Letter to City Council
The Unity Council is excited about the prospect of continuing to build upon this momentum with the issuance of its 2023 Update Report and Recommendations . This year ’ s report continues to be grounded in its foundational charge of ensuring equitable outcomes for racial and ethnic populations in Arlington .
However , the Unity Council continues to evolve to ensure it is being inclusive of all underserved and marginalized populations in Arlington . The Rev . Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr . stated during his Aug . 11 , 1957 , speech in Montgomery , Alabama , on “ Conquering Self-Centeredness ,” “ An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity .” It is based upon this premise that this year ’ s Update Report and Recommendations consider three additional areas of disparity and inclusion as directed by the City Council when it created the permanent Unity Council .
Specifically , the Unity Council has set forth recommendations addressing residents that are aged 65 and older ; intellectually and physically disabled individuals ; and members of the LGBTQ + community . In addition to expanding our recommendations to include these underserved segments of the community , the Unity Council has also partnered with the Mayor ’ s advisory councils to initiate cultural exchange initiatives that will foster greater understanding , appreciation and unified celebration of the beautifully complex human tapestry that makes up Arlington .
As we stated in our previous report , many of these recommendations cannot be accomplished by the City government alone and will require continued collaboration with our residents , stakeholders and organizational partners . We are confident that Arlington ’ s inherent “ Can Do ” spirit will ensure that those efforts continue to be successful .
In closing , we collectively thank you for the honor to serve as members of the Unity Council . We appreciate your continued support and steadfast commitment to ensuring equitable outcomes for all our residents , stakeholders and communities . We are strongest as a unified Arlington !
The Unity Council
Unity Council Report 2023 5