Executive Summary ( continued )
out — it must include these honest but difficult perspectives . Our city is diverse , and so are opinions about it .
The Unity Council was also charged with creating an “ equity plan which includes strategies to eliminate racism and other forms of discrimination and to advance unity in Arlington .” In accomplishing this goal , each of our five subcommittees developed a set of recommendations based on the aforementioned quantitative and qualitative data , as well as another source of information : ( 4 ) input from guest speakers who were invited to attend Unity Council meetings . These experts included local community leaders , notable academic scholars , and elected officials from other large and diverse cities who have already established programs and policies that aim to address racial and ethnic disparities . The recommendations contained in this report are not always within the full purview of the City of Arlington . We have already spoken with many of the community stakeholders whose collaboration will be needed to implement several of these recommendations . The City of Arlington may be able to play the role of convenor in working with these entities to implement some of these recommendations .
Each subcommittee had the autonomy to review the data , expert analysis , and community input that they received to determine what they felt was most important to Arlington . Their goal was to provide a roadmap or a sense of direction for what they believe are our most pressing problems and a general idea of how they might be solved .
However , the City Council and the City Manager ’ s Office understand the strategic and tactical tools to implement recommendations that the Unity Council has proposed in this report .
Our taskforce met more than forty times over the past eight months in subcommittee meetings and with the full Unity Council . We considered the information presented to us , discussed and debated amongst ourselves , compromised on some things , held our ground on others , and decided to let some things go ( for now , at least ). As a result , the recommendations contained within this report represent various sources of knowledge , as well as a contrasting mix of personal values and beliefs .
Arlington , Texas , is now the 49 th largest city in the United States . We ’ re also the 11 th most racially and ethnically diverse city in our nation . Each of the 28 people who served on the Unity Council are just as unique and diverse as our City . That ’ s why one of our goals was to demonstrate that we can , in fact , “ all get along ” and find common ground despite our differences . We reached that goal , and along the way have provided a blueprint for showing other large and diverse cities how to address racial and ethnic inequality in a way that is respectful and inclusive of residents .
Our city ’ s brand is : “ Arlington : American Dream City .” Results and recommendations published within this report can help bridge racial and ethnic divides so that all residents might one day have the confidence , skills , and opportunities to make their American dreams come true . i See Arlington City Council Resolution No . 20-161 ( June 23rd , 2020 ) ii See Arlington City Council Resolution No . 20-147 ( June 9th , 2020 ) iii See Arlington City Council Resolution No . 20-146 ( June 9th , 2020 )
Unity Council Report 14