Connection to Community

**August 2022 DEI Town Hall Meeting at Eden Prairie Library**

Connection to Community actions focus on strategies the City uses to communicate with residents to ensure they are receiving information in a way that meets their needs and creating awareness of the City's commitment to racial equity.

Shortly after the Race Equity Report was adopted in early 2022, the City publicized the report and added a section to the website designed to tell the story of Eden Prairie's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Since then there has been a concerted effort to communicate the City's progress toward race, equity and inclusion goals.

In August 2022, City leaders hosted a town hall meeting with residents from diverse backgrounds to learn about their experiences living in Eden Prairie. Feedback from this meeting is helping to guide City staff with implementing the Race Equity Report recommendations.

In 2023, the City rolled out an organization-wide Limited English Proficiency policy and language translation and interpretive service. The policy includes criteria for document and in-person translation and interpretation and led to the City's 2023 Quality of Life Survey being available in English, Somali and Spanish for the first time.

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

#1 | Communicate Eden Prairie's commitment to racial equity and celebrate the diversity of our community with internal and external stakeholders.

Activity/Goal	Measurement	Department	Timeline
Work with Human Rights and Diversity Commission staff liaison to acknowledge cultural/religious holidays identified by commission on City social media	Monthly social media posts	Administration	Started January 2022, ongoing
Create page on website acknowledging racial disparities exist and stating City’s commitment to race equity and inclusion	Completion and upkeep	Administration	Launched fall 2022, ongoing
Communicate progress toward race equity and inclusion goals both internally and externally	Ongoing	Administration	Started January 2022, ongoing
Support community engagement activities as outlined in the Human Rights and Diversity Commission's work plan	Implementation of work plan goals, activities and events; number of residents engaged	Community Development	Ongoing

#2 | Track and analyze ongoing community data to determine effectiveness of efforts and improvements from baseline information.

Activity/Goal	Measurement	Department	Timeline
Conduct follow-up to 2020 race equity and inclusion survey to track trends/progress	Completed	Administration	Scheduled for summer 2023
Ensure all City survey data is representative of overall population demographics and increase ways for non-English speakers to participate	Ongoing	Administration	Started January 2023
Incorporate social vulnerability considerations into floodplain and climate risk management in partnership with Hennepin County and watershed districts	Identify areas where social vulnerabilities intersect with floodplain and climate risk management areas	Public Works	End of 2024
Review Quality of Life Survey results within the various Public Works categories to ensure no disparities exist in responses across various racial and ethnic backgrounds	Survey ratings across race and ethnicity is comparable	Public Works	End of 2023

#3 | Ensure all limited- and non-English speaking residents have equitable access to City services, programs, activities and information.

Activity/Goal	Measurement	Department	Timeline
Maintain website that is accessible on all device types, using plain language standards for easier translation	Accessibility reports	Administration	Ongoing
Develop protocol and procedure to apply a race and equity perspective to communications content	Completion and implementation of protocol	Administration	Ongoing
Formalize organization-wide Limited English Proficiency policy	Completion	Administration	Completed April 2023
Facilitate implementation of organization-wide language translation service and create awareness of those services	Implementation	Administration	Completed by year-end 2023
Develop Title VI Plan meeting Federal Highway Administration guidelines for transportation projects	Completion	Public Works	End of 2023

#4 | Ensure everyone has equitable access to services provided by the City and opportunities for providing input to city leadership.

Activity/Goal	Measurement	Department	Timeline
Connect entrepreneurs of color to local resources that support business start-up activities	Number of entrepreneurs of color served	Community Development	Ongoing
Review Comprehensive Plan land use locations against census data to ensure equitable access to services and employment	No disparities identified	Community Development	End of 2024
Provide opportunities for community engagement and feedback regarding the implementation of the Race Equity Report	Number of engagement opportunities and participants, including residents of color and others from underrepresented communities	Community Development	Ongoing
Maintain diversity among adult and student commission members	Diversity of adult and student commission members, applied and appointed	Community Development	Diversity of adult and student commission members, applied and appointed
Implement recommendations from City's Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan that was developed based on input from Somali Moms Group, Senior Center and ECFE group.	Annual improvements made are consistent with plan recommendations	Public Works	Annual
Design public education and outreach programs related to stormwater and sustainability that engage historically underrepresented communities	Programs reflective of DEI principles in place	Public Works	End of 2024
When soliciting public input on project design, seek specific opportunities to engage underrepresented communities impacted by the project	Implementation/evaluation of at least one new engagement method to reach underrepresented community	Public Works	End of 2023
Develop Title VI Plan meeting Federal Highway Administration guidelines for transportation projects	Completion	Public Works	End of 2023

#5 | Broaden partnerships to include organizations that have culturally specific communication channels.

Activity/Goal	Measurement	Department	Timeline
Research new communication channels for reaching unengaged residents of color and implement if possible	Conduct research/implementation	Administration	2023-2024

Race Equity Implementation Progress