Community Relations Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Director Sharee M. Freeman of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service will join Pittsburgh, Kansas, Chief of Police Mike Hall and Dr. Penny Armstrong, President of the Pittsburgh, Kansas Area Community Outreach (PACO) at the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials "2002 City Cultural Diversity Awards Breakfast." The Caucus is part of the National League of Cities.

        "CRS assisted the city in mobilizing itself against escalating racial tensions to alleviate community racial tensions and to prevent conflicts arising from hundreds of new Hispanic residents who moved into the established East European ethnic community of Pittsburgh. The founding of PACO was one of the bold steps taken by the City to meet its racial challenges," said CRS Director Sharee M. Freeman.

Through this award, the Caucus is honoring the city’s leadership in developing a creative and effective program to make the community more culturally diverse.

        The 2002 City Cultural Diversity Awards, Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, National League of Cities will be held on Sunday, March 10, from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the Hilton Washington Hotel and Towers, Jefferson/Lincoln West Rooms, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.

        The Caucus will not permit photographs during the presentations. The list of award recipients is embargoed by the National League of Cities until after the breakfast presentations. A press release naming all of the recipients by the National League of Cities will be made available at the end of the program.

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