Unity Chair Statement
Dr . Jason E . Shelton
Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for African American Studies University of Texas at Arlington
Over the past three years , the City of Arlington has made significant progress in addressing racial and ethnic disparities . In 2020 , our leaders responded to the post-George Floyd challenges facing our nation and local community by establishing the Unity Council , a task force charged with examining various aspects of race and ethnic relations , as well as advancing recommendations for closing racial and ethnic gaps . I had the honor of chairing the Unity Council , which was comprised of 28 residents and stakeholders of diverse backgrounds varying by race , ethnicity , social class , gender , religious affiliation , sexual orientation and political ideology . Despite our differences , we worked together to develop 57 recommendations that directly addressed five aspects of racial inequality in Arlington : ( a ) Economic Disparities , ( b ) Education and Workforce Training , ( c ) Housing , ( d ) Health & Wellness and ( e ) Policing and Criminal Justice . Some of our suggestions could be implemented quickly while others required long-term planning . Regardless , all of the recommendations were intended to help Arlington live up to its brand : The American Dream City .
This report provides an update on the status of those recommendations . It also includes data and new sets of recommendations regarding the Unity Council ’ s most recent charge to address challenges facing local residents with disabilities ; residents aged 65 and up ; and to assess conditions within our city ’ s LGBTQ + community . Race and ethnic relations remain a key area of study for the Unity Council since Arlington continues to be one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the United States .
The City Council has also adopted the Unity Council ’ s prior recommendation to establish a permanent task force “ charged with directly engaging residents , organizations and institutions on matters regarding race , ethnicity and other forms of diversity in Arlington .”
Unity Council Report 2023 8