Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Commission

The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Commission (DEIC) advises, recommends, and assists the Council in matters relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and human rights. The mission of the Golden Valley DEIC is to promote and nurture a safe and welcoming community dedicated to the values of social equity, inclusion, and justice.

Meetings

  • 6:30 pm
  • fourth Tuesday of each month (unless other notice given)
  • 7800 Golden Valley Road
    City Hall
    Golden Valley, MN 55427

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEIC) meetings will be cancelled due to lack of an agenda if there is no business to be discussed or if there is no quorum.

Attend The Meeting On Webex

  • Access the meeting on Webex here and enter the password goldenvalley, or call 415-655-0001 and enter meeting code: 133-659-0690.
  • For technical assistance, contact the City at 763-593-8007.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

2022 Meetings

Dates

Dates

Members

  • Joelle Allen, Chair (term expires April 2024)
  • Ajani Woodson, Vice Chair (term expires April 2024)
  • Nyre Chester (term expires April 2023)
  • Melissa Johnson (term expires April 2022)
  • Carol Lou (term expires April 2023)
  • Chris Mitchell (term expires April 2023)
  • Ruth Paradise (term expires April 2023)
  • Vacancy (term expires April 2024)
  • Lee Thoresen (term expires April 2023)
  • Drew Jones-Youth Position (term expires April 2023)
  • Youth Vacancy

Community Outreach

  1. Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award

The Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award recognizes members in the community who work to build an environment that promotes fair and equal treatment for everyone. It is presented every December in conjunction with Human Rights Day. 

While nominations are open year-round, the deadline for submitting nominations for the current year is Sept 30. Nominations received after Sept 30 will be considered for the following year's award.

Bill Hobbs

Bill Hobbs served on the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission from 1965 to 1995, joining shortly after moving to Golden Valley.

In 1999, he received the HRC's first Human Rights Award, named after Hobbs himself. The award is meant to recognize an outstanding citizen who has worked to build an environment that promotes fair and equal treatment for everyone.

Since then, the Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award has been presented to eight community members/organizations for their dedication in making Golden Valley a more welcoming and inclusive city.

Nomination Process

Nominations may be submitted by either an individual or an organization (ie, a club, social agency, unit of government, religious denomination, school, or business). Fill out the online nomination form.

  • Nominees must live, work, or conduct business in Golden Valley during the nomination year.
  • Nominee activities proposed for recognition should have a positive impact or clearly improved understanding or cooperation in the areas of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or familial status.
  • Nominee services must be either voluntary or above and beyond a paid employee's usual job responsibilities.
  • Members of the Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission are not eligible for the award while serving on the commission.

Selection & Award Process

  • The recipient is selected by members of the Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission.
  • The DEIC may give special consideration to activities that have occurred for an extended time, at least part of which have taken place during the current year, and that have had a significant impact on an affected group or individual.

The award is presented during a City Council Meeting. The recipient's name is inscribed on a plaque permanently displayed in Golden Valley City Hall. In addition, the recipient receives a similar plaque inscribed with his/her organization's name.

  1. Dr Martin Luther King Human Rights Contest

Commission's History

In 2018, the Golden Valley City Council voted to create the Rising TIDES Task Force to provide recommendations on how to fulfill the City's newly adopted Equity Plan. Over the next 2 1/2 years, the task force spent its time researching and engaging with the Golden Valley community on various equity-based topics. Stemming from the Task Force's work was a proposal to create a more permanent body of appointed community members committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This new commission would also replace the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission (HRC).

The HRC served the Golden Valley community for more than 50 years, providing guidance to the City Council on human rights issues, helping build community by creating opportunities for dialogue on human rights issues, sponsoring events like the HRC's Annual Day of Service, and directing persons to resources on human rights.

More past HRC community outreach events include:

HRC & Rising TIDES Archived Documents