January 3, 2018

CONTACT: Lindsey Wiles

Communications Manager

lwiles@mariettaga.gov

770.794.5509

MARIETTA — Councilman Reggie Copeland has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2019 Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) council. The council provides the opportunity for elected officials to share insights on how NLC can achieve the overall mission of the REAL initiative: to strengthen the leadership capacity of local elected officials, to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial tensions and build more equitable communities.

“I am grateful to have been appointed by the National League of Cities to serve on the Racial, Equity, and Leadership Council on a national level,” said Councilman Reggie “Game Changer” Copeland. “This is the second national committee that I have been appointed to and I am looking forward to serving and representing our All American City. I consider myself a life-long learner and this is a wonderful opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills to improve cities on both a local and national level.”

As a REAL council member, Copeland will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities and towns before Congress, with the administration and at home.

REAL is NLC's effort to equip its membership with the capacity to respond to racial tensions in their communities and address the historical, systemic and structural barriers that further inequity and racism in our nation's cities. Systemic, institutional racism and bias have had negative impacts on public policy. A focus on racial equity provides NLC the opportunity to align its unique strengths and resources across the organization to proactively prepare city leaders to apply a racial equity lens to policies, initiatives, programs and budgets. A racial equity lens offers city leaders the opportunity to create meaningful conversations and take action by assessing the ways in which municipal government can both benefit and burden racially diverse communities.

For more information on NLC’s REAL council, please contact, Kiera White. at 202-626-3021 or White@nlc.org.