September 30, 2021 by Philip Lewenstein

Lack of Progress by City on Equity and Inclusion Disappointing

For the past 16 months, throughout the country, governmental units, schools and colleges, businesses, and individuals have been reckoning increasingly with issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and racism.

My city, Vadnais Heights, however, continues to move slowly and passively in acting on these important issues. Little has been accomplished during the past year despite the work of a community engagement committee. A proposal to establish a human rights commission has generated some testimony, mostly highlighting divisions within the community, but no decision.

Make no mistake, however. Vadnais Heights is not exempt from bias, stereotypes, racism, inequities, and discrimination. White privilege is not a myth. The lack of timely responses by elected officials is puzzling. Instead of providing leadership, our mayor and council members deny, delay, and avoid action.

Why is discussion of these issues so difficult and often polarizing? Perhaps the difficulty can be traced to lack of education and cultural understanding. As a first, immediate step, the council should sponsor and promote training and education programs for itself and the entire community.  

Words, not actions, are the response of elected officials. After the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, Mayor Heidi Gunderson issued a statement on the current social climate, condemning racism and discrimination, expressing condolences to the Floyd family, and noting the need for healing.

In a June 5, 2020, letter to the mayor, to which she did not respond, I praised her for articulating the goal of making Vadnais Heights an inclusive community but noted my disappointment that she made only passing reference to fighting for systemic change and equity.

On April 16, 2021, the city issued a statement expressing its deepest sympathies to the family of Daunte Wright. “These painful moments (the Chauvin trial and Wright’s death) obligate us to reflect, listen, and educate ourselves on how we can make this community better for each other. Conversations on this subject are difficult—remember it’s ok to lean in and normalize being teachable.”

The statement said the city is committed to working with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to ensure that everyone is “treated in a fair and equitable manner. We will always work with them to ensure the safety and welfare of our residents.

“The city encourages you to reach out to family members, friends, or others in your support network.” Several county, state, and national resources are listed in the statement.

In an April 22 email to the mayor, I commended the timely statements expressing genuine concern with the Floyd and Wright deaths. “However, it is time for the city to back words with actions that develop and implement policies supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as human rights,” I said.

In my December 31, 2020, blog (“My City Should Focus on Inclusion and Equity,”  www.philsfocus.com), I quoted League of Minnesota Cities’ leaders who said that how cities welcome and integrate all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, or color will be a leading indicator of community success on many levels.

Changing Demographics Highlight Growing Diversity

Changing demographics throughout Minnesota are affecting diversity, and cultural and social changes are occurring, I noted. Thus, all levels of government, regardless of size, should value diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Events of the past year have highlighted the need for systemic reform to achieve racial equity and social justice. Systemic change will require specific actions at all levels of government—local, state, and federal. Thus, I recommended that Vadnais Heights take a proactive approach to developing and implementing specific policies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our neighboring cities have given priority to and invested in efforts to pursue equity, I noted. They have pursued policies on inclusion and equity and established human rights commissions.

In a 2020 Polco survey on community equity and inclusion, our community and local government rated poor or fair on indicators for making all residents feel welcome, valuing diversity, and showing respect for different cultures. Residents said local government should give high priority to creating a diverse, inclusive, and fair community.

The increasing diversity of Minnesota was highlighted in Census Bureau data released in August (“Say hello to a more-diverse Minnesota: State sees first-ever drop in white population,” by Briana Bierschbach and Jessie Van Berkel, August 13, 2021, Star Tribune).

Minnesota continues to grow more racially diverse with residents of color now making up 24 percent of the state population, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Whites now make up 76 percent of the state’s total population, down from 83 percent ten years ago.

The state’s nonwhite population is driving Minnesota’s overall population growth, and these shifts are even more pronounced in the metro area, the Star Tribune reported. Minnesota’s demographic changes over the past decade mirror population trends across the nation, which saw the non-Hispanic white population decline and the number of people living in urban areas increase.

“Everyone knows it’s coming and everyone knows we’re getting more diverse,” Susan Brower, Minnesota’s state demographer, told the Star Tribune. “To see these (non-Hispanic white) numbers actually decline, we realize it’s not coming; it’s already here.”

Community Engagement Committee Develops “Mild” Recommendations

Vadnais Heights authorized a community engagement committee, initially called an inclusion committee, in July 2020, but it started slowly, not meeting until November. Establishing membership was challenging.

The committee was charged to help define where there might be gaps in current communication and engagement efforts and, by reviewing current efforts, to recommend to the city council how to identify and eliminate gaps in communication and ensure the entire community has the opportunity to engage with the city.

City Administrator Kevin Watson told me in late December 2020, that “the committee process will begin to address gaps in our communication efforts, including our diverse populations. With patience, there’s a potential for that to translate into more as it relates to diversity and inclusion.”

The engagement committee met six times from November 18, 2020, to March 31, 2021. A key part of the committee’s work was developing recommendations for strategic planning, including budgetary considerations.

The volunteer members developed some practical, but mild, proposals. One committee member referred to the proposals as “impotent.” Yet the council does not view the recommendations as a priority.

The committee recommended using a cultural consultant and/or service that specializes in working with diverse communities to help enhance the ability of the city to engage with the broader community.

Two types of services were recommended as budget allows. One service is training for council and city staff on cultural competence and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion. This training would help to ensure that all council members are considering context when designing programs and services and engaging with community members. A second type of service is to bring in cultural competency specialists to review current communication efforts and messaging for effectiveness in reaching the whole community.

Also, the committee proposed investing in data-driven community feedback—specifically, a statistically significant community survey, formalizing relationships with different demographics for feedback, and increasing engagement efforts of existing city events to promote more- inclusive efforts and hosting a community resource fair to highlight resources not provided by, but available in the city.

Assistant City Administrator Tim Sandvik presented the committee recommendations at a council workshop in April. Council member Patricia Youker said the first step is to find out what we don’t know, perhaps hiring a communications specialist. Mayor Gunderson said, “We should find out how much a survey would cost and look at trend lines.” The mayor and council member Erik Goebel liked the idea of a community resource fair to make contact with residents.

Goebel, council liaison to the engagement committee, said he would like to hear the council’s thoughts on hiring a consultant. Gunderson asked if a community consultant and communications person are the same thing or two different things. She said she thinks the city should identify any gaps by possibly doing a survey and then look at hiring or contracting with a consultant next year. She asked what the cost of both would be.

Council member Steve Rogers said the city must find where the diverse communities are and whether the engagement committee can help the city understand what those are. Goebel said that the committee is also having trouble identifying the underserved community.

The council expressed interest in pursuing a comprehensive community survey, but cultural consultants were not identified as an immediate priority. However, staff continue to pursue these kinds of opportunities at the staff level as resources allow, according to Sandvik.

At its July 20, 2021, meeting, the council voted to authorize the city administrator to execute a contract for services with the Morris Leatherman Company to conduct a community survey. Sandvik said the staff will work with Morris Leatherman to start with the broad-based survey done in 2016 and develop questions. The goal is to begin work later this summer/early fall and hope to have results by the year end.

“The city understands there are a variety of ways to perform communications and engagement, but each effort comes with challenges,” Sandvik told the council in June. “For example, anecdotal feedback is efficient but may only tell part of the story. Conducting a community survey will provide statistically significant feedback in a variety of capacities that will help inform the city.”

Cost of a survey depends on sample size and questionnaire length. The fee will be $26,000 for 165 questions (the number in the 2016 survey); each additional question is $150, according to the contract.

Human Rights Commission Proposed, Generates Opposing Opinions

Meanwhile, an organization, VH4Change (vh4change.com), has been promoting a human rights commission. VH4Change describes itself as a volunteer neighborhood group that does not raise money and is not officially affiliated with any organization. It is purely a grassroots organization working for positive change in the city. Independently, “some of us offer support to local candidates who match the values that are popular in Vadnais Heights, but mostly we are active in the community through volunteerism.”

Three of its goals are to establish the human rights commission, have Vadnais Heights join the GreenStep Cities Program to promote sustainability, and elect three new members to the city council.

Several neighboring cities such as Roseville and Shoreview have human rights commissions, while other cities have initiatives to build welcoming and inclusive communities. Roseville has a Human Rights, Inclusion, and Engagement Commission that coordinates with the city’s overall racial equity initiative.

White Bear Lake has established a city-based Welcoming and Inclusive Task Force; the mission is to foster a welcoming and inclusive community for everyone who lives and works in White Bear Lake (“Fostering a welcoming & inclusive community for everyone,” May 26, 2021, White Bear Lake/Vadnais Heights Press).

“When we peel back the layers of White Bear Lake’s version of Minnesota nice, what will we find?” ask members of the task force. “Are there disparities of access or participation based on race, sexual orientation, culture, gender, physical ability, socio-economic status, or any other characteristic?”

The task force has been hosting a series of one-hour community conversations that can be attended online to discuss what makes a community feel welcoming, how inclusive the city is, and how it can do better.

Proponents of a Vadnais Heights human rights commission say it would help ensure an inclusive community that welcomes residents of all races, genders, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations. A commission would address biases, prejudices, intolerance, and discrimination and their effect on the community. The commission would facilitate connections with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and help apply state laws against discrimination.

The commission would, most importantly, help ensure equal opportunity in employment, housing, public services, public accommodations, and education. For example, it appears that Vadnais Heights has a significant gender gap in hiring and pay in the city workforce, and males dominate management positions.

Further, the commission would provide leadership in reaching out to all residents and developing community events that bring together people of all backgrounds.

Representatives of VH4Change and individuals from the community engagement committee on July 20 spoke at the city council meeting in favor of a human rights commission (“Human rights commission to be considered by council,” by Cynthia Snowden, August 4, 2021,  White Bear Lake/Vadnais Heights Press).

In response to a question from the Press, Heather Gustafson, a leader of VH4Change, said in an email: “I’d like to know why anyone thinks we don’t need a Human Rights Commission. Our current city council is entirely made up of white individuals, and with homogenous leadership comes potential for blind spots. Even the best intentioned white individuals don’t necessarily hear the stories or understand the complexities of every person living in their community, especially those who are fearful of interacting with government officials, don’t have time, or don’t know how to do so.”

Gustafson cited the actions of former city council members Craig Johnson and Terry Nyblom as the catalyst for the organization. Nyblom was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call. Johnson resigned last year after being confronted at a council meeting over racist posts he made about Muslims on social media.

After testimony at the July 20 meeting, council member Goebel moved to include discussion of a human rights commission at a future council workshop meeting; Rogers seconded the motion. A workshop discussion is the first step in placing a matter on the council agenda.

In an August 10, 2021, Star Tribune article, Gustafson accused the city of dragging its feet on the commission proposal (“Vadnais Heights group pushing for rights panel; after lobbying for over a year, lead organizer accuses city of delaying,” by Shannon Prather).

Gustafson said she began lobbying for a human rights commission in spring 2020. She said she was invited to speak at a council workshop in summer 2020, but it was canceled. The city council formed the community engagement committee, and she joined it. She told the Star Tribune, however, that it felt like a way of sidestepping demands for a human rights commission.

“A human rights commission could jump start discussions about race and equity and reveal issues in the Vadnais Heights community, “Gustafson told the Star Tribune. “At the heart of it, we truly believe the human rights commission is as important as the planning commission. The bigger story is the resistance to this. I really don’t understand the reason why.”

Mayor Gunderson provided a written statement to the Star Tribune: “Vadnais Heights is a small community and we have a lean staff and budget. It is my hope that we can partner with community members to craft a plan that is well-tailored to our demographics and resources to ensure that all people feel welcome and included in our community.”

Gunderson asserted that the council is listening and responding. The community survey will include a section of questions devoted to diversity, equity, and inclusion, she said. Also, Vadnais Heights is collaborating with White Bear Lake, local schools, and other partners to host “Community Conversations on Race,” she said.

Rogers told the Star Tribune that he is trying to bring all sides together to listen to the community and develop a framework for a human rights commission that is productive and long term. “We are not walling ourselves in from what is going on in the greater society,” he said. “There are people here who want to engage in these conversations.”

At its August 17 meeting, the council heard from opponents of a human rights commission who asked, “What human rights are being violated? Where are they happening (“Human rights discussion continues at council meeting,” by Cynthia Snowden, September 1, 2021, White Bear Lake/Vadnais Heights Press)?”

Council member Greg Urban said he was convinced that the city does not need a human rights commission and saw no need for further discussion. He said there is no evidence of racism in the city. However, Gunderson reminded him that if two council members vote to put an issue on the council’s workshop agenda, the council is required to discuss it.

As of late September, a workshop discussion had not been scheduled. Rogers said, “We are gathering data from disparate locations to provide a compelling case and it takes time. At this point, we don’t have a workshop on the schedule but know that this is moving forward.”

Recently, VH4Change reported that a hate group is active in Vadnais Heights. The group is recruiting members by posting its stickers around town. It is monitoring VH4Change’s social media accounts and occasionally responds to posts.

The hate group, Patriot Front (PF), is a white-nationalist hate group that formed after the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, of August 12, 2017, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Lack of Action Disturbing on Many Levels

The lack of significant action by our elected officials is disappointing and disturbing on many levels.

It is frustrating that the mayor and council members I have contacted, for the most part, do not acknowledge or respond to my letters and emails on these issues. In August, I contacted the mayor to seek her views on the engagement committee’s recommendations and the human rights commission proposal.

I tried to contact the mayor on three of the four days and times she gave me to reach out to her. I left messages on two of the days but did not receive a return call. A third day, her voice mailbox was full. The fourth day, I did not call because I was at a health-care appointment all morning. I again emailed the mayor my questions, requesting a written response. She has not replied.

Elected officials should respond to residents and, at a minimum, acknowledge constituents’ comments and questions. In working for and following government for a half century, I am appalled at this disrespect by our elected officials.

The lack of action is not surprising given the record of the past year: resignation of a council member who admitted to nearly 40 inflammatory social media posts disparaging Muslims and gay and transgender people, refusal to wear a mask by vocal council member, proposal to put license plate readers on every entrance into Vadnais Heights to track vehicles and monitor “suspicious people coming into the city,” posters placed by a hate group, tepid response to the engagement committee proposals, and delay in serious discussion of the human rights commission proposal.

Our elected officials do not seem interested in dramatic changes in demographics, as evidenced by the 2020 Census that are and will affect all aspects of our lives. Further, everyone should be concerned about the rise in hate crimes and increases in anti-Asian actions and anti-Semitic activity.

In Vadnais Heights, we may not have protesters marching in the streets or overt cases of discrimination, but bias exists. This reality was articulated by Gustafson in her June 16, 2021, letter in the White Bear/Vadnais Heights Press (“White privilege is real”).

“Currently, groups made up of mostly white people are fighting in our local school districts to stop anything mentioning equity. These groups believe even talking about race is somehow offensive to their values and freedom. As the saying goes: When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.

“There is plenty of racism in our towns. These groups are in denial about it; then they turn that denial into rejection. If you think it’s uncomfortable talking about racism in White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights, imagine the discomfort in experiencing it.

“If you think talking about racism creates more racism, you probably weren’t aware of the severity of the problem. Our country was founded on white supremacy, and it exists within each system. Just because we didn’t create the systems, doesn’t mean we don’t benefit from them. That statement alone probably makes white people feel uncomfortable, but it’s true and it’s time to get uncomfortable.

“Don’t get defensive about racism, learn about it. Racism is the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another. That’s why ‘reverse racism’ isn’t real. White people might face prejudices or struggles, but we haven’t been oppressed or marginalized because of our race.

“Every white person, myself included, needs to remember that it isn’t enough to be ‘not racist.’ We must actively stand up against racism when we see and hear it. That’s part of what a human rights commission would do and why VH4Change is pushing for one. We can’t jump to unity without accountability.”

To enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion, I have offered several recommendations:

• Contact the League of Minnesota Cities for help in finding a consultant to meet with the city council for an initial conversation to enhance understanding on the importance of equity and inclusion and to learn about other cities’ efforts.
• Incorporate the development of a plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion as one of the city’s goals.
• Direct staff to prepare a report on the level of diversity in the city workforce, including  city contractors.
• Address the imbalance in hiring and pay between males and females, particularly in managerial positions.
• Follow up on the findings of the Polco survey by conducting focus groups and further surveys to assess citizens’ views on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Adopt and publicize a statement on inclusion and respect that articulate the city’s commitment to making our community a welcoming place.
• Create a human rights commission to establish and promote a community standard of equal opportunity, ensure freedom from discrimination, and make the city a welcoming place.

The League of Minnesota Cities lists many helpful resources. Also, the league has suggested actions for cities to consider in addressing racial inequalities:

• Explore the demographic history, including the racial history, and current demographics of the community.
• Normalize the topic of race through hosting facilitated conversations among city staff, elected leaders, and in the community (such as book or film and discussion events).
• Identify local partners/community groups to engage in conversation about the experiences of people of color in the community.
• Collect and analyze data on city services by race (such as geographic data on where park improvements have been made or where trees have been planted by the city).
• Organize training for staff and elected officials that focuses on developing shared terminology and concepts of race and race equity (such as implicit and explicit bias).
• Identify staff and elected officials for an internal equity team; consider who is passionate for and interested in the work. Include employees and other officials of color.

Pursuing diversity, inclusion, and equity in a meaningful way will require transparency, commitment, hard work, resources and, most importantly, strong leadership by elected officials and city administrators.

A needed first step toward understanding diversity and achieving equity and inclusion is to educate elected officials and the community. Conversations on these issues are difficult, and well-meaning people may disagree. However, if everyone learns the history of these issues and develops cultural understanding, progress can occur without further delay.