Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council

Calendar of meetings for 2017 (PDF)
Calendar of meetings for 2016 (PDF)
Calendar of meetings for 2015 (PDF)
Calendar of meetings for 2013-2014 (PDF)

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)

The Legislature created the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council during the 2013 session. The law requires council members to be appointed by the commissioner, no later than Sept. 15, 2013, and to convene the first meeting by Nov. 15, 2013. In February 2014, the council must submit a report to chairs and ranking minority members of the health and human services committees of the Legislature.

On May 30, 2013, the Secretary of State's Office (SOS) posted the openings for the Cultural and Ethnic Leadership council to the SOS website. Applications were due July 30, 2013. During this period, DHS utilized several avenues for seeking strong applicants to the council. Outreach efforts included a network of cultural providers; community and diverse media outlets; news releases to neighborhood papers; and dissemination to current members of the Disparities Reduction Advisory Committee, as they end their tenure.

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. The council sunsets March 15, 2015. Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 107, Article 2, Section 1

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

Representatives of diverse cultural and ethnic communities:

• Jean Lee, president and executive director, Children's Hope International 
• Sharon Lim, marketing and communications consultant
• Nyagatare Valens, grants specialist, Minnesota Department of Education 
• Dr. Pahoua Yang, director of Community Mental Health, Amherst Wilder Foundation

Representatives of culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups:

• Michael Birchard, chief diversity and affirmative action officer, North Hennepin Community College
• Vayong Moua, CECLC chair, senior advocacy and health equity principal, Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Representatives of culturally specific human services providers:

• Titilayo Bediako, founder and executive director, WE WIN Institute Inc. 
• Hodan Hassan, vice chair, Coalition of Somali American Leaders 

Representatives of the America Indian community:

• Aaron Wittnebel, Getting to Zero strategist, Hennepin County Public Health  

Representatives of counties serving large cultural and ethnic communities:

• Patricia Brady, director, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions 
• Adesola Oni, juvenile detention alternative coordinator, Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections 

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

• Pa H. Lor, office coordinator, Multicultural & International Programs and Services Office, St. Catherine University

Two members are parents of human services program participants, representing communities of color:

• Dr. Nkem Chirpich, president and CEO, TAP Diversity Navigators
• Saciido Shaie, parent leader for child safety and permanency, Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota

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

• Rep. Matt Dean, House HHS Finance chair
• Rep. Erin Murphy, House HHS Finance minority lead
• Rep. Joe Schomacker, House HHS Policy chair
• Rep. Tina Liebling, House HHS Policy minority lead
• Sen. Michelle Benson, Senate HHS Finance and Policy chair
• Sen. Tony Lourey, Senate HHS Finance and Policy minority lead
• Sen. Jim Abeler, Senate HS Reform Finance and Policy chair
• Sen. Jeff Hayden, Senate HS Reform Finance and Policy lead

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

• Emory Dively, pastor, Deaf Life Church
• Brian Herron, pastor, Zion Baptist Church

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

• Vacant

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

• Marilyn Susie Nanney, equity researcher, University of Minnesota

Four representatives of the state ethnic councils:

• Edward McDonald, Council on Black Minnesotans
• Sia Her, Council on Pacific Islanders Minnesotans
• Hector Garcia, Chicano Latino Affairs Council
• Annamarie Hill, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

One representative of the Ombudspersons for Families:

• Bauz Nengchu, Muriel Gubasta, Jill Kehaulani Esch and Ann Hill (rotating)

Four members who are DHS employees:

• Kia Moua, income maintenance program advisor
• Brendabell Njee, mental health program assistant

DHS staff to the CECLC:

• Antonia Wilcoxon, community relations director
• Kevin Murray, administrative staff

Back row, left to right: Brian Ambuel, DHS intern; David Haley, Ramsey County Community Human Services; Kamaludin Hassan, Hennepin County; DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson; Mitchell Davis Jr., Minneapolis Urban League; DHS Health Care Assistant Commissioner Nathan Moracco; State Sen. Tony Lourey; Paula Haywood, Continuous Practice Improvement manager, Department of Community Corrections; Maria Sarabia, DHS Health Care Administration. Front row, left to right : Denise Flock, DHS; Antonia Wilcoxon, DHS community relations director; Vayong Moua, Blue Cross Blue Shield; Mee Cheng, DHS intern; Pam Cosby, Minnesota Urban Area Health Ed Center and council chair; Titilayo Bediako, WE WIN Institute Inc.; Pahoua Yang, Amherst Wilder Foundation; Bauz Nengchu, Office of the Ombudsperson for Families.

DHS Community Relations Director Antonia Wilcoxon welcomes employees, community representatives and members of the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council to the Bush Community Innovation Grant kickoff event, titled "Setting the Context of Inequities." The event was held Sept. 30, 2015, in St. Paul.

Vayong Moua, senior advocacy and health equity consultant at the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, provides the council's perspective on the Bush Grant.