Diversity Council Wins Grant for Town Meeting Initiative

The Diversity Council was selected by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) to receive a $40,000 grant for the purpose of leading a Town Meeting Initiative.

The Town Meeting Initiatives are sponsored by SMIF to bring community members together, evaluate the assets of the community, set goals, and accomplish a project. Rochester’s Town Meeting Initiative will focus on the role of immigrants in the emerging workforce.

The Baby Boomers begin to retire this year. As this generation moves out of the workforce, natural population growth will not be enough to fill the gap. Much of the demand being created will be met by immigrants.

The demographic shift is already making itself felt. Between 2000 and 2004, immigrants accounted for 60% of workforce growth in Minnesota (State of MN Demographic Center).

So what will the Town Meeting Initiative DO? It begins with drawing together a leadership team comprised of established community leaders and emerging leaders from immigrant and refugee communities. This leadership team will organize community dialogue sessions and assist the dialogue groups in creating action plans.

Dialogue sessions will focus on the assets that immigrants bring to our workforce and to our community, with the intent of combating anti-immigrant sentiment.

The action plans will aim to ensure fair opportunities for immigrants to succeed in the workplace so that they can become self-sufficient.

Executive Director Kay Hocker says, “Long term we expect that our community will benefit economically as well as culturally and socially.”  Change is coming. Without immigration, there will not be enough workers to sustain a growing economy.

The Diversity Council’s goal is to help Rochester prepare for that change, to create a welcoming and inclusive community in which newcomers are enabled to contribute both economically and socially.

The Town Meeting Initiative will be coordinated by Education Program Manager Savita Katarya.  She may be reached at 507-282-9951 or at savitak@diversitycouncil.org.

1130 1/2 7th St NW, Suite 204 , Rochester, MN 55901 · Tel: 507.282.9951 · Fax: 507.282.9964 · info@diversitycouncil.org

Diversity...It's all about respect.