During his weekly Mayor's Minute address on October 1, Hovland unveiled a collaboration between the city and Edina High School, where students are currently performing the musical 'Mean Girls.' The initiative asks community members to participate in 'Wear Pink Wednesdays' as a visible show of support against bullying.

The mayor drew connections between themes in the popular musical — fitting in, peer pressure, and online rumors — and challenges facing the broader community. 'Beneath the laughs, Mean Girls carries important messages about the dangers of bullying, the importance of kindness, and the value of being true to yourself and your friends,' Hovland said.

Beyond wearing pink, the mayor outlined specific actions residents can take to foster a kinder community. He encouraged people to offer compliments, tip service workers more generously, and make an effort to recognize neighbors by name. City Hall staff will participate in the Wear Pink initiative, and local business Jerry's is joining the effort by offering pink sprinkled donuts.

'Let's keep making our town a little bit better place every single day,' Hovland said.

The announcement was informational and did not require a council vote. National Bullying Prevention Month is observed each October across the United States to raise awareness about bullying and promote kindness in schools and communities.