate with the National League of Cities in this important initiative to promote racial, ethnic and cultural equality in our nation?s cities.?

Since March, more than 105 cities and towns in 33 states, representing 10 million people from across the United States have joined the inclusive communities partnership and are working to increase citizen participation and engagement, equal opportunity and fairness. The PSAs are part of an overall campaign that also includes the placement of large street signs in cities that join the partnership. The signs read, ?Welcome. We are building an inclusive community.?

Details: The PSAs can be downloaded at www.nlc.org/inclusivecommunities. The downloads are made available via NLC?s National City Network. Since NLC owns the rights to the PSAs, they can be used on other cable channels; public, education and community access channels; or on local television stations in communities. Information on downloading these PSAs is available on the website.

Community leaders can also find more information about the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities, including enrollment procedures and resources, at the website or by e-mailing questions to inclusive@nlc.org.