Human Rights Commission Meeting Date: June 13, 2019
To: Human Rights Commission
From: Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Staff Report - Diversity of Northfield Boards and Commissions.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield Human Rights Commission receives and update on staff plans to work with University of Minnesota Extension to pilot a recruitment and training effort for Boards and Commissions to increase diversity and better prepare candidates.
Summary Report:
Program Coordinator, Beth Kallestad, is continuing conversations with staff at University of Minnesota Extension to work with Northfield to pilot an effort to provide a series of workshops to recruit and train candidates, particularly those from under-represented groups, to serve on Boards and Commissions. Extension and the City will work on development this summer and early fall with a plan to start recruiting people for the workshops in October 2019. The workshops would run from February 2020 - June 2020. A draft proposal will be brought to HRC in August and finalized in September. HRC will be asked to help recruit participants and mentors for the program. Input on the workshop outline/topics would also be welcome. Any HRC members interesting in assisting in this way should contact Beth Kallestad at beth.kallestad@ci.northfield.mn.us <mailto:beth.kallestad@ci.northfield.mn.us> or (507) 645-3074.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
Extension is offering this as a pilot project and will not be charging the City for this round. If we continue to work with them in the future there will most likely be fees associated with workshops.
Tentative Timelines:
NA