Diversity and Civic Engagement Team

While this team has met several times, it has come to appreciate the range of directions that could be taken and thus is now re-grouping and working to identify a specific consensus initiative to undertake.  Team goals include:

•        Increase public awareness of and commitment to the role of equity in regional competitiveness, quality of life and well-being

•        Engage, inform and support people in ways that strengthen their ability to participate in civic affairs.

•        Generate informed discussion on regional issues across geographical, demographic racial and interest boundaries.

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ACTIONS

Keynote address john a. powell at the 11/19/04 Equity and Regionalism Conference hosted by the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh.

• What should the agenda concerning consolidation address?

• Consolidation can be a positive force for the city’s fiscal health, government efficiency, economic development

• But equity issues must be addressed, especially if consolidation is to be supported by the city’s communities of color

• Requires a multi-dimensional approach

• Consolidation combined with other regional solutions to address equity

• Also must include measures to assure African American power dilution does not occur (federated regionalism)

• Must address the “true region”

Go to: http://www.kirwaninstitute.org click "Sustainable Pittsburgh presentation online in scrolling text.

"Sustainable Pittsburgh deems the current board's lack of minority and female representation to be reflective of a systematic barrier to equitable development of regional proportions and importance."

The full letter to the Governor at http://www.sustainablepittsburgh.org/NewFrontPage/oversightletter.htm.