NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
25 September 2002

TASK FORCE ON RACIAL EQUALITY & EQUITY FORMED

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced the establishment of a Task Force on Racial Equality and Equity, which is being commissioned to a twelve month effort to identify and undertake action steps to assure full access and opportunity for persons of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Nationwide, this week is known as Racial Equality Week and various cities and towns are conducting events or issuing proclamations.Reed said, “We did not want to do something for publicity value.We seek substance in assuring an inclusive community and society.Racial equality may be set forth in law but equity—meaning equality in being able to secure decent housing, employment, job training and every aspect of the American Dream—remains elusive for many. When hopelessness and despair replace belief in a bright future, the cohesiveness that creates a strong society and economy is undermined.”

The Mayor said the task force will focus on the following key issue groups: Job Training, GED, Literacy and English as a Second Language; Housing; Transportation; Access to Credit for Mortgages; Cars and College; Minority Business Development; Civic Empowerment and Employment.

The Task Force will function through committees working on the issue groups.Task Force members will include Robert Torres, Pedro Cortes, Vera Reynolds, Otto Banks, Fred Clark, Dr. Phuong Trung, Melvin Johnson, Deep Gupta, Jena East, Deborah Vereen, Rev. Braxton Cooley and Cathy Thomas.Each of the initial appointees hold key posts in state and local governments, civic groups, education and the private sector. Additional appointees will be named and a facilitator will be selected to help organize and focus task force work.

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