2024-10-22 - DEIC Agenda Packet October 22, 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 & Introductions
Chair, Lee Thoresen Ajani Woodson Nyre Chester
Vice Chair, Ruth Paradise Joelle Allen Tracy Murphy
Kristian Baker Kira Jimenez Andrew Alberth
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - September 24, 2024
6.Discussion Items
6.A.DEI and Human Rights Commission Meeting Recap
6.B.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 October 22, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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6.C.Topic, Date, and Location Selection for 2025 BAEGV Forums and "Won't You Be My
Neighbor" Events
7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
1. BAEGV
1. October 2024: Equity in Minnesota Public Education Recap
2. December 2024: DEIC Year In Review & Celebration
8.Staff Updates
8.A.DEIC Budget
8.B.GARE Overview and Online Access
8.C.Getting Informed
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting October 22, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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September 24, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:30pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Lee Thoresen, Tracy Murphy, Ruth Paradise, Joelle Allen, and Ajani
Woodson
Commissioners absent: Nyre Chester
Council member present: Maurice Harris
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Murphy
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. Awards
1. Bill Hobbs
Commissioner Thoresen asked that each commissioner commit to making one nomination
for this year.
Commissioner Muphy asked about the communication template submission to see if the
new release occurs when submitting the template. Staff Kaempfer said that if one selects
“news release” then the Communication Department will craft the news release but it’s
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important for commissioner to note what they are looking for in the news release and
possibly provide examples.
2. MLK
Commissioner Murphy shared that school are excited about the opportunity and want to
have flyers to distribute information. Staff Kaempfer will reach back out to
Communication Department to get an update.
Commissioner Murphy also shared that the Commission is good to go with partnering
onto Sweet Potato Comfort Pie’s MLK event to announce the winner of the competition.
6.B. Topic, Date, and Location Selectin for 2025 BAEGV Forums and “Won’t You Be My
Neighbor” Events
Commissioner drafted dates and topics for next year’s BAEGV Forums and additional events.
Commissioner Murphy shared her notes about the selected months and potential topics that came
up in discussion from the last meeting.
After discussion, Commissioners selected the following dates and topics as well as named
potential partners or speakers for the selected topics:
Date Topic Partner(s)/Speaker(s)
March 20th Disability WorkAbilities
June 20th Indigenous
Community/Indigeneity
TBD
September 18th Neighborly Relations PEACE Commission
December 11th DEIC Year in Review &
Celebration
TBD
Staff Kaempfer will book space for the named dates at Brookview for tentative spaces.
Commissioner also talked about timing of the events and decided that it will depend upon topic
and that they typically should start between 5:30pm – 6:00pm.
Commissioner Thoresen noted that this information should be added to the next month’s
agenda to allow for new commissioners to provide perspective and insight.
7. Subcommittee Updates
7.A. City Systems
Staff Kaempfer shared that feedback has been provided and will be added to the Equity Decision
Making Toolkit and Tools.
Commissioner Thoresen will reach out to schedule time to meet for the subcommittee to further
discuss the Equity Decision Making Toolkit and Tools.
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Commissioner Paradise noted some concern about using language about white supremacy along
with the structure of the toolkit could be reworked to get the user to start the work of the tool
right away. Commissioner Paradise was worried that utilizing language around white supremacy
could make those using the tool be seemed as a white supremist. Staff Kaempfer provided an
explanation about how approaching it this way helps to embed anti-racism in the toolkit and tools.
Commissioner Allen noted that there is a different between white supremacists and white
supremacy, and that it should be noted in the toolkit and tools about relating it to the system
(City) not the person (employee).
Commissioner Murphy noted that how the toolkit reads assumes the user already uses and applies
these terms frequently. Commissioner Thoresen and Allen shared that while simple a more robust
definitions section would be helpful.
7.B. Communication and Networking
No updates at this time.
7.C. Events
1. BAEGV
1. October 2024: Equity in Minnesota Public Education
Commissioner Allen shared about the excitement about the October BAEGV and
asked Commissioners to continue to share out about the forum.
Commissioner Allen and Paradise went over the itinerary for the evening and the
plan for panelists.
2. December 2024: DEIC Year in Review & Celebration
Commissioner Paradise confirmed that the forum begins at 6:30. Staff Kaempfer
noted that the reservation is for a longer period because the Commission will be
meeting at 5:30 for the December meeting.
8. Staff Updates
8.A. DEIC Commissioner Membership
Staff Kaempfer shared that Council has appointed two new commissioners and a youth
commissioner. These commissioners will be attending their first meeting in October.
8.B. DEIC Budget
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Staff Kaempfer shared that there are no updates regarding the budget but will be getting an
expense report from Finance Department and provide that information in the next meeting.
8.C. Haha Wakpadan
Staff Kaempfer provided a reminder of the upcoming events happening related to Haha Wakpadan
and the water ceremony that will take place at Basset Creek Park on Monday, October 14th in
conjunction with Indigenous People’s Day.
8.D. Meeting with Other Cities’ DEICs
Staff Kaempfer provided a reminder that this is in the next two day on Thursday, September 26th
and encouraged as many commissioners as possible to attend. Staff Kaempfer also shared that it
will be round table discussion with different topics at each table.
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.
_______________________________
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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