2024-08-27 - DEIC Agenda Packet August 27, 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 Joelle Allen
Vice Chair, Ruth Paradise Nyre Chester
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.Summer 2026 Culture Event
6.B.Commission Date Changes
6.C.Awards
1. Bill Hobbs
2. MLK
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 by streaming via MS
Teams and entering passcode jCvmxK.
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 August 27, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions:
1. August 2024: Transphobia Feedback
2. BAEGV
1. October 2024: Equity in Minnesota Public Education
2. December 2024
8.Staff Updates
8.A.DEIC Commissioner Membership
8.B.DEIC Budget
8.C.City Equity Plan
8.D.Haha Wakpadan
8.E.Meeting with Other Cities' DEICs
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting August 27, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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July 23, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:34pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Lee Thoresen, Tracy Murphy, Ruth Paradise, Joelle Allen, and George
Kannenberg
Commissioners absent: Ajani Woodson 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 Paradise
Motion carries 5-0
5. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Murphy
Motion carries 5-0
6. Discussion Items
6.A. Upcoming 2024 and 2025 Events
1. Bill Hobbs Award and Martin Luther King Contest
Commissioner Kannenberg shared an overview of the MLK Contest with the Commission.
Commissioner Thoresen provided some additional details about the MLK Contest.
Commissioner Allen expressed that with the partnership with Sweet Potato Comfort Pie
to help cross promote the MLK Contest.
Commissioner Murphy indicated that she would be interested in taking lead on MLK
Contest and asked for information to passed along to her to look over and provide
commentary for the next commission meeting. 3
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Commissioner Allen asked about approval of funds to be a sponsor of the Sweet Potato
Comfort Pie event and Staff Kaempfer shared that funds were approved for the past year
but needed to be approved for the upcoming year.
Commissioner Paradise asked about the timeline of the Bill Hobbs Award and Staff
Kaempfer shared that it’s usually awarded in late November or early December of each
year. Commissioner Thoresen noted that the Commission typically goes through
nominees together and decide together.
Commissioner Thoresen asked for the Event Subcommittee to build out a timeline for
both Bill Hobbs and MLK Awards, and then present to the Commission in the August
meeting.
6.B. Summer 2026 Culture Event
Commissioner Allen talked with GV Foundation about doing a joint event in 2026. Commissioner
Thoresen asked what the budget might be for GV Pride as this could be the same scale.
Commissioner Allen also inquired about this being a partnered event with bordering cities and
recognized that this would increase the volunteer need and general logistics.
7. Subcommittee Updates
7.A. City Systems
Commissioner Thoresen will reach out to schedule time to meet for the subcommittee.
Commissioner Thoresen suggested coordinating with Staff Kaempfer about the updates related to
the Equity Plan. Commissioner Thoresen also indicated that they have been meeting with the
PEACE Commission and that pulling in that collaborating to the subcommittee could be beneficial.
7.B. Communication and Networking
Commissioner Paradise shared her process of communicating out about the various efforts of the
DEIC.
Commissioner Murphy asked how we gather peoples’ information to send out to. Commissioner
Paradise noted the Commission collects names and contact during different contests, GV Pride,
and at each event.
Commissioner Thoresen suggested reaching out to other local organizations such as GV Pride to
see if the Commission could use their mailing lists to promote out about events. Commissioner
Allen also suggested reaching out to local businesses to reach out to their employee resource
groups and promoting there.
7.C. Events
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1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions
1: July 2024: Islamophobia Feedback
Commissioner Allen shared feedback from a community member and that the
feedback was high praise.
Commissioner Paradise shared that those in attendance asked a lot of questions,
which did derail some of the other part of the presentation. Commissioner
Murphy did share that the speaker was more than willing to adjust and provided
the intended information while paying attention to the needs of those in
attendance.
2. August 2024: Transphobia
Commissioner Paradise shared that community members have already shared
excitement about the speakers for the session.
Staff Kaempfer shared that all the communication requests are in and being
worked on.
Commissioner Allen and Paradise shared that during their subcommittee meeting
they will be deciding on moderator and menu for the event.
2. BAEGV
1. October 2024: Equity in Minnesota Public Education
Commissioner Thoresen shared that the person from Hopkins School
District is in for the event. Commissioner Allen said that they should reach out to
the other school and school districts, especially Robbinsdale School District.
Commissioner Paradise shared that they are still deciding on date for the event but
will possibly have it on October 10th. Commissioner Allen and Paradise shared
about addition dates to host the event and Staff Kaempfer noted that some of
those dates fall on specific holidays that should be considered when planning.
8. Staff Updates
8.A. Haha Wakpadan
Staff Kaempfer shared about the updates to events happening with Haha Wakpadan efforts and
would forward over the email with the list of events.
Staff Kaempfer also provided an overview of how the Commission has previously partnered on
these efforts with Crystal Boyd being the main contact for these efforts.
8.B. DEIC Commissioner Membership
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Staff Kaempfer shared updates about the current status of commissioners within the Commission
as well as who has stepped away from Commission. Staff Kaempfer also shared the commissioner
application and selection is on a rolling basis but there is a concerted effort in the beginning of the
calendar year to promote and apply.
Commissioner Murphy suggested reaching out to teachers who either teach civics, government,
and social studies to bring in youth commissioners.
8.C. DEIC Budget
Staff Kaempfer shared an overview of the budget and said that he will continue to keep it
updated.
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:38 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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Date
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