This is the last of my two-year stint as chair of the Local Government Commission. One of my goals as chair was to increase the diversity of those attending the annual conference, and part of that effort is the establishment of scholarships and travel stipends available to leaders from lower-income and minority communities, as well as representatives from organizations whose work is primarily focused on social equity and environmental justice.

I am encouraging anyone who fits this description and could use the help to apply for a scholarship and attend the conference. For general information about the conference, see http://newpartners.org/program.html. To download a brochure, see http://www.newpartners.org/docs/np10_ED-EJ_Brochure.pdf.

I guarantee you that this will be one of the most useful events you have ever been to with information and networking contacts that are critical to Richmond’s challenges and opportunities right now.

For more details or to apply for a diversity scholarship, please contact Shani Alford at salford@lgc.org or 916-448-1198 x330.

The Local Government Commission (LGC) will be hosting the 9th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference in Seattle on February 4-6, 2010.

The 2010 conference program will underscore the connections between smart growth, equitable development and environmental justice. Many sessions on the conference program are devoted to important social equity and environmental justice issues. Additionally, a daylong pre-conference workshop on "Working Together for Equitable Development: Voices and Lessons from Environmental Justice and Smart Growth" is scheduled for February 3, 2010.

A conference plenary on "Smart Growth at the Intersection of Environmental Justice and Green Jobs" will also articulate how smart growth can foster green jobs, social equity and affordable housing as our nation moves towards a more sustainable, green economy, and will feature two dynamic speakers: PolicyLink CEO Angela Glover-Blackwell, a renowned community building activist and advocate; and Majora Carter, a renowned environmental justice and green jobs advocate.

A Diversity Scholarship Fund has been established for this event, making scholarships and travel stipends available to leaders from lower-income and minority communities, as well as representatives from organizations whose work is primarily focused on social equity and environmental justice.

For more details or to apply for a diversity scholarship, please contact Shani Alford at salford@lgc.org or 916-448-1198 x330.

Attached is a brochure that provides more details on the Equitable Development Workshop scheduled for February 3, as well as the other conference sessions that will be focused on the linkages between equitable development, environmental justice, and smart growth.

For more information about the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference or to register, please visit: www.newpartners.org.