REDUCING RACISM AND ACHIEVING RACIAL JUSTICE
IN AMERICA'S CITIES AND TOWNS

Introduction
NLC aims to strengthen the effectiveness of local government and to enhance the leadership capacity of local officials in reducing racism, improving race relations, and achieving racial justice.  These aims are key aspects of NLC's broad goal of building Inclusive Communities.

Local elected officials are uniquely positioned to influence how people are treated, how power in a community is shared, how racial interests and issues are presented and resolved.  The role of the local elected official remains a key element in any effort to address racial and ethnic conflicts, promote racial justice and ethnic harmony, and develop and sustain a local agenda that reflects the priorities of a diverse community.

Race and racial matters continue to be a complex and frustrating issue for local officials.  The topic of racial justice and race relations is not a separate, isolated functional problem area for local government; it is embedded in and part of all sorts of conditions and decisions in which and about which local governance occurs everyday.
 
NLC builds its efforts on the experiences and lessons learned from engaged municipal officials and from current and previous projects.  (See links below.)  Critical work remains to be done.  We are committed to assisting and encouraging municipal officials in this work and to recognizing and highlighting cities and towns that are implementing effective programs.
What We've Learned  |  Previous Projects and Activities

Related NLC Efforts:

Cities Can Join the Inclusive Communities Partnership
During the 2006 tenure of then NLC President Jim Hunt, Councilmember, Clarksburg, West Virginia, NLC created the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities.  The Partnership is an ongoing NLC project.

Resource Links 

Nation's Cities Weekly Articles
Search the City Practices database or view Sample City Programs on Diversity and Racial Justice
Publications
Other Resources