DIRECT: Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity for Cities and Towns


NC League of Municipalities, Raleigh, NC  
Tuesday, February 04, 2025 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM   iCalendar Eastern Standard Time

An offering from NCLM's Advancing Municipal Leaders program. Participants will receive 6 hours of credit towards their AML Certifications, and will receive the DIRECT Certificate. 

 

Fee:  $80 

Check-in: Begins at 8:30 am

 

Lunch is complimentary and will be served at 12:00 p.m.

 


 

Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity for Cities and Towns

 

Overview
 

What are some of the historical policies or practices impacting racial disparity in cities and towns? How does wealth and other racially oriented gaps impact municipalities?  What are the ways in historical systemic practices and municipal policies impact race? How can city and town leaders impact racial equity? 

 

The NCLM DIRECT Program explores answers to these questions.


In 2020, the NCLM Board of Directors appointed 14 municipal elected officials to the NCLM Task Force on the Impact of City Leaders on Racial Equity.  That Task Force began work in November and met virtually every month until March 21, 2021. Their work culminated in a Report that was furnished to the NCLM Board.  


As a result of the Task Force Report, a training program called NCLM DIRECT (Diversity, Inclusion & Racial Equity for Cities and Towns) was created.  

 


Key Components

 

Leading with Values – Normalizing Part 1 
Understanding values of racial equity; Building foundational knowledge and core concepts; Understanding core constructs such as systemic/structural racism, equity, institution of white supremacy, and cognitive dissonance; Understanding the impact that systemic racism has on the overall economy.

 

Connecting with History – Normalizing Part 2 
Understanding significant historical events and movements, including the white supremacy movement in North Carolina during the Jim Crow Era, relevant amendments, laws, regulations, policies, and practices impacting racial equity at the municipal level.

 

Drawing Thru Lines 
Understanding basic data/metrics of the economic costs of racial inequities in the municipality, with particular attention to communities impacted historically by systemic practices.

 

Preparing for Practical Solutions 
Understanding the specific areas of racial disparity of focus for the municipality; Applying a racial equity analysis in policy issues; Developing strategies for working to achieve racial equity as a community.

 


Agenda

  • 8:30 a.m. | Registration begins
  • 9 a.m. | Welcome and introductory activity
  • 9:15 a.m. | Leading with Values: Normalizing Part 1
  • 10 a.m. | Making the Connection with History: Normalizing Part 2
    • Significant historical systems in the United States
    • Jim Crow in NC: The White Supremacy Movement
  • 12:00 p.m. | Lunch (Provided)
  • 12:45 p.m. | Drawing the Thru Lines
  • 1:45 p.m. | Preparing for Practical Solutions
  • 3 p.m. | Wrap-up and Adjourn

 

Education Credits and Certificates

AML: Attendees will receive 6 hours of AML credit. for the full day.

Advancing Municipal Leaders (AML) is a member-driven education program designed to provide continuous learning opportunities and help local elected officials be successful in public office. Through AML, municipal officials will learn how to meet - and exceed - the requirements of their role in office. Learn more about the AML Certification program here.

Planners: Attendees will receive 5.5 APA CM credits, including 1 equity credit. 

DIRECT: Attendees who complete both the morning and afternoon sessions will be awarded NCLM's DIRECT Certification, a specialized certificate within the AML program.

DIRECT, an educational program from NCLM, strengthens communities by identifying and addressing racial disparities at the local level. DIRECT stands for Diversity, Inclusion & Racial Equity for Cities & Towns. Learn more about DIRECT here

 

Course Instructors

Tom Carruthers     
Deputy General Counsel, NCLM

Tom Carruthers is the Deputy General Counsel with the NC League of Municipalities where he provides legal advice and support to League Departments, and Affiliates where he assists member local governments on legal, procedural and strategic issues. He also prepares and presents educational materials and interprets and drafts legislation in support of local government issues. 

Prior to joining the League, Tom served as Assistant County Attorney to the Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers. His areas of practice included civil litigation, public records requests, public contracting and advisor on First Amendment issues.  Tom also served over four years as the City Attorney with the City of Greensboro and an additional five years as an Assistant City Attorney.  In Greensboro, he provided critical legal guidance to the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager across numerous practice areas while he managed departmental legal resources including seven staff attorneys, five paralegals and assigned administrative staff.

Earlier in his career, Tom served as an Assistant District Attorney with the 24th Judicial District and has worked in private practice in civil litigation and business law.

Vickie Miller     
Learning and Development Director, NCLM

Vickie Miller is the Director of Learning and Development for the North Carolina League of Municipalities. Miller is Responsible for leading, managing, and delivering the League's training and education programs for elected and municipal officials. Miller has a distinguished career that has placed a focus on helping others. She has held many roles including Grassroots Coordinator for the NCLM, Executive Director for the 501(c)3 North Carolina Operation Lifesaver, and Director of Community Investment and Assistance where she oversaw the state Community Development Block Grant program for the North Carolina Department of Commerce with responsibility for an annual appropriation of $45 million and a grant and loan portfolio over $200 million.

Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She holds the Certified Public Manager designation from the North Carolina State Office of Personnel, the Certified Housing Development Professional, the Certified Finance Development Professional from the National Development Council, and the County Municipal Administration certification from the UNC School of Government.

Ken Bowers     
Planning Director, City of Raleigh

Ken Bowers joined the City of Raleigh, NC in 2006, became Planning Director in 2015, and now serves as Deputy Director within a consolidated Planning & Development department, where he leads the Urban Projects division focused on plan and project implementation. Prior to joining the City of Raleigh, Mr. Bowers was a consultant and Principal with the firm of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates in New York City, where he prepared plans, market studies and economic strategies for public, private and nonprofit clients in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region and beyond. He has a Masters in Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BS in Physics from NC State University.

Meeting Location

NC League of Municipalities  

434 Fayetteville St
Suite 2300
Raleigh, NC 27601-2942

Map & Directions

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