CITY’S DIVERSITY COMMISSION WINS NATIONAL AWARD 

The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) honored the City of Federal Way’s Diversity Commission and nine other cities with its eighth annual City Cultural Diversity Awards. The awards were presented on Sunday, March 9, 2003, during the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C.

Federal Way’s Diversity Commission was chosen to receive the distinguished award because it “sets a strong example of how cities can improve and promote cultural diversity in their communities.”

Mayor Jeanne Burbidge accepted the award, presented at the Celebrate Diversity Breakfast during the conference. “I am very proud of this outstanding recognition given to our Diversity Commission,” said Burbidge.  “The award was highly deserved by the commissioners, whose continuing work serves to enrich our community.”  Deputy Mayor Dean McColgan and Councilmember Michael Park were also in attendance for the presentation.

“American cities reflect a melting pot of diversity; they’re the soul of this great nation,” said NBC-LEO President E. W. Cromartie, II, mayor pro tem of Columbia, S.C.

Federal Way’s Diversity Commission was created in 1992 and is composed of nine members and one to two alternates, each appointed to three-year terms by the City Council.  They advise the Council on policy matters involving the community’s cultural and ethnic differences, ensuring that these differences are considered in the decision-making process.  In addition to its advisory role, the Commission designs and manages programs as adopted each year in their business plan.

Among its recent projects, the group coordinated the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration in January; staged a “Celebrating Our Latino Heritage” event that showcased the traditions, foods and entertainment of the Latino community; produced a video featuring Federal Way citizens explaining their cultural and ethnic heritage; and donated culturally diverse books to Federal Way libraries for young readers.