Diversity Council

Community mobilization - Diversity Council held structured activities throughout 2022 to engage community in civic life utilizing the community mobilization resource coalition (cmrc) and new community engagement positions within the organization. In the past year, the coalition has worked on providing education, resources, and support for communities regarding covid-19 transitions to "normal" life and projects such as the olmsted county racism as a public health study. Cmrc has worked closely with the city, rochester public schools, county, and county public health to receive information regarding changes in protocols and provide recommendations to fill equity gaps identified by community leaders and members, while also asking questions to gain a better understanding of details. Cmrc also served as community liaisons and aided in hosting public meetings for community members to attend and speak directly with experts and resource connections. Diversity Council also serves as fiscal sponsor to local bipoc-led organizations and initiatives that fit with its purpose and meet state and federal standards.

Training & consultation Diversity Council focused on developing shared language around Diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to build trusted spaces for transformational conversation and work to take place. In 2022, we built trust and credibility with so many educational and non-profit institutions to propel change and growth. We connected with thousands of employees and more than 1,000 students through virtual and in-person training as well as in direct work with teachers, administration, and student mentors. Training participants' newfound knowledge and perspectives will continue to impact students and families in years to come. 2022 saw the continuation of key educational initiatives across all parts of our region, including significant work in the nonprofit sector, which was underwritten in part by a grant from mayo clinic community engagement. In the public sector work was also done with city and county governments in partnership with southeastern Minnesota league of municipalities, underwritten in part by a grant from southern Minnesota initiative foundation. In total, more than 80 organizations benefitted from our professional training and consultation across Minnesota and nationwide. The consultation and training provided in these spaces aided in creating a safe environment for curiosity and learning to take place.

Engagement & education: in 2022, Diversity Council continued to focus efforts on systems change based in community voice utilizing co-design models in policy changes and reviews, programs at large and general organizational efforts and initiatives. Projects included the study of racism as a public health issue, pen works workshops, and city of rochester's dei training for construction companies working within the bloomberg initiative. Other programs included the annual mlk breakfast, honoring the mothers of black and brown victims, "listen. Learn. Act." Learning series, and rochester area nonprofit consortium's commitment to racial justice. Diversity Council joined forces with cultural community groups from around the state to focus on cultural integration that will establish, expand, and sustain population-based efforts to mobilize community outreach workers, community health workers, navigators, social support specialists and others to increase equitable approaches to services, policies, and general growth. In addition, Diversity Council continued its work to address vaccine hesitancy in culturally competent ways through federal funding for project healings.

Fiscally sponsored organizations: Diversity Council serves as fiscal sponsor to initiatives that fit with its purpose and meet state and federal standards. As such, we sponsor activities that are extensions of the work we do, and efforts we would undertake if we had the capacity. Some of these efforts are short term, some are working toward nonprofit status, some are sporadic, and others will remain with us long term. A list of those organizations includes:o compassionate rochestero inmn careso intercultural cities initiativeo journie: eight steps to promotiono rochester for justice: leadership through basketballo more women on the moveo nextgeno npc digital equityo npc racial justiceo pamoja womeno rochester cambodian associationo ethiopian community of rochestero rochester vidhyalayao southeastern Minnesota food resource & rescueo southeastern Minnesota interfaith immigrant legal defenseo somali health advisory committeeo three rivers restorative justiceo together against breast cancero vecinos unidos semn