STANDING UP FOR
RACIAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE
Creating Equitable Outcomes Must be Central to Everything Our City Does
Minneapolis has some of the worst racial disparities in the country, a legacy we cannot allow to continue.
Our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) neighbors have historically felt the deepest impacts of our affordable housing crisis, climate change and criminal justice system. Good intentions are not enough to set a different, more equitable trajectory for our City. We must focus on creating equitable outcomes in everything the City does.
Minneapolis must lead by example. Fostering an equitable society is the key to overcoming the challenges of our time, from building an economy where everyone’s work is valued, to limiting our impact on the environment, and creating a public safety system that keeps everyone safe. Now, in these difficult economic times, focusing on racial justice is more critical than ever.
​
How We Can Work Towards Racial Equity and Justice at a City Level:
-
Ensure community engagement is accessible and inclusive, especially within BIPOC communities that have historically been left on the sidelines
​
-
Promote policies that help to undo the legacy of redlining and racism in our housing market, to expand affordable housing and homeownership opportunities for everyone in Minneapolis
​
-
Continue to implement changes that ensure our public safety system works for every single person in Minneapolis, recognizing its long history of harm to communities of color
​
Steps I’ve Taken in Office to Promote Efforts for Racial Equity and Justice
-
I supported the creation of the Office of Violence Prevention.
This office uses a community-focused, public health approach to prevent violence and keep communities safe. It works to break the cycle of violence by addressing it at three points: before it begins, at the first sign of risk, and after an incident. Read about it here.
​
-
I supported the creation of the first-ever strategic and racial equity action plan.
This plan incorporates racial equity principles into all aspects of the City’s work. It defines goals that can be objectively measured and informs resource decisions. Read about it here. ​
​
-
I supported declaring racism a public health emergency in Minneapolis.
This declaration recognizes the severe impact of racism on the well-being of residents and city overall and allocates funding, staff, and additional resources to actively engage in racial equity in order to name, reverse, and repair the harm done to BIPOC people in this City. Read about it here.
​
-
I supported the Truth and Reconciliation ordinance.
This ordinance resulted in the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission—The first-of-its-kind, cross-cultural commission will examine the experiences of American Indians and Black/African descendants, drawing on narratives from each groups’ historical experiences in order to tell the truth about the level of harm each group has endured. Read about it here.
​
-
I support the ongoing work to transform our public safety system.
Click here to learn more about what it means to transform our public safety system
Click here to learn more about community safety in Minneapolis​