Region Nine Development Commission
Report date
January 2021
What has been most instrumental to your progress?
In order to understand the Region’s needs, it has been instrumental to connect not only with community champions from past and present projects, such as the Welcoming Community Cohorts, but also with leaders in both the public and private sectors. As part of this ongoing research, several meetings have been held in the past three months. Most of these meetings were virtually, given the health crisis we are living as a country. Resulting in several ideas to promote diversity and achieve a more equitable and inclusive environment.
A regional assessment reveals large discrepancies in opportunities for community engagement, workforce development opportunities, and housing affordability. Workforce patterns reveal segmentation that places people of color at higher risk of seasonal layoffs while experiencing fewer opportunities for career advancement. Similarly, wage discrepancies are increasingly larger the further removed from the Twin Cities people live and work. Similar socioeconomic patterns exist for other marginalized groups, e.g., disabled veterans, those afflicted with mental health or substance abuse disorders, etc. Additionally, there are also concerns regarding the safety of other groups in some communities.
Key lessons learned
One of the most important lessons we, as a Commission have learned is that visibility and truthful representation are key as to understanding and providing an environment that is welcome and just to all. Everyone has a story to tell, and we can provide that vehicle to bring forth these stories of resiliency and success and how diversity is re-shaping our Region. Our biggest challenge has been identifying these stories, as many people fear that same visibility that they need in order for public, private sectors and the same community serve them equitably.
Reflections on inclusive, collaborative or resourceful problem-solving
For this stage of the work both an inclusive and resourceful approach have been of great importance to move forward the project. Involving stakeholders as well as the community have been instrumental in identifying the communities and stories to be addressed. We foresee an engagement of both public and private sectors to fulfill successfully the project as well as to continue the work after the grant concludes.
Understanding the problem
Understanding the disconnect between the counties and the different communities as well as the specific needs of the communities has been integral to clarify the course of action of this project. Making sure that all nine counties are addressed in this grant project is also a definitive. Observing a need to create a liaison between these stories and the communities and how the inclusion of diversity has positively impacted both economic and community development has been key to decide on a more technological approach.
One last thought
After listening in conversations with members of the communities, stakeholders and colleagues alike, it is of very much relevance and importance to know and understand that fair representation matters. It was surprising to know the great disconnect between neighbors as well as their contribution to their society, thus making these communities seem 'unwelcome'. Which makes this grant and project the more important to make a pertinent and positive change.