HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 17 2018 - RaceEquity Report
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0347 • kcaron@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Race & Equity Task Force Presents Findings to City Council
Edina, Minn., May 17, 2018 – The City of Edina’s Race & Equity Task Force was developed over a year ago
with the aim of making recommendations on policies, practices and strategies to identify and eliminate race-
based disparities in City facilities, services and institutions. Those recommendations have been developed and
were presented to City Council on Tuesday, May 15. The City Council has directed staff to evaluate the
feasibility and advisability of implementing the recommendations and report back with the results of their
evaluation in September.
“Culture is defined as a set of shared values behaviors and beliefs that are practiced. Our history shows that
we have established norms that, if not challenged, will continue to impact our goal, to achieve Edina’s goal, to
foster an inclusive and engaged community,” said Race & Equity Task Force co-chair James Pierce. “We
believe that executing all of these recommendations will not only set us on the right track, but will over time
establish new norms that will help our culture continue to thrive.”
The Task Force found five key areas where staff should focus their implementation initiatives.
• Actively foster a community culture that goes beyond racial inclusion and generates a sense of
belonging for all.
• Visibly demonstrate our commitment and accountability to eliminate racial inequities and create an
inclusive and engaged community.
• Ensure our policies and procedures eliminate practices that may create or perpetuate racial inequities.
• Implement changes in our community that focuses on building relationships with people of color.
• Improve the ability to leverage data and analytics to drive desired outcomes.
“I think everyone should read this report to understand why it’s so important. I think we’re talking about the
end of a step, but the work has to start now. Not to diminish the work that’s already been done, but we’re
just starting and we have to be diligent about the next steps,” said Council Member Mike Fischer.
Members of the Task Force and its working groups were thanked for their work on the project. Members of
the Task Force were Pierce, co-chair Jessi Kingston, Katherine Bass, Leonel Dorvil, Thuy Anh Fox, Ramla
Hasanali, Micheel Meek and Christina Smith. Working group members included Al Alexander, Sharon Allison,
Erica Allenburg, Pat Arseneault, Dawn Beitel, Arnie Bigbee, Chris Bremer, Jeff Brown, Valerie Burke,
Randolph Cooper, Kelly Curtin, June Yoshinari Davis, Heather Edelson, Brian Hubbard, Ana Munro, Daniel
Nye, Kamala Puram, Eric Rehm, Elena Brito Sifferlin and Noah Silver.
For more information about the timeline or to read the full report, visit EdinaMN.gov/Race-Equity or contact
Project Coordinator MJ Lamon at 952-826-0360 or MLamon@EdinaMN.gov.
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