Community Experience

**August 2022 pop-up splash pad event at Nesbitt Preserve Park**

Community Experience actions focus on strategies for building a community that provides equitable access to resources and opportunities, while actively striving to eradicate institutional racism.

In response to the Race Equity Report recommendations, the City has increased the frequency of existing community engagement programs, such as Pop-Up Splash Pad, Coffee with a Cop and Fitness in the Parks events. The City is reaching more residents of color by conducting these additional events in diverse neighborhoods.

The City has strengthened partnerships with community service organizations and other programs with renewed focus on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The results of these initiatives have included the City hosting its first-ever Iftar (meal eaten after sunset during Muslim observance of Ramadan), construction of the community's first cricket pitch at Nesbitt Preserve Park and the establishment of a local housing trust fund to support affordable housing options.

The strategies underway are described in two areas of recommendations which are outlined in the Race Equity Report:

#1 | Community Events. Devote more resources to promoting block parties and community events to gather residents of different cultures.

Activity/Goal	Status	Department
Greater exposure for Fire and Building Inspections staff at community events	Ongoing effort	Fire
Offer free pop-up events at neighborhood parks adjacent to neighborhoods with higher percentages of residents of color	Ongoing program, several events each year	Parks and Recreation
Expand free outdoor group fitness classes to neighborhood parks located near higher populations of residents of color	Ongoing program, several events each year	Parks and Recreation
Work in partnership with school district on organizing PeopleFest community event	Ongoing annual program	Parks and Recreation
Participate in community engagement/education events and programs to reach residents of color	Ongoing effort	Police

#2 | Provide additional support and resources to community members and organizations working on similar diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Activity/Goal	Status	Department
Explore utilizing Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plans for new multi-family developments to increase applications from people of color	Planned for 2025	Community Development
Create and implement Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Action Plan to benefit residents of color	Completed	Community Development
Approve Tenant Protection Ordinance to protect residents of color living in affordable units/properties	Completed	Community Development
Establish local housing trust fund to support affordable housing options likely to be accessed by residents of color	Completed	Community Development
Operate First-Time Homebuyers Program using Community Development Block Grant funds and pooled Tax Increment Financing, possibly including a first-generation homebuyer effort focusing on historically underserved populations	Ongoing annual program	Community Development
Operate Rehab Loan Program using Community Development Block Grant funds and pooled Tax Increment Financing to serve low-income clients and residents of color	Ongoing annual program	Community Development
Support community land trust through Community Development Block Grant funds to support additional affordable housing options for homebuyers of color	Funds distributed annually	Community Development
Support needs of residents of color through grant-making to local non-profit organizations	Ongoing program, 2-year grant cycles	Community Development
Use Property Managers Collaborative to provide landlords with training and information related to race equity that increase cultural competency	Ongoing program	Community Development
Implement Inclusionary Housing Policy to ensure affordable housing construction benefits residents of color	Ongoing program	Community Development
Support developers seeking affordable housing units accessible to people of color through low-income housing tax credits, Hennepin County and Met Council grants	Ongoing effort	Community Development
Require human services grant recipients to demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in grant-funded activities	Ongoing effort	Community Development
Connect with Just Deeds services and explore establishing relationship with affected property owners if applicable	Planned for 2025	Community Development

Race Equity Implementation Progress