Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council

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, 2020. Laws of Minnesota 2018, Chapter 256, Section 256.041

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

Representatives of diverse cultural and ethnic communities:

• Danisa Farley, food support specialist, Neighborhood House
• Raie Gessesse, student, Hamline University
• Maret Banks, support advocate, StandPoint
• Vacant
• Vacant

Representatives of culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups:

• Alana Wright, consultant, Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging
• Sarah Clyne, executive director, Northside Funders Group

Representatives of culturally specific human services providers:

• Sheree Steele, CEO, Hope Care PCA, Inc.
• Lucas Peterson, government programs community liaison, Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota

Representatives of the America Indian community:

• Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro, health educator/home visitor, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center
• Mariah Norwood, research coordinator and HER support specialist, Lower Sioux Indian Community (LSIC)

Representatives of counties serving large cultural and ethnic communities:

• Adesola Oni, juvenile detention alternative coordinator, Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections
• Maria Sarabia, human resources director, Ramsey County

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

• TaShonda Williamson, case manager, The LinkMN

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

• Jenny Srey, co-director of Release MN8

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

• Rep. Tina Liebling, HHA Finance chair
• Rep. Joe Schomaker, HHS Finance minority lead
• Rep. Rena Moran, HHS Policy chair
• Rep. Debra Kiel, HHS Policy minority lead
• Sen. Michelle Benson, Senate HHS Finance and Policy chair
• Sen. John Marty, 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:

• Jean Lee, president and executive director, Children's Hope International
• Dr. Russell Pointer, senior pastor, Minneapolis Central Church of Christ

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

• Petronellah Thomas Shanobi, CEO, KESMA Flame Lily LLC.

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

• Serena Xiong, Ph.D. candidate, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Four representatives of the state ethnic councils:

• Sia Her, executive director, Council on Pacific Islanders Minnesotans
• Rosa Tock, executive director, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs
• Shannon Geshick, executive director, Indian Affairs Council
• Justin Terrell, executive director, Council on Minnesotans of African Heritage

One representative of the Ombudspersons for Families:

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

Three DHS employees:

• Kia Moua, income maintenance program advisor
• Marcia Soto Bierschenk, business continuity and risk assessment planner
• Vacant

DHS staff to the CECLC:

• Helly Lee, director of community relations
• Nicole Juan, community relations specialist