(KUTV) — Salt Lake City announced Thursday that it is officially a member of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a prepared statement:
Joining GARE aligns with the long-term goals we have set to become a city that is more just, inclusive and equitable. Making a place for diverse perspectives in positions of influence is essential to ensuring new policies are inclusive of the needs of all populations.
As a member, Salt Lake City leadership and employees will have access to online resources and content including monthly membership connections, working groups, rapid response content, and other benefits, a press release stated. The network includes local and regional government jurisdictions across the country.
Salt Lake City is the first jurisdiction in Utah to join GARE. The mayor’s office and the city council office are splitting the annual membership fee of $5,000, the news release stated.
Ariana Flores, GARE membership director, was quoted as saying in the news release:
We are very excited that Salt Lake City has decided to become part of the government movement for racial equity. As the first jurisdiction in Utah to join the GARE Membership Network, we hope Salt Lake City will provide a model for other jurisdictions in the region to make a public commitment to racial equity.
Both the Mayor’s Geographic Equity and her Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging transition teams listed working with GARE as part of its recommendations to “Create a Culture of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Within SLC Government” in its memorandum released in December 2019.
For more information on GARE, click here.