Burien City Councilwoman Sally Nelson recently was appointed vice chair of the National League of Cities CityFutures Panel on Equity and Opportunity in 2007.

League president Bart Peterson, mayor of Indianapolis announced Nelson's appointment.

The CityFutures Panel on Equity and Opportunity works to identify emerging challenges resulting from inequalities based on race, economics, and demographics.

Additionally, it focuses on identifying and sharing effective strategies to reduce municipal poverty, affordable housing issues, and ways to address diversity and racial justice in communities.

"Most Americans live in cities, and we are the first responders, first providers and the level of government closest to the people," said Peterson.

"As such, cities must be at the forefront of national and state policies. I look forward to working with Sally in the year to come as we address the challenges cities are facing."

The work of the Equity and Opportunity Panel will reinforce the need to address issues of equity and fairness.

This year the panel will help continue the National League of Cities' Inclusive Communities Partnership, an initiative started in 2006. Nearly 150 cities nationwide have passed resolutions or taken some form of local action to make their communities more inclusive in the past year.