2024-7-23 - DEIC Agenda Packet July 23, 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
Vice Chair, Ruth Paradise Drew Jones Joelle Allen
George Kannenberg Tracy Murphy
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - July 25, 2024
6.Discussion Items
6.A.Upcoming 2024 and 2025 Events
1. Bill Hobbes Award and Martin Luther King Contest
6.B.Summer 2026 Culture Event
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 July 23, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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7.B.Events
1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions:
1. July 2024: Islamophobia Feedback
2. August 2024: Transphobia
2. BAEGV
1. October 2024: Equity in Minnesota Public Education
7.C.Communication and Networking
8.Staff Updates
8.A.Haha Wakpadan
8.B.DEIC Commissioner Membership
8.C.DEIC Budget
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting July 23, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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June 25, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:36pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Lee Thoresen, Tracy Murphy, Ruth Paradise, Joelle Allen, and George
Kannenberg
Commissioners absent: Ajani Woodson, Drew Jones, Imara Hixon, and Nyre Chester
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion to amend agenda by Commissioner Thoresen by adding “Discussion of Commission
Meeting Time Change” to “Discussion Items” and move “Vice Chair Nomination and Voting” to
become agenda item nine after “Staff Updates”, seconded by Commissioner Paradise
Motion carries 5-0
Motion to approved amended agenda by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner
Kannenberg
Motion carries 5-0
5. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Kannenberg
Motion carries 5-0
6. Discussion Items
6.A. Planning for Summer 2025 Culture Event
Commissioner Allen noted that the event needed to be changed to become a 2026 event and the
rest of the commission agreed. Commissioner Allen shared that by having a longer time it will
allow for a larger event and better collaboration among community partners.
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Commissioner Allen shared that they had a conversation with GV Foundation about being a
partner in this event. GV Foundation shared that they also want to do something large and have
not problem with being the fundraising arm of this event but would need assistance from the
commission on getting volunteers. GV Foundation shared that a $25,000 range for sponsorship
would be ideal and offset a wide range of costs along with needing the commission to assist in
building out a budget of around $30-40,000.
Commissioner Allen also shared that GV Foundation still wants to have an arts and music festival
and could build in a culture piece to this current approach. The y are willing to entertain a change
of direction and change in name to recognize the concerted focus on culture. Commissioner Allen
and Commissioner Thoresen both indicated that anything at this stage in planning should be
brough to the Event Subcommittee and then back to the commission as a whole.
Commissioner Thoresen provided next steps for planning which include:
• Keep in touch with the foundation and see what their needs are
• Subcommittee goes to GV Foundation board meeting and raise questions about what they
are doing
• Bring GV Foundation to DEIC meeting to see what is possible
• Assist GV Foundation in promoting for volunteers for the Music and Arts Festival
6.B. Subcommittee Selection
Staff Kaempfer shared about the various subcommittees that are part of the commission and
asked for commissioners to share their selection for this year of the commission. Commissioners
reselected and Staff Kaempfer will connect out to commissioners not in attendance to obtain their
selection.
6.C. Discussion of Commission Meeting Time Change
Commissioner Thoresen shared that a discussion amongst commissioner has been had about
looking to change the timing of the commission meeting. Commissioners indicated that they
would be interested in starting the meetings at 5:30pm CST and then run till 7:00pm CST.
Commissioner Allen also suggested that another possibility about ending earlier instead of starting
earlier along with having the agenda incorporate specific time for each agenda item.
7. Subcommittee Updates
7.A. City Systems
1. June 13th BAEGV Feeback
Commissioner Allen and Paradise shared that the session overall went well but noted that
a different set-up of the evening could have allowed for the staff to share more in-depth
about their future work to imbed equity. Commissioner Paradise also shared that
attendance continue to dwindle as the evening went on and Commissioner Allen further
noted that some attendees, specifically businesses owners, might have thought it was a
time to share about their business and network with the City.
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Commissioner Murphy and Allen shared that it might be good to engage with the City to
see if something could be planned to help bring in local businesses which help to create
more established connections, understanding of who makes decisions, and more.
7.B. Communication and Networking
Commissioner Paradise shared that all communication efforts are currently out, and the
Communications Department is working items for the transphobia event.
7.C. Events
1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions
1: July 2024: Islamophobia
Commissioner Paradise provided a summary of their conversation with the church
and further discussed the details of the program. The church will be providing an
honorarium of $100 for the speaker. The Commissioner agreed that at this time
their support will come via providing refreshments but will entertain the
conversation of honorariums for future events in the next year.
Commissioner Paradise also shared that she had some additional questions that
she needed to ask the speaker and will be reaching out soon to get those
answered.
2. August 2024: Transphobia
Commissioner Paradise and Allen shared that they are continuing to plan for the
event. Staff Kaempfer shared that he shared a list of potential speakers or
panelists from various organizations and that he will be emailing them to share
that commissioners will be contacting them.
2. Golden Valley Pride Feeback
Commissioner Paradise noted that there was great engagement at the start of the
event and Staff Kaempfer noted that there was continued engagement throughout
the rest of the day. Staff Kaempfer also shared that GV Pride was really
appreciative of having the commission be present and be on top of submitting all
information.
8. Staff Updates
8.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.
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 and they will receive a reminder email from him.
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8.B. DEIC Budget
Staff Kaempfer shared an overview of the budget and said that he will continue to keep it
updated.
9. Vice Chair Nomination and Voting
Staff Kaempfer provided an overview of the Vice Chair role and responsibilities as well as opened
the floor for nominations and self-nominations of Vice Chair.
Commissioner Thoresen nominated Commissioner Paradise for the role of Vice Chair.
Motion to vote on Commissioner Paradise as the role of Vice Chair by Commissioner Murphy,
seconded by Commissioner Kannenberg.
Motion carries 5-0
10. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
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Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
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Date
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Lee Thoresen, Chair
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