“I’m the founder and CEO and the director for the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota state pageant. Uh, the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota state pageant is a 501 C3 non-profit community organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring. Inspiring the next generation of black leaders through education, mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement.”

Describing her role and the organization's mission.

“Our organization continues to grow as we expanded our programs divisions to First Lady, Miss Juneteenth Minnesota, which is the ages of 40 and up, and our Mr. Juneteenth, Minnesota, with ages from 10 to 24, creating additional pathways for leadership, mentorship and community involvement across generations.”

Detailing the expansion of the pageant's program divisions.

“This past year, Miss Juneteenth Minnesota was impacted by the unrest and Ice related situations. Affected families in our community. Two of our contestants experienced the detention of their fathers and one of our contestants father was actually ultimately detained and deported. I’m sorry. Deported. Despite these challenges, our contestants remain resilient, focused and committed to all of their goals. These experiences remind us why our work is so important.”

Recounting challenges faced by contestants due to external events.

“I joined miss the Juneteenth parties. Because I wanted to not only encourage women that look like me, but also be, um, a role model in this community. I am not originally from Minnesota, but when I moved here, I didn’t see a lot of African-American women that, uh, could step, step up, or show me how to walk or navigate this city.”

Explaining her reason for participating in the pageant.

“The reason why I joined the pageant. Honestly, my mom brought it to my attention. But now that I have won the pageant, I’m setting an example for younger girls that look like me. And to tell them that we can be a part of something bigger and better, and that we can also be just as important as people that aren’t of color, and that we are more than just like to be. What’s the word? I’m sorry. Disposable.”

Describing her role and motivation after winning the pageant.

“I joined the pageant because the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota state pageant, um, really covered two things that I care deeply about. And that’s my community, the black community and uplifting black women.”

Explaining her motivation for participating in the pageant.

“I’ve been able to go to different events and find out what’s going on in Minnesota. All the good and fun things that’s happening, because we do have a lot of good and fun things that happen here. Um, and so I, I’ve just realized that there’s so much community, we just need to be connected. And so, um, that’s kind of been my mission within the pageant.”

Discussing her mission and community connection through the pageant.

“As part of this city’s strategic planning process, transitioning to an EDA would align with the city’s development tools, all under one body, that will provide broader statutory that will encompass HRA powers.”

Explaining the strategic benefit of transitioning to an EDA.

“With a job, you need housing. We want people to be able to live and work here in Golden Valley. And if you’re working, say, at the grocery store, we want you to be able to live here. If you’re working at General Mills, we want you to live here. So they’re vital that they have to coordinate and play together.”

Highlighting the interconnectedness of housing and economic development.

“Statutorily, HRA is primarily focused on, again combating the blight, improving housing, undertaking redevelopment activities and designated areas. Idas promote broader economic redevelopment projects, including commercial, industrial, mixed use developments which can include housing as well as those activities behind. Beyond that, traditional housing development.”

Differentiating between HRA and EDA powers and focus.

“One of the things for me that we can’t do under an HRA is some of the marketing of the city for job creation. Um, we’re very limited under HRA. We can’t do that with an EDA. We have the ability to go out and market the community at events, uh, to host events where we can do that marketing to bring people in, to bring those jobs in.”

Providing an example of a capability an EDA has that an HRA does not.

“I had an opportunity to meet with, uh, Council Member Keech this week, and, uh, it gave me a lot of things to think about. And one of the things is the issue of there is no commission that specifically deals with economic development.”

Introducing her thoughts on economic development and existing commissions.

“I was thinking of and think out of the box committee. It wouldn’t have regular meeting times. It would be called when a new project comes up. So for example, the housing advocacy group that I belong to, when new projects come up, we asked Christine if we could meet with her and give her our ideas on it. And that is very helpful.”

Proposing a new model for community engagement on development projects.

“So can you give me an example of that one thing that we cannot currently do as an HRA, but we could do under EDA. Another one that you mentioned is mixed use. Um, or that’s kind of a tricky border where if when a mixed use project or try to help, is that something that we couldn’t do as an HRA, but we could do as an FDA?”

Inquiring about specific differences in powers between HRA and EDA.

“Wasn’t there another issue to where, um, having an EDA lets you use kind of the resources across the whole city rather than a particular project at a time, wasn’t there? Didn’t you say something about that?”

Following up on a potential broader application of EDA resources.

“In an effort to get more community involvement, I would like to propose, maybe we work with Miss Costello to expand the charter of some of our standing commissions, like planning and potentially Dick to say, add a language that might speak to, um, taking into account the the needs and requirements of the HRA of the business community, because all those meetings are public right now, they already have public input possibilities.”

Suggesting a method to increase community involvement in the EDA process.

“I think this is a needed step for Golden Valley. So I wanted to come on council. I’ve been pushing us to this point in time, but really, this is another step of adding tools, toolbox.”

Stating support for the EDA establishment as a necessary step.

“And so the work that we’ve done in the last couple of years of really getting our housing side to kind of ramp up the economic on the side because it helped need proving tax base, helps keep property tax lower. People keep seeing their homes. And as well as also open to a chance for mixed use development or what HRA would have been kind of we’re in a gray zone where can help commercial and housing, but this can open that door.”

Connecting housing initiatives with economic development benefits.

“So I really want to kind of really encourage that path forward of having, you know, those kind of, you know, either going to be a standing group of of, you know, business leaders in the community to meet with the city. Um, and give input, especially when you look at projects and things like that, or redevelopment as well.”

Advocating for a formal channel for business community input.

“It’s all about connection. Right. And collaborating. And we can’t do that by ourselves. We represent a city, and it’s very important to have city input. And, um, the city are our residents as well as our, our businesses, our constituents. So, um, I’m all supportive of being able to hear that voice. Um, at the table.”

Emphasizing the importance of collaboration and diverse input.