Ongoing Commitment to Racial Equity

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July 10, 2024

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Ongoing Commitment to Racial Equity

By: Kadra Abdi, Director of Policy & Field Building 

As we continue our journey towards advancing racial equity at MCCD and within the field, we reflect on the progress we’ve made and the path ahead. Last year, our training was on equitable leadership, laying a foundation for our understanding and commitment. This year, we’re building on that foundation, focusing on operationalizing equity and embedding our learnings into our daily work with our clients and members.

Operationalizing equity means integrating equity into every aspect of our organization, from decision-making processes to program development and implementation. It requires us to think critically about our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure they promote fairness and inclusivity for all.

One key aspect of this year’s focus is embedding equity into our work culture. This involves fostering a culture of inclusivity, where every voice is valued and heard. It means actively seeking diverse perspectives and experiences and incorporating them into our decision-making processes.

Another crucial element is embedding equity into our lending policies, programs, and practices. This requires us to assess how our programs impact different racial and ethnic groups and ensure they are equitable. It means designing programs that address the unique needs and challenges faced by historically excluded and low-wealth communities.

To support this effort, we provide ongoing training and resources for our staff, including workshops, convenings, and other learning opportunities to deepen our understanding of racial equity and its application in our work. We also partner with external organizations and experts to enhance our capacity and amplify our impact on advancing racial and economic justice.

As we embark on this next phase of our journey, we are excited about the possibilities ahead. We know that achieving racial equity requires ongoing effort and a willingness to challenge ourselves, our assumptions, and disrupt racist systems and policies. But we are confident that by working together, we can create a more just and equitable community development field.

Stay tuned for updates on our progress and ways you can get involved in our racial equity work.

Racial Equity Training

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May 1, 2024

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Racial Equity Training

Our values are not just words on paper, they are the guiding principles that shape everything we do at MCCD. One of our core values is Racial Justice and Intersectionality. We believe in an anti-racist approach to our work, making sure everyone’s identity is honored, and recognize how this lives in how we work and operate on every level.

We are putting in the work practicing our values and have started our third phase of racial equity training: Operationalizing Racial Equity. Putting our racial equity tools into practice, we ignited vulnerable and productive conversations.

Our team engaged in another racial equity training session: Racial Equity Tool & Communication. This session was an intensive work group setting that challenged our thinking and helped us see opportunities to put equity into action.

Throughout the year, our team remains committed to coming together for ongoing racial equity training, integrating these learnings into every aspect of our work.

Policy & Advocacy Training at the Capitol

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February 17, 2024

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Policy & Advocacy Training at the Capitol

Thank you to everyone that joined us at our Policy & Advocacy Training at the Capitol! We learned, laughed, and teared up from some incredibly moving testimonies.

Access to the Capitol can be intimidating and difficult to navigate. Our training focused on using access to the Capitol as a powerful platform to share narratives and reaching advocacy goals with confidence. Attendees learned about plain language, wrote an elevator pitch, practiced their testimonies in ahearing room, and took a tour of the Capitol!

Thank you to our speakers!

  • Jeru Gobeze – Advocacy Director, Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota
  • Representative Mohamed Noor – Representative for District 60B
    Chair, Human Services Finance Committee
  • Kadra Abdi – Director of Local Policy & Field Building, MCCD
  • Kari Johnson – Director of State Policy & Field Building, MCCD
  • Kelly Law – SeniorPolicy & Field Advisor, MCCD
  • Tina Stennes – Communications Manager, MCCD

Thank you to our sponsors!

  • Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota
  • Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
  • MN CDFI Coalition
 Learn more about our 2024 policy agendas!

Giselle Mercado – 2023 ELCD Mentee

Giselle Mercado – 2023 ELCD Mentee
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January 19, 2024

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Giselle Mercado – 2023 ELCD Mentee

In the short time that I’ve lived in Minnesota and worked in economic development since completing my master’s degree in nonprofit management, I’ve been active in the lending program at the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC). My role has encompassed working on automating processes, implementing improvements in the portfolio management system, and providing technical assistance. Additionally, I have contributed to doubling the size of the loan portfolio to $6MM. This experience has allowed me to blend the financial and social worlds and to deploy affordable capital while genuinely caring about the borrowers. I find great satisfaction in working towards increasing access to affordable capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as leveraging funds to maximize the impact in the community. 

The decision to pursue a career in the community development field stems from my desire to do more for my community. While I learned a lot when I worked for ten years in the financial and banking sector in my home country, I always yearned to make a more meaningful contribution. The community development sector, particularly Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), has given me the chance to marry the financial and social aspects of what I do. It is a privilege to support entrepreneurs, to ensure they have affordable access to capital, and to genuinely care about their success. 

As a Latina immigrant, I found my experience with the ELCD mentorship program empowering. The program highlighted how the skills I developed in the financial sector play a key role in the community development field. It also addressed the responsibility I carry in serving my community. The mentorship program allowed me to recognize the impact I can make and the importance of my role in empowering and supporting BIPOC communities. I consider it a privilege to have known Elena and witnessed her deep commitment to the BIPOC community. My advice to future mentees is to embrace the opportunities this program provides and to recognize the strength and value they bring to the community development field. 

Meet Jake Soper | 2023 ELCD Mentee

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October 17, 2023

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Meet Jake Soper | 2023 ELCD Mentee

Jake joined the City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT) as Property Development Manager in February 2021. In this role, he manages the development and rehab of CLCLT-owned properties and serves as a resource for existing CLCLT homeowners regarding home maintenance. The CLCLT provides affordable homeownership opportunities to low- and middle-income community members.  

Being a relative newcomer to the affordable housing arena, the ELCD mentorship program proved useful in advancing my knowledge and understanding of the field and enabled me to make genuine connections that will continue beyond the program. Through my mentor, I was able to dive behind the scenes at a nationwide nonprofit developer and talk about projects, process, and the philosophy guiding their work.  

Before his role at CLCLT, Jake’s professional journey included presiding over a real estate consultancy with a specialization in telecom infrastructure. With two decades of experience in multi-site development, he expertly managed due diligence, negotiations, zoning, permitting, and architectural aspects.

Jake is not just dedicated to his career but also to giving back to the community. He volunteered his time and efforts in Thailand, working with Northern Hill Tribe children, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

His educational background is equally impressive, with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he also played Badgers ice hockey. He further pursued his academic journey with an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, cementing his expertise in the field. 

The ELCD mentorship program benefited my daily work starting at program kickoff and continued from there. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity! ” – Jake Soper

ELCD Learning & Network Series

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June 19, 2023

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ELCD Learning & Network Series

The 2023 MCCD Emerging Leaders Learning and Networking Series is a comprehensive program designed to empower emerging leaders in community development with essential knowledge and skills across various topics. This series covers key areas critical to fostering sustainable and inclusive communities, providing mentees with the tools they need to make a lasting impact in their respective fields. 

Emerging BIPOC Developers Program:

  • Explore programs supporting underrepresented groups in accessing financing for community development projects. Explore strategies to overcome entry barriers to finance programs and learn about innovative approaches that can be implemented to level the playing field for emerging BIPOC developers.

Leadership & Professional Development:

  • Building strong networks and honing leadership skills are vital for effective community development. This module provides practical strategies to expand professional networks, enhance leadership abilities, and seize opportunities for personal growth and career advancement.

Community Development Policy + Creative Place-keeping:

  • Understanding the role of policy in community development is crucial. This module examines the intersection of community development and policy-keeping, equipping attendees with the knowledge to advocate for policies that promote equitable development. Additionally, the concept of creative place-keeping will be explored, emphasizing the importance of preserving and enhancing the cultural fabric of communities.