Earlier this spring, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), introduced five core commitments designed to increase racial equity in all industry sectors of the North Star State. These core commitments include:
- Driving dollars to targeted communities
- Increasing outreach and engagement
- Reforming programs to address systemic barriers
- Making equity everyone's job
- Creating change from the inside out
In addressing the racial inequities that presently exist around a number of indicators in Minnesota, such as annual income, employment, affordable housing, homeownership and generational wealth, DEED Commissioner Steve Grove notes that such “disparities just scratch the surface. Inequality is present in so many aspects of our state’s economy. Reversing these trends is vital to meeting our agency’s mission: to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone.”
Last week, DEED published its fourth entry in its Deed Development blog around the commitment to “Make Equity Everyone’s Job,” demonstrating the progress that has been made to date. In this blog, DEED’s Executive Director of Business Development, Catalina Valencia writes:
“…participated in learning and development opportunities around systemic change and racial disparities, and we developed an equity goal that we are accountable to, and that aligns with the goals of other DEED programs. Our equity-focused objective in 2022 is to ensure every single business we work with is aware of DEED's partner resources to build a workforce that is more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”
“Driving long-term progress in racial equity in Minnesota’s economy requires new thinking, and a belief that everyone has work to contribute to making systemic change. Our Office of Business Development is committed to doing our part and grateful to all of our DEED colleagues whose leadership and partnership help us achieve our goals. Working together, DEED is focused on meeting this moment to drive racial equity and build an inclusive economy for all.”
To read the entirety of Valencia’s blog, or any of the previous three installments in DEED’s series around its racial equity strategies, please visit them online.
