ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota state, county, city and school board leaders joined community members to actively participate in the state’s first Civic Engagement Summit to hear how government can improve its engagement with the public, to provide more information to the public as to how government works and to share best practices in civic engagement. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights hosted the event Wednesday at Metropolitan State University to create a bridge between government and the communities they serve while building a vision and network for an engaged Minnesota at all levels of Government.

“We are trying to change the way people think about government and partner with government,” MDHR Commissioner Kevin Lindsey said. “The event was an opportunity to bring people face to face with government leaders to discuss policies and issues important to them.”

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon provided welcoming remarks in which he encouraged people not only to vote but to also be involved in shaping public policy by being maintaining contact with their elected officials after elections and by serving on boards and commissions at all levels of government.

In his opening remarks, Commissioner Lindsey noted that embedding the concept of civic engagement within the Governor’s Diversity & Inclusion Council was influenced by the Governor’s actions to listen to the concerns of people in North Minneapolis and his pledge that his commissioners stay engaged with community members at the 2010 UROC job summit.

With the theme “A Better Minnesota through Meaningful Engagement,” the event included leaders from the State of Minnesota such as Secretary of State Steve Simon, Governor Mark Dayton’s Chief of Staff Joanna Dornfeld, Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Office of Higher Education Commissioner Larry Pogemiller, Department of Administration Assistant Commissioner Alice Roberts Davis, Pollution Control Agency Deputy Commissioner Michelle Beeman, and Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Charlene Briner.

“I think it’s extremely important,” said Nicholas Kor, MDHR Civic Engagement Director. “There is a lot of mistrust in government at all different levels for various reasons. One of the most important goals is building trust. There is a lot of good work that government does for communities, and for people, and I think we often don’t see that work.”

Throughout the day, there were a number of discussions and panels covering topics such as racial reconciliation, accessibility for individuals with disability, support for the LGBTQ community and working with Tribal Nations. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he came to the event to listen to community.

“Your opinion and your perspective is important, and it makes a huge difference in the outcomes and the policies that we ultimately craft,” Frey said. “If we don’t hear from constituents, then we can’t possibly shape and construct policy in the way to best benefit them.”

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter was present at tables with community members to hear their concerns. “Whether the conversation is about our recreation centers, or plowing our streets, or just making sure we have quality playgrounds for our children, we need you to be engaged,” Carter said.

Nick Kor, a 2018 Bush Fellow, has been working to implement the state’s Civic Engagement Plan, which was launched in October 2016. Since publication of the Plan, Kor has overseen the development of multiple training programs on engagement and an effort to develop metrics to measure engagement efforts of agencies.

The Department is hoping that the Plan and civic engagement concept will be adopted by counties, cities, and school boards throughout Minnesota. Government officials in attendance also included Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter, Duluth City Council Member Gary Anderson, Mankato School Board Member Abdi Sabrie as well as several county and city officials throughout Minnesota.

Community leaders affiliated with organizations included Patrice Bailey, Outreach Coordinator, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, Ed Fairbanks, MnDOT Tribal Consultation Liaison Bo Thao–Urabe, Network Director, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, and Avi Viswanathan, Program Director, Nexus Community Partners. Asma Mohammed Nizami, Program Manager for Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, facilitated plenary conversations held during the event.

“I have been pleased with the positive response from community and government leaders to build a better Minnesota for everyone, everywhere in our great state,” said Commissioner Lindsey. “Civic engagement principles should span beyond elections, voting is important but the public should demand a seat at the table with their government officials on the policies that impact them.”

###