Welcoming & Inclusive Communities
This action team is focused on encouraging a welcoming and inclusive environment in the region. Past activities have provided training sessions for businesses across southeast Minnesota to help them recruit and retain diverse workers.
The team also created a resource guide for employers called “Discovering Diverse Workforce Solutions” which provides information for every southeast county. More recently SE MN Together joined "Welcoming America" network and is exploring additional activities.
Action Team Members
Jennifer Hawkins, University of Minnesota Extension (Chair)
Amy Grover, Southeast Service Cooperative
Sheila Kiscaden, Olmsted County
Natalie Siderius, MN DEED
Fatima Said, Project FINE
Jinny Rietmann, Workforce Development, Inc.
Brenda Johnson, SE MN League of Municipalities
Sheila Craig, Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
Julie Kiehne, Winona State University
John Garry, Development Corporation of Austin
Andi Sutton, Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
Resources
Discovering Diverse Workforce Solutions (2016)
Welcoming Economies Playbook (2018)
Welcoming Week Webinar (May 2021 - recording)
Welcoming Week 2-Pager (May 2021)
Welcoming Week 2021 - Southeast Minnesota Highlights
Past activities have provided training sessions for businesses across Southeast Minnesota to help them recruit and retain diverse workers. The team also created a resource guide for employers called “Discovering Diverse Workforce Solutions” which provides information for every southeast county. More recently SE MN Together joined "Welcoming America" network and is exploring additional activities.
Check out the resources of Welcoming America to become a more welcoming community for immigrants and all residents.
SE MN Together is a member of Welcoming America. As a non-profit, non-partisan organization, Welcoming America is proud to support the many diverse communities and partners who are leading efforts to make their communities more vibrant places for all.