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One Olmsted: Embrace diversity as an asset

Internal/Employee - One Olmsted mission for diversity and inclusion is to attract, hire, develop, advance, retain and engage a workforce that reflects the public we serve, draws from all segments of society, and values equity, diversity and inclusion. External/Community - One Olmsted works to eliminate disparities and create equitable outcomes for all through our commitment to diversity and inclusion and development of strong community partnership. VISION: Vision: We envision a workplace and community where everyone is treated equitably.

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Project Information

Collaborators, Project Phase & Type, Impacts, Related Projects

Collaborators 

Lead Organization: County of Olmsted, MN

Contact: TBD ; Email: TBD ; Phone: TBD

Known/Likely Collaborators: County of Olmsted, MN ; Olmsted County Human Rights Commission ; Olmsted County Public Health Services

Potential Collaborators:


Related Projects


Impacts 

Major Impact: 

PlanScape Impacts :

Level 1: Best Practice, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, TBD

Level 2:

DMC Impacts:

Community Health Impacts:


Project Phase

Available  Phase

Project Type

Planning  

 

Detailed Description

LINKS to Sections: Presentation to CMRC March 18, 2022    PB Reporting March 17, 2017 

  

Presentation to CMRC March 18, 2022

 

 

 

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PB Reporting March 17, 2017  

 

A new Olmsted County initiative is aiming to create a foundation of support to overcome disparities in services throughout the county.

A draft of a "One Olmsted" resolution has been making the rounds among some volunteer county boards, with tentative plans to seek support from the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners early next month.

The proclamation stating "the time is now to embrace diversity as an asset" strives to reaffirm the county's commitment to equity and acknowledging "every facet of human difference." It's a new take on existing practices.

 

"We have a lot of policies that already address this," County Administrator Richard Devlin said, noting the resolution reasserts those policies.

However, Commissioner Sheila Kiscaden noted part of the drive for the One Olmsted resolution stems from the attack on the San Bernardino public health training event on Dec. 2, 2015. She said local county staff feared similar attacks in the wake of the event and other national tensions, but rather than taking a defensive posture, department heads sought another approach.

03-17 Paul Fleissner en.jpg

Paul Fleissner

Community Services Director Paul Fleissner obtained a proclamation from a colleague in Fairfax, Va., and sought to transform it for Olmsted County.

"I really like where it evolved," he said, regarding changes that were made as the document circulated among county staff and boards, as well as the Diversity Council.

The resolution points to the county's dedication to health, social and racial equity, citing an importance to provide all residents with access to county services.

Public Health Director Pete Giesen noted his department already implements many aspects identified in the resolution, but his staff continues to work toward addressing disparities that exist.

"It's something that just part of our mission in our department," he said, noting other departments have been addressing equity issues as well.

Nora Dooley.jpg

Nora Dooley

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Devlin, Richard.jpg

Richard Devlin

"We have a lot of policies that already address this," County Administrator Richard Devlin said, noting the resolution reasserts those policies.

However, Commissioner Sheila Kiscaden noted part of the drive for the One Olmsted resolution stems from the attack on the San Bernardino public health training event on Dec. 2, 2015. She said local county staff feared similar attacks in the wake of the event and other national tensions, but rather than taking a defensive posture, department heads sought another approach.

+2 
03-17 Paul Fleissner en.jpg

Paul Fleissner

Community Services Director Paul Fleissner obtained a proclamation from a colleague in Fairfax, Va., and sought to transform it for Olmsted County.

"I really like where it evolved," he said, regarding changes that were made as the document circulated among county staff and boards, as well as the Diversity Council.

The resolution points to the county's dedication to health, social and racial equity, citing an importance to provide all residents with access to county services.

Public Health Director Pete Giesen noted his department already implements many aspects identified in the resolution, but his staff continues to work toward addressing disparities that exist.

"It's something that just part of our mission in our department," he said, noting other departments have been addressing equity issues as well.

+2 
Nora Dooley.jpg

Nora Dooley

Olmsted County Human Rights Commission Chairwoman Nora Dooley said that's important.

"Everybody needs to be healthy in a community, or we're all at risk," she said, pointing out disease can spread across societal boundaries once one group becomes ill.

Giesen said the impact will be felt throughout all county departments, noting the goal is to cover anyone who comes in contact with any Olmsted County services.

Fleissner said it provides a unique lens to look at how services are provided and will be used to build on what is being done and offer incentives to improve.

As the proposal has been reviewed by volunteer boards in the county, it's generated support with some voicing a desire to take it further.

"I would have loved to have seen some implementation procedure or some way of measuring," Human Rights Commission member Barry Skolnick said.

Giesen said an action plan would be ideal, but it's not ready yet. However, he noted the resolution could be used to leverage future efforts, if approved by county commissioners.

Community Services Advisory Board Chairman Jim Rustad noted the mere presence of the resolution likely will have an impact on county staff and the community.

"My hope is just by communicating it, it will get recognition and people will start adopting it," he said.

Having received a variety of suggested tweaks throughout the review process, the resolution is tentatively planned to be presented by chairs of the human rights commission and public health and community service advisory board during the April 4 county board meeting.

 

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Other Community News and Reports having impacts on:

Best Practice, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, TBD  
March 29, 2023: Accessory Dwelling Unit Pilot Program Open for Applications
The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Pilot Program supports and encourages property owners in the city of Rochester to develop ADUs on their properties.

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March 11, 2023: Preserving community area resources knowledge
Rochester Area Resource List sourced from Diversity Council and link to Beam search engine.

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February 25, 2023: Use of "America City for Health" as moniker to attract DMC investment

Feb 2023 Business Development status; Nov. 2021 Presentation to DMCC Board in November 2021 Board Meeting. Focus on attracting more companies coming in.  America City for Health as lead generation asset. 

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February 22, 2023: Commitment to Action for Racial Justice project
1Q2023 NPC Quarterly Commitment Meeting Takeaways: Meeting Notes, YouTube of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. 

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February 13, 2023: RCTC/Perkins Grant Opportunity
RCTC/Perkins Grant: The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century

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February 10, 2023: MNDOT: Highway Heavy Carpenter Rochester Training
Free five-week program. Starter tool set included after completing the program

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February 01, 2023: Black History Month Series of Events

(1) 2024 Black History Month Press Release; (2) 2022 Black History Month Press Release; (3) 2021 Black History Month Press Release  

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January 28, 2023: State of Minnesota
Community Conversation: Building Racial Equity into the Walls of Minnesota Medicaid - A focus on U.S.-born Black Minnesotans

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January 27, 2023: Community Health Assessment Process
2021 - 2023 CHIP Priorities and Status; 2024 - 2026 CHIP Priorities

Read more ...
January 24, 2023: Community-Led, Health Equity Structural Intervention Initiative (OT2)
Rochester-area conversations to explain NIH ComPASS program submission and solicit letters of support from area CBOs. 

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January 22, 2023: Centering Black Voices through Participatory Grantmaking

Investing in Community-Led Solutions Centering Black Voices through Participatory Grantmaking

Read more ...

 

 

Last modified by support on 2022/07/30
Created by allnode on 2017/03/29

 

 

 

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