Hello! Happy April and welcome back to SE MN Together’s e-newsletter! As we jump back into communicating with our region again, we thought it would be helpful to remind folks of our grassroots structure at SE MN Together. Check out the graphic below and see the sub-headers of each section for a quick overview of the types of content you’ll get from us every other month going-forward.
We have three Action Areas that we are focusing on in 2021, in this section the chair of each team will provide a brief update on what they’ve been working on over the past month.
Welcoming & Inclusive Communities: The team has been working on two new resources, a DEI Resource Catalog for our region and a rural-focused “Guide to Welcoming Week.” These will be shared via various channels over the coming weeks. Additionally, our Chair, Maddy is participating in Welcoming America’s “Inclusive and Collaborative Communities” Community of Practice which starts up in a few weeks. We are hoping to gain insights from this cohort into how to best utilize the Welcoming America resources in our region. On-going work continues in helping design a convening for the Inclusive and Equitable Communities grantees that will be held in partnership with SMIF and Region 9 in June of this year.
Workforce Housing: This action team has been doing some joint work with the Transit and Transportation action team because transit and housing issues are so intertwined and improvements to regional transit will significantly improve livability in all communities as well as impact housing demand. Several action team members have been working working on a road map as a tool for communities, developers, and other users at any time in the process.
Transportation: This tam continues to have discussions about federal tools that might provide funding to advance the process to a) establish a pilot program offering a regional transit system and/or b) create plan to provide a sustainable transit funding structure.
As a regionally focused volunteer organization, we hope to provide useful and timely resources to our audience.
Get introduced to Welcoming America and hear stories from across the nation by attending their annual Welcoming Interactive hosted by Welcoming America held on May 5th & 6th.
Join the GMHF’s Southeast Regional Affordable Housing Forum on April 27, 2021 from 9:00 AM-12:00 p.m. which is co-sponsored by SE MN Together.
Sign up to attend the 2021 Workforce Development Forum, Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 12:00 - 4:40 p.m. hosted by WDI.
In each e-newsletter, we will also feature inspiring stories of efforts underway outside of the region.
Over the past two years, three communities in Southern Minnesota have been taking proactive steps to become more welcoming by participating in the Welcoming Communities Project (WCP). This endeavor is designed to address racial inequities and respond to community needs in a relational, efficient, and effective manner.
Partners in the design and delivery of the program included Greater Mankato Diversity Council, Region Nine Area Inc. (RNAI), the non-profit branch of the Region Nine Development Commission, and the University of Minnesota Extension - Center for Community Vitality. Goals of the WCP include: build capacity in individuals and in communities to respond to local community equity and inclusion needs, engage in community identity exploration, provide a platform for education and resources, share, examine, and explore inclusive and equitable best practices and ideas targeted to small communities.
In late fall 2019, community members in New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, and Springfield completed an equity readiness assessment to understand perceptions of how welcoming different sectors of the community were to those from other cultures. In January 2020, the results were shared with the participants. Each community reviewed their specific results and then identified topics that they would like covered during the monthly cohort sessions. The first cohort was held in February, with LatinX and non-Spanish speaking participants engaging at tables as interpreters bridged the language gap.
The communities gathered monthly for a year and a half. While the group intended to meet in-person, Zoom meetings began in April 2020 due to COVID-19. A Spanish interpreter is used during each session to ensure that the Spanish-speaking participants are fully engaged. Cohort topics included: Change and the Power of Social Connection, Design Team Personal Stories, Racism and its Various Structures, Intro to Anti-Racism, What Does Community Action Look Like at this Moment?, So, You want to Make a Change?, St. James Uniting Culture Panel Discussion, American Son Film and Panel Discussion with Writer, Actor, and Producer, Panel Discussion with Practicing Community Development author, Stephen Jeanetta. After the death of George Floyd, the program participants grappled with racial justice issues. The communities came together in a town hall meeting to reflect on the events and discuss ways to take action within their communities. This event gave participants time to get to know one another more deeply. They are wrapping up their meetings in 2021.
“Communities are learning, connecting, and working together to make their hometowns more welcoming for all cultures. Even though the cohorts have not been held in a face-to-face setting, relationships have been built between participants. They have learned, through the topics shared, both individually and collectively, new ways to make a change in their communities. “ said Julie Hawkers, project coordinator.
SE MN has so many wonderful local leaders, in this section, we will take the opportunity to spotlight someone doing great work for the region.
1. Where in the region are you located & what's something you love about that place? “I am based in Winona and lately I’ve really enjoyed heading across the river over to Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to walk around the reserve with my daughter.”
2. Why do you choose to volunteer with SE MN Together? “As a co-founder, I am really invested, but I truly love our regional approach and I go back to that as the key reason I continue on with SE MN Together.”
3. What's a project that you're working on right now that excites you? “There are so many! One in particular is helping various businesses to expand in our region, I’m especially excited because those that we are working with are great employers and will help us to add more jobs to our economy. Additionally, I am really loving working on our Welcoming & Inclusive Communities Action Team and working to make our region a place where all feel a sense of belonging.”
4. What's your favorite book, movie or podcast right now? ”The Warmth of Other Suns by: Isabel Wilkerson”