2024-6-25 - DEIC Agenda Packet June 25, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
1.Call to Order
2.Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge and honor the Dakota nation, on whose ancestral land the City of Golden Valley
is built, and whose land resources we use. We commit to counteracting the erasure of the
cultural practices and presence of the Dakota people through education and by amplifying a wide
range of indigenous voices.
3.Roll Call
Chair, Lee Thoresen Ajani Woodson Nyre Chester
Tracy Murphy Drew Jones Joelle Allen
George Kannenberg Ruth Paradise Imara Hixon
3.A.Vice Chair Nomination and Voting
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - May 28, 2024
6.Discussion Items
6.A.Planning for Summer 2025 Culture Event
6.B.Subcommittee Selection
7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
DEI COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission meetings are being conducted in a hybrid format
with in-person and remote options for attending.
Remote Attendance Options: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Microsoft Teams .
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any items
on the agenda should contact the staff liaison - Seth Kaempfer at (763) 593-8045.
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting June 25, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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1. June 13th BAEGV Feedback
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions:
1. July 2024: Islamophobia
2. August 2024: Transphobia
2. Golden Valley Pride Feedback
8.Staff Updates
8.A.Meeting with Other Cities' DEICs
8.B.DEIC Budget
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting June 25, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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May 28, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:50pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Lee Thoresen, Tracy Murphy, Ruth Paradise, Joelle Allen, and Imara Hixon
Commissioners absent: George Kannenberg, Ajani Woodson, Drew Jones, and Nyre Chester
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Hixon
Motion carries 5-0
5. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Hixon
Motion carries 5-0
6. Commission Onboarding and Refresher
Staff Kaempfer provided a presentation on the onboarding of new commissioners and a refresher
for continuing commissioners.
7. Discussion Items
7.A. Planning for Summer 2025 Culture Event
Commissioner Hixon shared that they connected with Dean Pank and are waiting on follow-up.
Commissioner Hixon and Paradise noted that the events subcommittee needs to continue to meet
and talk about it. Staff Kaempfer said that he will share the programming template with those on
the subcommittee for reference to use in the begging planning process.
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Commissioner Allen shared that they connected with a man from Allianz, and they are interested
in doing something that is local and connect to multiculturalism. Commissioner Allen also shared
that she has connected with someone at Byerly’s as a potential sponsor as well as being part of
the steering committee for this event.
Commissioner Allen also indicated that for this planning and event to move forward a steering
committee must be formed. Commissioner Thoresen agreed and noted that roles and
responsibilities of the steering committee also need to be defined. Commissioner Thoresen also
noted that it would be important to have individuals from GV Foundation be part of the steering
committee.
Commissioner Allen shared that she would like to plan for an event to the size that is possible and
if an event needs to be small then that’s the focus the Commission and steering committee goes
with. Commissioner Allen noted that the first year of any event is usually small but that the focus
right now should be about planning, and it needs to get started now.
Commissioner Allen shared that the events committee should be the entity to begin putting
details together and then continue to build out with the steering committee. Commissioner
Thoresen and Allen agreed that this event cannot happen without the support and leadership
from the GV Foundation.
Commissioner Lee asked for the “Planning for Summer 2025 Culture Event” to continue to be on
the agenda going forward. Commissioner Lee also asked for the events subcommittee to develop
a proposal and budget for the event and present it to the Commission at the June 2024 meeting
and then present it to Council at their July Work Session.
8. Subcommittee Updates
8.A. City Systems
1. June 13th BAEGV
Commissioner Allen and Paradies shared the subcommittee met to go over final details
for the upcoming event as well as set the final agenda. Commissioner Allen provided an
overview of the evening and what the intended outcomes of the night would be.
8.B. Communication and Networking
Commissioner Paradise shared that information has gone out for both the June BAEGV and the
HHNHH events with continued focus on mailing flyers to local businesses for the upcoming BAEGV.
Commissioner Paradise also shared that template still needs to be submitted for the HHNHH event
on transphobia.
8.C. Events
Commissioner Paradise noted that the BAEGV session for September should get moved to October
to accommodate for school schedules and those who are intended to be on the panel or part of
the session. The Commission entirely agreed.
1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions
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1: July 2024: Islamophobia
Commissioner Paradise shared they have been developing a list of venues to
access and use for upcoming events and that could help to drive traffic to events
like the one on Islamophobia.
Commission Allen shared that the commission need to do a better job with
providing feedback whether internally or to departments assisting the commission
in their efforts. Commission Allen specifically noted the flyer for the session on
Islamophobia and that the commission should simply accept the same exact flyer
for each communication but should put out requests to have images and content
that’s culturally reflective, responsive, and responsible. Commissoin Allen and
Paradise both shared that it will be important going forward to be more
purposeful about that.
2. August 2024: Transphobia
Commissioner Paradise shared that a template needs to be submitted to get full
communication crated for the upcoming event, but that a save-the-date will be
done for the upcoming GV Pride event. Commissioner Paradise also noted that
Staff Kaempfer will be assisting more with this event by connecting the
commissioners with their contacts.
2. Golden Valley Pride
1. Commissioner Participation
Commissioner Paradise shared that all of the slots to table for the event are not
yet filled and shared the availability times. Commission Hixon volunteered to
cover the last shift. Staff Kaempfer noted that he will be there the entire time but
that it will be important to have commissioners staffed at each time slot.
Staff Kaempfer shared that all needed items have been ordered and are either on
their way or have already arrived and ready for the event.
9. Staff Updates
9.A. Meeting with Other Cities’ DEICs
Staff Kaempfer shared that the DEI Commission in New Brighton has asked to meet and connect
with other suburban DEI and equity commissions and that Staff Kaempfer submitted that the
Commission would be interested based on previous conversations had by the Commission.
Staff Kaempfer shared that the event will be on Thursday, September 26 th from 6:30pm-8:30pm
and hosted by the City of New Brighton as well as more details will come as the planning
continues.
9.B. Board and Commission Appreciation Event
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Staff Kaempfer shared that the Board and Commission Appreciation Event will be coming up soon
on Thursday, June 6th from 6:00pm-7:30pm at Brookview and that all commissioners are
encouraged to attend but especially those who are new.
9.C. DEIC Budget
Staff Kaempfer shared an overview of the budget and said that he will continue to keep it
updated.
9.D. Vice Chair Nomination and Voting
Staff Kaempfer shared with the commission that there is vacancy in the Vice Chair role and that
nomination are open to fill it. Staff Kaempfer also shared that if there are nomination s provided
that voting would occur in the June 2024 DEIC meeting but that the role can only be left vacant for
two consecutive months.
10. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:05pm.
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Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
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Lee Thoresen, Chair
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