City Council
	Agenda Request
Agenda Of:	01-05-10	Agenda Request No:		rec-1
Initiated By:	Jennifer A. May Assistant to the City Manager	Responsible Department:		City Manager’s Office
Presented By:	James A. Thompson Mayor	Department Head:		N/A
		Additional Department. Head (s):		N/A
Subject / Proceeding:	“Community of Respect” ® Recognition
Exhibits:	N/A
Clearances			Approval
Legal:	N/A		Executive Director:	N/A
Purchasing:	N/A		Asst. City Manager:	N/A
Budget:	N/A		City Manager:	Allen Bogard
Budget
Expenditure Required: $			N/A
Current Budget: $			N/A
Additional Funding: $			n/a
Recommended Action
Receive “Community of Respect” ® designation.
Executive Summary
In accordance with the City Council’s goal to be an “Inclusive Community” as outlined in Vision 2025, the City of Sugar Land continues to be recognized for its diversity – and as a community respectful of all. For the third year in a row, the City’s efforts will be recognized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) through the “Community of Respect” program. This initiative provides a framework for fighting hatred and promoting respect in eight different spheres of society: businesses, law enforcement, places of worship, media, sports and entertainment, government, higher education, and nonprofit community groups. The City again achieved this recognition in 2009, having fulfilled the requirement to complete three activities supporting a “Community of Respect” ®: § On February 4, 2009, the City Manager’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Team hosted a Chinese “101” session for key staff to learn more about the traditions and history of the Sugar Land Chinese community in an effort to improve the City’s ability to meet the needs of all residents. The event included an introduction to Chinese culture and a question and answer session. Questions focused on the perception of government in the Chinese community, how to best distribute information to this group, and how to improve service delivery to Chinese residents. § On June 4, 2009, the City Manager’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Team hosted the second “101” session, which focused on the Asian Indian community. After a general introduction to India and summary of Asian-Indians in the United States, Houston, and Sugar Land, City staff members were able to ask questions to a panel of community members. Questions focused on the perception of government – particularly law enforcement – in the community and how to encourage Asian-Indians to consider careers in local government. § On June 18, 2009, the City hosted a Community Summit to receive input on the draft Vision 2025 and Guiding Principles document before moving forward with using it as the framework for a future amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. Approximately 70 residents participated in the event, including significant representation from Sugar Land’s multi-cultural communities. This process was extremely meaningful because it further affirmed the long-term vision for the community and provided assurance that, regardless of ethnic background, residents are largely in agreement about what they want their community to look like in fifteen years. These three events reflect only some of the City’s many events; others include the recent South Asian - Pakistani “101” session and support of the Dragon Boat Regatta and the Fort Bend Education Foundation International Festival. Additionally, in January 2010, the City will be hosting its first-ever cultural kite festival. This designation recognizes the City’s commitment to the “Community of Respect” ® program and the willingness to continue a partnership with the Anti-Defamation League to promote, respect and celebrate each of the multi-cultural communities within Sugar Land.
Exhibits