Hopkins Race & Equity Initiative

About the Hopkins Race & Equity Initiative

The Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative (HREI) is a collaborative effort creating opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of race, equity and diversity and promoting a sense of community that welcomes and values all residents. Partnering organizations include:

  • The City of Hopkins
  • The Gethsemane Lutheran Church
  • The Hopkins Public Schools
  • The Police Department

Read more about Race Equity in Hopkins.

Members:

Alex Fisher, Director of Community Education and Engagement Hopkins Public Schools 

Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager - Hopkins 

Bill Wells, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Consultant

Brent Johnson, Police Chief

Donna Anderson, Gethsemane Church

Dre Jefferson, Hopkins Public Schools District Facilities Use Coordinator

Erik Husevold, Captain Hopkins Police

Pastor John Nelson, Gethsemane Church

Julia Ross, Joint Community Police Program Community Liaison - Hopkins Police

Kersten Elverum, Director of Economic Development and Planning - Hopkins

PeggySue Imihy, Management Analyst Hopkins

Pastor Sarah Moat, Gethsemane Church

Stanley Brown, Equity and Inclusion Director Hopkins Public Schools


Upcoming Events

Community Event  -  Not Your Model Minority: The Histories and Realities of Anti-Asian Racism

Wednesday, July 21 7 - 8 pm Gethsemane Lutheran Church

Two students from the University of MN will engage in candid conversation about societal and personal experiences of anti-Asian racism. They will examine historical and contemporary issues that Asian Americans face,  and ways that individuals can stand in solidarity and support marginalized communities.Photos of Haruka Yukioka and Saulkdi Yagnh

Haruka Yukioka (they/them) has been involved in the Asian-American student union and is on the social justice committee of the Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League.

 Saulkdi Yangh (he/him) is an advocate for those who are displaced and works for transformative justice. He leads processing circles to engage in critical conversations about community organizing and care and healing from past traumas.


Previous Event Recordings

Our videos can be found on our Facebook Page or Youtube Channel. 

HREI Town Hall Forum Community Policing Today


Join the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative for a virtual conversation on policing in our local communities, featuring a panelist discussion moderated by Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Bill Wells. 

Panelists include: 

Brent Johnson, Hopkins Police Chief

Mike Harcey, St. Louis Park Police Chief

Scott Boerboom, Minnetonka Police Chief

HREI Presents Jim Crow of the North - September 9, 2020

Join HREI for a special screening and discussion of the TPT documentary, "Jim Crow of the North", revealing the history and impact of racist real estate covenants in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The Conversation also includes discussion on the future and affordable housing. 

Panel discussion moderated by Bill Wells featuring: 

- Dan Bergin, Producer, Jim Crow of the North;

- Dr. Kirsten Delegard, Project Director, Mapping Prejudice Project;

- Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Economic Development City of Hopkins

Racial Disparities: [Not] In my Neighborhood?! - June 29, 2020

Join the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative for a virtual conversation on racial dispartities in West Metro neighborhoods, featuring a panelist discussion moderated by Bill Wells.  

Panelists include: 

- Al Nuness, Para Professional and Director, Invictus Leadership Group

- Bishop David E. Johnson, Senior Pastor, Grace Apostolic Church

- Kissy Coakley, City Council Member, City of Minnetonka

- Dr. Kirsten Delegard, Director/Co-Founder, Mapping Prejudice Project

- Julia Ross, Joint Community Police Partnership, Hopkins Police Department

- Astein K. Osei, Superintendent, St. Louis Park Public Schools

Give the Gift of a Better Community


For the past five years, various leaders from the Hopkins city, school and faith community have volunteered their time to bring to life the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative. They have taken on the challenging and delicate work of bringing our community together to learn and listen so that we can have honest and caring conversations around the issues of race and equity.

Hundreds of people have come together to learn why it is so hard to talk about race. To hear perspectives on white privilege, racial profiling, and the racism many people still face today.  

We are inviting you to join with us in supporting the work of building a better community, bringing more people together, and moving the needle to eradicate systemic racism in our institutions, our schools, our city and our community. This happens one conversation at a time.

All donations are managed by the City of Hopkins and are tax exempt.We greatly appreciate you partnership and your support.


For donation, please fill out the Hopkins Race & Equity Initiative Donation Form.

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Grants Awarded

The Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative recently awarded seven micro grants to fund programs designed to engage Hopkins students and community members in projects and activities that align with the initiative’s purpose and goals.

 More information about the awards is available here.

HREI Logo

Resources

  1. Culturally Responsive Books for Children and Elementatry Through Middle School (PDF)
  2. Hopkins Minnetonka Community Assessment (PDF)
  3. Resources on Race and Racism for Parents and Children (PDF)
  4. Talking About Race (PDF)
  5. Three Things You Can Do to Learn About White Privilege (PDF)

Past Events

  1. Let's Talk About Race Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed's Presentation 2018 (PDF)
  2. Lets Talk About Race Event Take Away Points (PDF)
  3. Lets Talk About Race in Hopkins Community Conversation Executive Summary (PDF)
  4. October 2016 Hopkins Community Forum - Is white Privilege Real or Imagine (PDF)