The Equity Committee meets on the first Monday of each month from 5:30-7:00pm via Zoom. Minutes from previous Committee meetings are available on our archives to read online.
The Equity Committee works on any and all projects of equity in the community. So far, the group has made great strides in a few areas:
Food Justice
A CURA/Humphrey School intern, Bettsy Hjelseth, completed a food report for St. Anthony Park that discovered huge food disparities. Our lower income residents are unable to access healthy and affordable foods. We are in the process of rectifying that disparity. The first step included rerouting donations from our community garden to stay within our own community. We continue this work through community meals and partnerships, including our partnership with Brightside, an organization that will bring fresh produce to corner stores in St. Anthony Park through a grant partnership with SAPCC.
Renter Advocacy
The Equity Committee has continued to build relationships with our renting neighbors through Community meals, discussion, and renter advocacy. We believe that all people have a right to safe, affordable, and sanitary homes in our community. The Equity committee partnered with HOMELINE and along with holding resident meetings where renters can share their experiences, get legal advice, and resources.
Education
The Equity Committee is committed to providing education on issues that matter in our community, whether it be food justice, affordable housing, housing insecurity, or racial injustice. We are committee to providing seminars, book and movie discussions, and open monthly meetings to discuss and educate our community about how to gain knowledge and use it to spark change in St. Anthony park.
2024 Equity Committee Goals
Goal #1
Foster coalition building to meet community needs within the district and across districts.
How might we do this?
- Quarterly Community Conversations – host meetings or events that connect community organizations with residents that can benefit from their work or expertise.
- Continue to partner with Brightside Produce to encourage community produce subscription and connect neighbors in need with pay-what-you-can options.
- Continued partnerships with the Community Garden delivering produce to the Seal Hi-Rise
- Community Meals and Festivals
- Support creative, approachable public events that bring awareness of diversity, equity, and advocacy opportunities in the community.
Goal #2
Actively recruit and broaden diversity on the Equity Committee so that we’re more representative of the neighborhood.
How might we do this?
- Make meetings more accessible.
- Make meetings more desirable to attend (open agendas and discussions, community meals before/after)
- Quarterly Community Conversations
- Conduct diversity, equity, and inclusion training among all SAPCC