Regina Neville, a 25-year Edina resident, shared her personal story of racial awareness and growth during a recent city presentation, reflecting on her evolution from a homogeneous Iowa upbringing to active anti-racism work in her adopted community.

Neville described her early experiences with what she now recognizes as microaggressions, including a childhood memory of family members making comments about Black basketball players from Waterloo, Iowa. She said the experience left her feeling uncomfortable, though she lacked the vocabulary at the time to understand why.

The resident traced her journey through various stages of racial awareness, including her college years in New Jersey in the 1980s and her initial belief in "colorblind" approaches to addressing racial issues. She referenced debates between theater director Robert Brewstein and playwright August Wilson about colorblind casting, saying the discussions helped her realize there was "not a right way" but rather multiple approaches to consider.

Neville credited Edina's Anti-racism Collective with providing "a safe space to share and collectively try to do better," emphasizing the importance of intentional learning and unlearning. She noted the organization partners with EAA and works to include diverse voices in community conversations about race and equity.

Praising Edina's willingness to engage in difficult conversations, Neville said the city council "is willing to ask the questions and recognize that there may not be answers." She expressed optimism about younger generations, saying they demonstrate greater comfort with racial conversations and "are willing to call things out," adding that she continues learning from them.