Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council

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)

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. The council sunsets June 30, 2025. 2022 Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256, Section 256.041

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

Representatives of diverse cultural and ethnic communities:

• Foua-Choua Khang
• Satasha Green-Stephen
• Lolita Davis Carter
• Hibaq Dualeh
• Rosalva Hernandez

Representatives of culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups:

• Miguel Garate
• Meagan Hernandez

Representatives of culturally specific human services providers:

• Sheree Steele

Representatives of the American Indian community:

• Becca Graves

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:

• Larry Yang

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

• Paul Slack
• Wesley Farrow

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

• Jackie Thomas-Hall

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

• Macdonald Metzger

Representatives of the state ethnic councils and MIAC:

• Anjuli Cameron, Council on Pacific Islander Minnesotans
• Rosa Tock, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs
• Shannon Geshick, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC)
• Linda Sloan, Council on Minnesotans of African Heritage

One representative of the Ombudspersons for Families:

• Manuel Zuniga

Three Minnesota Department of Human Services employees:

• Kia Moua
• Cratè Darden
• Jensina Rosen

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
• Rebeca Sedarski, community relations consultant

• The council supported the creation of the DHS Policy on Equity, approved by the Commissioner in January 2017. This policy institutionalizes an approach to decision-making, program and policy development, implementation, and evaluation that improves outcomes and reduces health and human services disparities for the people DHS serves. Among many things, the DHS policy has led to the creation of Equity Coordinator/Director positions within each administration.
• The council creates structures within the agency for accountability as well as heightens awareness of disparities and inequities in policies, operations, strategic planning, and budgetary priorities.
• Members provide equity advice to DHS on a number of legislative ideas as well as proposals for the Blue Ribbon Commission.

• 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.

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.

In fall 2019, the council identified four focus areas related to DHS programming and services. The council aims to address disparate outcomes in:

1. Child Welfare and Social Services
2. Juvenile Justice and Corrections
3. Immigration and Refugee Services
4. Housing Services and Homelessness

The council also identified interest in being a thought and strategy partner for community engagement, voting & census work, addressing structural racism, and advancing the DHS Equity Policy.

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:

• racial and ethnic minority groups
• the American Indian community, which must be represented by two members
• culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups and service providers
• human services program participants
• public and private institutions
• parents of human services program participants
• members of the faith community
• Department of Human Services employees
• other groups the Commissioner of Human Services deems appropriate to facilitate the goals and duties of the council

The application is a 3-part process. All parts MUST be completed to be considered.

1. Interested applicants first complete an electronic application through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s (MNSOS) Boards and Commissions Open Positions portal.
2. Upon receipt of the Secretary of State’s application, DHS will email a supplemental application form (Word file) to the email address listed on the MNSOS application. This supplemental DHS application must also be completed to be considered.
3. Once the application deadline has passed, a review panel comprised of current CECLC members and DHS staff will review and rank applications
4. DHS staff or council members will contact selected applicants to schedule an informal phone conversation. 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.
5. DHS staff or council members will reach out to the references of selected applicants.
6. The review panel will then recommend candidates to the Commissioner of Human Services. The Commissioner will make final decisions and appointments to the CECLC.
7. All applicants will be contacted to inform them of the decision regarding their application.

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

CECLC meetings take place the third Friday of every month, from noon to 4 p.m. In 2023, hybrid meetings are held both in person and 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 6-12 hours on CECLC work per month.

Compensation for members of the Council is governed by Minnesota Statues, section 15.059, subd. 3. The following constitutes a day spent on Council or workgroup activities for purpose of making daily payments under that subdivision: participation in either one workgroup or one monthly CECLC meeting in any month.

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

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

To obtain this information in a different format or for questions about accessibility, contact Kelly Melcher, DHS digital accessibility coordinator at Kelly.t.melcher@state.mn.us.