HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09City of Lakeville
Administration
Memorandum
To: City Council
From: Mayor Doug Anderson
Copy: Justin Miller, City Administrator
Date: October 19, 2020
Subject: Envision Lakeville: Conversations on Race
In July, we as a City Council, established a working group to advise the City Council on steps for
developing a community conversation on race.
The working group membership was finalized; Janet Collins was identified as the facilitator; and
the group had their first meeting on August 25th and have continued to meet weekly.
Background
In Envision Lakeville we articulate a number of Community Values, including:
• Safety Throughout the Community - We value living in a community where people feel safe
everywhere they go.
• A Home for All Ages and Stages of Life - We value living options for people of all ages and
stages of life.
• A Sense of Community and Belonging - We value the sense of belonging that comes from
our traditions and institutions, and we strive to support and preserve them.
Within these values a number of Strategic Priorities were identified, with initiatives outlined.
One of these was to Develop a Community of Choice; with the commitment to be an inclusive
and welcoming community. This is a launching point for our conversations on race. To listen,
learn, understand, and identify ways to support our community toward this vision – Envision
Lakeville: Conversations on Race.
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Working Group Recommendation
The working group is recommending a series of three conversations with the purpose of
listening, learning, and gaining understanding.
The first conversation is tentatively scheduled for Saturday November 14, 2020 at Lakeville
South High School from 9:30 - 12:30. Both in person and virtual participation will be available.
Reservations will be necessary.
This first conversation will include brief opening remarks by the mayor and the moderator, a
panel discussion with people of color from our community, and small group break-out sessions.
Details are in the final stages including identifying the panel participants, the moderator and
break-out session leaders; the questions that will be used for the panel and break-out groups;
drafting the marketing material for the event; and working with city staff to build a reservation
process.
This first conversation is envisioned to be the first of three sessions over the next seven months;
to support, encourage, and generate strategies to advance the action steps related to creating
an ‘inclusive/welcoming community’ and ‘addressing the needs of our increasingly diverse’
community.
Financially, the group anticipates the resources needed to support this series of conversations
will be approximately $10,000.