UA Community Relations – UA Community Relations

WELCOME TO UA COMMUNITY RELATIONS

The City of Upper Arlington’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) was created by City Council in 2020 to support Upper Arlington as a welcoming community and to promote understanding, mutual respect and a sense of belonging among all residents.

2025 Observances Calendar

The City's Community Relations Committee has developed a calendar for 2025 that details notable national and religious holidays and observances as a useful reference tool for the community when planning special events or public meetings. Check out the Resources Section of the CRC website to view the calendar.

2024 Community Awards – Call for Nominations

Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2025 Each year, the City seeks nominations of the many worthy individuals and groups that have helped make our community better in some way, through our annual Community Awards Program. Now is the time to submit your nominations for the following categories: Business – recognizes a business that is actively involved in the community or brings…

2025 Community Relations Innovation Small Grant Program

Applications Accepted: November 1–December 13, 2024 DOWNLOAD THE FILLABLE APPLICATION FORM HERE The City has begun accepting applications for the 2025 grant cycle for the Community Relations Innovation Small Grant Program. This program is designed to create opportunity spaces for new initiatives, and enhancements to existing community programs and events that advance the welcoming and inclusion goals of the Community…

UA Juneteenth Ceremony

The City hosted its Third Annual Juneteenth Recognition Program and raising of the Juneteenth flag on Monday, June 17. Our sincere thanks to our keynote speaker - Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League - for her rousing speech, and to the founder of Urban Strings Columbus, Catherine Willis, and her impressive musicians - Asa Simpson Cole, Joelius Porter, Tia…

Rainbow UA’s UA Pride Event

Members of the Community Relations Committee hosted a UA Welcome Series booth at the 2024 UA Pride event on Sunday, June 9, at Sunny 95 Park. CLICK HERE to view more pictures from this year's event.

Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony

More than 100 community members joined with members of Upper Arlington City Council, the Community Relations Committee, and the City Administration for Upper Arlington’s third annual Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony. Upper Arlington Board of Education Member, Lori Trent, served as keynote speaker, Bonnie Erwin from Rainbow UA shared a beautiful poem, and Council President Ukeme Awakessien Jeter presented a…

WE ARE UA

The CRC has focused its work around three core areas of focus

INTERNAL OPERATIONS

The CRC advises the City on how it can better incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into all elements of city operations. The CRC has already helped guide the City in modifications that we have made to our hiring and purchasing processes. Additionally, the CRC has helped UA Police work on new ways to communicate with the community about policing in our community.

IMPROVING FROM THE INSIDE

The CRC is working to find ways to bring together community organizations and individuals together to support the diverse communities already in Upper Arlington and raise their profile in the community. The CRC helped guide the City’s participation in Black History Month and our work with Upper Arlington Public Library and UA Schools on commemorations of other cultural events.

IMPROVING FROM THE OUTSIDE

The CRC works with the City to explore ways to encourage more people and businesses from underrepresented groups to become part of the Upper Arlington community. The CRC and the City are exploring ways to better understand how to welcome new communities to UA and tell our story.

CONSIDERING UA?

If you are curious about Upper Arlington – maybe you’re even considering moving here – we’d love to know what questions you have, what attributes you are looking for in a community and what resources you’d like us to connect you to. Please complete the email form below using the subject line “Considering UA.”