Earlier this year, community members participated in engagement sessions to help shape the future of the City's Collaborative Solutions: Investing In Community Well-Being initiative. The goal is to reimagine public safety through a more inclusive, community-centered lens.
Feedback is summarized in a Community Input Report, available to review online. This mid-point update on the City’s progress will inform the initiative's next phase, including decisions about how to expand public safety across three core focus areas. Final updates and recommendations are expected to be shared with the community by late summer or early fall 2025.
Funded by a $250,000 grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation in 2021, the initiative aims to reduce harm, increase racial equity in public safety, and improve overall community well-being.
Previous examples of expanded response approaches include increased emergency medical training for firefighters, embedding a social worker in the Police Department, and directing community members to crisis and warm lines like 988 for suicide prevention. These strategies are designed to deliver specialized resources, support de-escalation, and prioritize prevention.
For additional updates, visit the Collaborative Solutions web page at www.goldenvalleymn.gov/744.