PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
2/13/2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # CM: 021317
Subject:
City of Long Beach Wins Statewide Award for Advancing Diverse Communities
Contact:
Kerry Gerot
Public Affairs Officer
562.570.6811
Kerry.Gerot@longbeach.gov
Public Affairs Officer
562.570.6811
Kerry.Gerot@longbeach.gov
The City of Long Beach has been awarded the League of California Cities Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities for its comprehensive approach to supporting diverse communities citywide. The award was presented by California City Managers to Long Beach City Manager Patrick H. West.
The City Manager's Office has been committed to implementing the Mayor and City Council’s vision to make Long Beach a thriving city for all residents. City leadership has undergone a cultural shift from implementing isolated programs to taking a systemic and collaborative approach to addressing economic and health disparities throughout Long Beach.
“We began by identifying resources to increase mobility and transit opportunities and economic drivers, and then focused on youth empowerment and violence reduction efforts,” said Mr. West. “We are now one of the first cities in California to open an Office of Equity.”
The Office of Equity was approved unanimously by the City Council in 2016. Housed within the Department of Health and Human Services and supported through both general funds and grants, staff is working with community leaders, City leadership and private sector partners to examine how Long Beach can systemically address equity issues and build on efforts to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for the diverse communities of Long Beach.
The Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities also cited the City’s strong involvement in the following initiatives: My Brother’s Keeper, My Sister’s Keeper, Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan, the City’s Language Access Policy, and Implicit Bias training for Department Heads and the community.
To strengthen partnerships with residents and community-based organizations, the City of Long Beach is supporting an intra-departmental core leadership group to participate in a year-long training and planning opportunity provided by the Governing Alliance for Race and Equity (GARE). GARE is a national network of government jurisdictions working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.
The League of California Cities is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so that they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.
The City Manager's Office has been committed to implementing the Mayor and City Council’s vision to make Long Beach a thriving city for all residents. City leadership has undergone a cultural shift from implementing isolated programs to taking a systemic and collaborative approach to addressing economic and health disparities throughout Long Beach.
“We began by identifying resources to increase mobility and transit opportunities and economic drivers, and then focused on youth empowerment and violence reduction efforts,” said Mr. West. “We are now one of the first cities in California to open an Office of Equity.”
The Office of Equity was approved unanimously by the City Council in 2016. Housed within the Department of Health and Human Services and supported through both general funds and grants, staff is working with community leaders, City leadership and private sector partners to examine how Long Beach can systemically address equity issues and build on efforts to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for the diverse communities of Long Beach.
The Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities also cited the City’s strong involvement in the following initiatives: My Brother’s Keeper, My Sister’s Keeper, Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan, the City’s Language Access Policy, and Implicit Bias training for Department Heads and the community.
To strengthen partnerships with residents and community-based organizations, the City of Long Beach is supporting an intra-departmental core leadership group to participate in a year-long training and planning opportunity provided by the Governing Alliance for Race and Equity (GARE). GARE is a national network of government jurisdictions working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.
The League of California Cities is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so that they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.