NCLM Southern City Volume 71, Issue 2, 2021

NCLM.ORG 11 fter several months of work, NCLM’s Task Force on the Impact of City Leaders on Racial Equity has released a report calling for broad examinations of municipal policies affecting racial equity and setting the stage for the organization to help facilitate change. The 14-member task force was established in July by the League’s Board of Directors. Co-chaired by then-League President Jen- nifer Robinson, a member of the Cary Town Council, and Board of Directors member Bill Harris, a member of the Fuquay-Varina Town Commissioners, the group focused on ways that cities and towns could themselves address racial equity, rather than looking to state or federal policy changes. The report focused on areas including housing, policing, infra- structure location, and leadership development. “Municipalities across the state are grappling with how to promote racial equity,” said Robinson, who is now the League’s immediate past president. “The collective energy and effort of the task force members will, I hope, make it easier for all of the municipalities in North Carolina to tackle the hard conversations, take a good look at their policies and practices, and then step out to make real change.” The report’s recommendations are: • Cities and towns consider an examination of their own histor- ical practices related to redlining and other policies that may have harmed minority homeownership rates, home values, and wealth accumulation. • Cities and towns, as they can afford to do so, provide incentives that encourage investment in historically redlined neighbor- hoods or others disadvantaged by past discriminatory policies. • Cities and towns consider targeted approaches and strategies, such as target universalism, to address inequities created by past policies and decisions that have had and continue to have the effect of causing residents in those areas to suffer economi- cally, educationally, socially, and from a health standpoint. LEAGUE UPDATE NCLM Report Calls for Broad Examinations of Policy Affecting Racial Equity A • Cities and towns make investments in social infrastructure, like parks and libraries, in historically neglected or redlined neigh- borhoods, or those disadvantaged by less desirable targeted public facilities or geography. • Cities and towns consider assessments of their policing that examine approaches to racial equity and a shared sense of community. • Cities and towns create intentional spaces and forums for brave and courageous engagement about race, equity, justice, and policing. • Cities and towns work with the NCLM and state partners to bet- ter identify, utilize, and win the extensive grant awards available at the federal level that support better training and education for officers. • Establish education and training opportunities for city and town officials to establish a shared and common understanding and language from which to have dialogue at the local level. The report was unveiled at CityVision 2021, NCLM’s annual con- ference, where topics examining various aspects of racial equity were explored as a part of the programming. Those included a presentation by Leon Andrews, who heads the National League of Cities’ Race, Equity and Leadership program and who helped to facilitate the task force discussions. With the recommendations in hand, the League will begin explor- ing how to assist cities and towns adopt measures and services that can help in those local efforts. Harris, who was chosen as the League’s 2nd vice president in April, said he believes the report and subsequent efforts can bring greater awareness of the impacts of systemic racism and “how it affects the way elected leaders perceive themselves, and their responsibility to all citizens in promoting equity, fairness, and justice.” “NCLM can collaborate with elected leaders and communities interested in addressing the issues of equity, justice, and fairness SCOTT MOONEYHAM NCLM Director of Political Communication & Coordination Municipalities across the state are grappling with how to promote racial equity . The collective energy and effort of the task force members will, I hope, make it easier for all of the municipalities in North Carolina to tackle the hard conversations, take a good look at their policies and practices, and then step out to make real change. » Jennifer Robinson , NCLM Immediate Past-President continues on page 12

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