High Point City Council approves organization to help implement reparations report

The High Point City Council on Monday approved around $292,000 for an organization to help implement its reparations report.

The City Council voted unanimously to pay the National Institute of Minority Economic Development's Research, Policy and Impact Center to oversee a 30-month project. The money comes from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The organization will work to help implement proposals in the city's reparations and reconciliation report. The 245-page document was approved last year by the City Council and gives policy recommendations in areas such as housing and transportation.

High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson says officials will maintain a level of accountability because the public wants to know the city is moving towards a goal.

"If we get somewhere down this where we're spinning our wheels too much we do have a responsibility to look at this more soundly and look to take certain actions of recourse," Jefferson says.

The Policy Center will collaborate with city staff over the next 90 days to determine which recommendations to take on first.