Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council

Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (February 2024)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (February 2022)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (February 2021)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (April 2020)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (May 2019)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (May 2018)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (August 2017)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (February 2016)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (February 2015)
Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF) (February 2014)

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The Legislature created the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council during the 2013 legislative session.

Appointments to the council must include representation from racial and ethnic minorities, tribal service providers, advocacy groups, human services program participants, and members of the faith community, as well as the majority chairs and minority lead of the human services legislative committees. 2023 Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256, Section 256.041

Bylaws of the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (PDF)

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Representatives of diverse cultural and ethnic communities:

• Abdirahman Ali-Mumin
• Alex Abraha
• Angela Fields
• Micaela Scchuneman
• Pachua Vang

Representatives of culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups:

• Philip Gaye-Bai
• Kimetha Johnson

Representatives of culturally specific human services providers:

• Mozana Ebrahim
• Joanna Rosa

Representatives of the American Indian community:

• Margarita Ortega
• Nina Vongpheth

Representatives of counties serving large cultural and ethnic communities:

• Sheila Lipsco
• Shawn Sorrell

One member who is a human services program participant member representing communities of color:

• Tonia Lofton

One parent of human services program participant representing communities of color:

• Farhia Said

Two members representing faith-based organizations ministering to ethnic communities:

• Makram El-Amin
• Paul Slack

One member who is a representative of private industry with an interest in inequity issues:

• Chris Green

One member representing the University of Minnesota program with expertise on health equity research:

• Josefina Geronimo

Representatives of the state ethnic councils and MIAC:

• Jessi Evjen, Council on Pacific Islander Minnesotans
• Rosa Tock, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs
• Shannon Geshick, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC)
• Lolita Davis Carter, Council on Minnesotans of African Heritage

One representative of the Ombudspersons for Families:

• Manuel Zuniga

Three Minnesota Department of Human Services employees:

• Lizette Banini
• Christine Renville
• Nelly Torori

The chairs and ranking minority members of the committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate with jurisdiction over human services:

• HHA Finance chair
• HHS Finance minority lead
• HHS Policy chair
• HHS Policy minority lead
• Senate HHS Finance and Policy chair
• Senate HHS Finance and Policy minority lead
• Senate HS Reform Finance and Policy chair
• Senate HS Reform Finance and Policy lead

Minnesota Department of Human Services staff to the CECLC:

• Helen Ghebre, community relations director
• Cate Dymit, community engagement project coordinator
• Laura Villarreal, communication and community outreach project manager

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For more information about the CECLC's guiding principles, recent accomplishments and how to engage with or apply to join the council, see the overview pamphlets below.

• CECLC 2024 Overview - English
• CECLC 2024 Overview - Hmong
• CECLC 2024 Overview - Somali
• CECLC 2024 Overview - Spanish

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The Council’s focus is on co-creating and supporting processes within the agency for accountability as well as heightened awareness of disparities and inequities in policies, operations, strategic planning, and budgetary priorities within the agency. The council’s work most notably led to the creation of the DHS Policy on Equity, approved by Commissioner in January 2017. The council’s advocacy also led to the creation of equity leads across DHS, embedded within the various administrations. The council continues to monitor and to advise on DHS programs, polices, and highlight the urgency to address disparities and inequities in communities across Minnesota.

The CECLC spent the last two years working to build both its internal capacity as well as the capacity of DHS to meaningfully engage with community leaders on a deeper level. Through its work as a full council and its multiple workgroups, the CECLC established a set of internal guiding principles and shared agreements for its work together. The CECLC collaborated with multiple areas of DHS on specific programs and services, engaged with DHS on legislative and budget proposals, helped shape the DHS strategic plan, and were integral contributors to the agency’s 2022 Community Empowerment Summit. In addition, the council went through a significant transition, onboarding 15 new members in October 2023. The 2024 CECLC Legislative report highlights these activities in further detail and outlines the CECLC’s priorities and recommendations for the next biennium.

2024 CECLC Legislative Report (mn.gov)

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• Assist in the development and implementation of equitable policies and practices throughout DHS, and recommend the review of DHS policies that perpetuate inequities.
• Identify issues regarding inequities and disparities by engaging diverse populations in human services programs.
• Actively participate in monthly meetings with no more than three absences per calendar year, with reasonable circumstances, or relinquish their seat on the council.
• Actively participate in at least one workgroup outside of the monthly CECLC meetings.

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The Minnesota Legislature established the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC) in 2013 in order to “advise the commissioner of human services on implementing strategies to reduce inequities and disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic groups in Minnesota.” The CECLC’s mission is working together to advance health and human services equity through the development of community-supported policy recommendations for cultural and ethnic communities and all those who call Minnesota home. ;

The CECLC believes that:

• Structural patterns perpetuating health and human service disparities will be reformed by incorporating equitable practices into existing DHS rules, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with all communities including the sub-groups of communities of color, providers, agencies, tribal governments, and interested parties to coordinate policies and programs effectively.

CECLC 2024-2025 priorities are:

• Increase DHS Community Outreach and Engagement.      
• Promote equitable DHS investments in marginalized communities of color and Tribal Governments and people.
• Build strategic community partnerships with state government including the Minnesota legislature and Tribal Governments.
• Champion intentional advancement of racial equity throughout DHS programs.         
• Evaluate DHS internal structures towards advancing equity.          
• Assess DHS investment in client’s access to culturally responsive service providers.            
• Establish sustainable CECLC processes. 
• Support CECLC community partners’ equity initiatives.

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The CECLC consists of members appointed by the commissioner of human services, in consultation with county, tribal, cultural, and ethnic communities; diverse program participants; and parent representatives from these communities. Appointments must include representation from racial and ethnic minorities, tribal service providers, advocacy groups, human services program participants, and members of the faith community, as well as the majority chairs and minority lead of the human services legislative committees. 

Members must be appointed to allow for representation for the following groups:

• Five members representing diverse cultural and ethnic communities.
• Two members representing culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups.
• Two members representing culturally specific human services providers.
• Two members representing the American Indian community.
• Two members representing counties serving large cultural and ethnic communities.
• One member who is a parent of a human services program participant, representing communities of color.
• One member who is a human services program participant representing communities of color.
• Two members representing faith-based organizations ministering to ethnic communities.
• One member who is a representative of a private industry with an interest in equity issues.
• One member representing the university of Minnesota with expertise on health equity research.
• Three members who are DHS employees.
• Representatives from the State Councils: MN Council on Latino Affairs, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.
• One representative of the Ombudspersons for Families (rotating).
• The chairs and ranking minority members of the committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate with jurisdiction over human services.

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The application is a two-part process. All parts MUST be completed to be considered.

1. Interested applicants first complete an electronic application and supplemental questionnaire through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s (MNSOS) Boards and Commissions Open Positions portal.
2. Once the application deadline has passed, a review panel comprised of current CECLC members and DHS staff will review and rank applications.
3. DHS staff or council members may contact selected applicants to schedule an informal interview. This is not a traditional interview, but rather an opportunity for applicants, DHS staff, and council members to connect with one another. Prospective applicants will also be invited to ask questions during this time.
4. DHS staff or council members will reach out to the references of selected applicants.
5. The review panel will then recommend candidates to the Commissioner of Human Services. The Commissioner will make final decisions and appointments to the CECLC.
6. All applicants will be contacted to inform them of the decision regarding their application.

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Members may serve up to two consecutive, two-year terms.

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CECLC meetings take place the third Friday of every month, from1 to 4 p.m. (lunch and networking from noon to 1 p.m. for in-person attendees). In 2024, meetings continue to be held in a hybrid format, with option for either in-person attendance or virtually via WebEx.

Workgroups meet at least once per month. These meetings are scheduled based on members’ availability. They often occur either during the evening or lunch hours, after the monthly CECLC meeting, or a time convenient for the workgroup. While it varies depending on what the Council decides to work on, please expect to spend 6-8 hours on CECLC work per month.

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Compensation for members of the Council is governed by Minnesota Statues, section 15.059, subd. 3. 

Members of the Council may receive a $55 per diem for: 

• Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council meetings.
• Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council workgroup meetings on days other than Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council meeting days.
• Meetings where the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council has been specifically requested to have representation or where members would be presenting on behalf of the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council committees or a workgroup, subject to pre-approval by the Chairs and Council staff.

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Contact us at ceclc.information.dhs@state.mn.us.

Minnesota Department of Human Services
Community Relations
PO Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998

For accessible formats of this information or assistance with additional equal access to human services, contact Kelly Melcher at Kelly.t.melcher@state.mn.us, call 651-431-6355, or use your preferred relay service.

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