This Wednesday, May 25, marks the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. There are several events planned in the Twin Cities this week with most occurring in Minneapolis. There is one event currently planned for St. Paul which will be on the afternoon of the 25th, at the Governor's residence on Summit Avenue. Reflecting on these last two years, highlighted by Floyd’s murder and also so many others before and since, requires that we consider lessons learned within the context of their lives, the conditions around them, and whether or not there was fairness in the systems in their lives as there was for people who have more privileged lives. If anything, my learning has deepened my grief. The Center for Public Integrity last week published a piece on George Floyd’s life, shaped by racism, that “tells an American story.” A worthy read. The question: what has changed? Minnesota, a state known for its progressive politics and economic opportunity, has become the ugly epicenter of an American reckoning on race and justice. An article by The Washington Post tells us that two years after Floyd’s death, “Black Minnesotans say little has changed.” I can’t deny that reality; that said, I am seeing commitment to change: funding, policy, and – most important to my mind – heart changes. Most recently, 25+ corporate, civic, and philanthropic leaders launched the GroundBreak Coalition to deploy $2 billion of capital around MSP towards BIPOC entrepreneurship and other key areas. Time will tell; “hopeful skepticism” still abounds. Lest we forget: our continued response must be grounded in authentic, proactive change. See you in the trenches. B
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Happy sunshine - happy warm weather – happy face time with friends! Several years ago I read a book by Edgar Schein, The Art of Humble Inquiry. The book has stayed with me, and I strive to follow its lessons. Today, more than ever before, the art of humble inquiry is a critical skill. Humble Inquiry asks questions. We are in a culture that loves talking, loves telling. We need to learn to ask better questions because we operate in an increasingly complex, interdependent, and culturally diverse world. We couldn't possibly understand what others in the room know. Asking rather than telling invites people in. Fundamentally, asking empowers the other person and makes me vulnerable and available and, for that moment, even more approachable. Humble Inquiry requires authenticity. You ask questions because you genuinely are interested and curious. You can't fake this - if you are disingenuous, it will only work for a short while. Humble Inquiry is even more important when all involved parties need to do the right thing, to be connected on the same mission. In my work, especially in a political environment, good relations and reliable communication across hierarchical borders is crucial. “Here and now" humility is our awareness that we are dependent on others to accomplish something we are committed to. And Humble Inquiry challenges me to overcome the belief that, "if you're not winning, you're losing." It takes a lot of growing to stop telling - and start asking. Steven Covey echoes a similar sentiment in his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” See you in the trenches. B
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I hope the weekend was good for you, that you had the opportunity to thank a woman in your life – or maybe your loved ones celebrated you? – for the gift of motherhood. I had a special dinner with my two adult children, and I know that I am, indeed, blessed among women. So….. Invest: Insights interviewed me as part of their focus on the GreaterMSP region in 2022. My interview was focused on Creativity. I watched it today, and I am proud of the work we’re doing to grow and partner creatively. Our mission, our reason for existing, is to champion our diverse employer community for an economically vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive region. And it all starts with creating connections that count. Some of the leading requires that we challenge ourselves, embrace new ideas, course correct, and sometimes we need to outright change. You can watch the entire interview here. The week, amidst all going on in your life, don’t miss Wild vs Blues on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Our team is SHOWING UP, and the series has been terrific. Be sure to show the home team some love… See you in the trenches. B
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Another departure from B’s Blog this week so that your Chamber Team can highlight Small Business Week and our Young Professionals Network. The St. Paul Area Chamber represents the largest and the smallest companies within the region – and country. We care deeply about small business and young professional growth because through both we see the future. Now is the time to invest in each, particularly as we recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. You’ll see more representation for both -- on our board, in our work and at our gatherings -- and we hope to engage you every step of the way. Growing Leaders Last week we joined our partners from the Dakota County, River Heights, and Woodbury Area Chambers for a gathering of Young Professionals from across the East Metro Region at the Minnesota Vikings Museum. As we welcome record numbers to these intentional gatherings at great new places and spaces, we are reminded how important our role is in building a stronger community by connecting people who might not cross paths without the Chamber.
We can’t say it enough -- by making space at the table for new faces and businesses, we are building an economically vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive region. If you’re a small business or young professional in the East Metro Region, we’ve got a place for you. We are working together to create casual and easy conversations, and making meeting new people easy, comfortable, and fun! If you’re a Chamber member, make sure your young professionals know they can take advantage of your Chamber benefits too and encourage them to keep updated by subscribing to our Young Professionals newsletter. From small business and Young Professional specific events to meeting and connecting a new network at all Chamber events, we’re here to help grow leaders, grow roots to strengthen our community. We know our network of businesses who come together to collaborate on and promote the interests of their businesses can be an invaluable resource for advice and we look forward to growing these efforts. Watch for new programming like our addition of Golf 101 to our Chamber Golf Classic and other innovative ways to make space at the table. See more great photos here and please join us at our Home Run Lunch with the Minnesota Twins on May 13 or our next Chamber Connect event. See you in the trenches, Your Chamber Team Last October Todd Axtell announced his decision to step down from his position as Police Chief of the City of St. Paul. This past Thursday, almost 200 people gathered to give Chief Axtell a fantastic send-off (most assuredly just one of many), marking the conclusion of his 33-year career. Saying goodbye to the Chief, wishing him well in future endeavors, was bittersweet. Ever an inclusive, people-first leader, Chief Axtell embodies the essence of our well-respected police force: “trusted service with respect.” He will be missed. The event was at times funny, touching, poignant. He was honored by friends and colleagues, thanked most sincerely by the Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, teased playfully by former Mayor Chris Coleman. He was congratulated by former Chiefs Harrington and Smith, and retired City Councilmembers and police officers Debbie Montgomery and Dan Bostrom, the latter who was Axtell’s boss many years ago on the force. When it was his turn to speak, even then – on a day celebrating him - Axtell turned his comments towards the police department members, both sworn and unsworn, thanking them for their dedication. Back in October Axtell offered thoughts on his departure, and they echoed for me on Thursday. He said, “I’ve learned from those I admire that when you possess the heart of a public servant, you never stop trying to make a positive difference in the lives of your neighbors.” Indeed. Since he took the helm in 2016, Axtell ushered in changes and lived by his commitment for ever-increased transparency and accountability. He encouraged historic levels of community engagement, and was committed to diversifying the department and embracing innovative ideas that can help people stay out of the criminal justice system. Some key examples include: under Axtell’s leadership, the SPPD initiated the expansion of its training program to include crisis intervention training for all officers, Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) training, moral courage training, de-escalation and disengagement training, and use of force training that emphasizes reductions in injuries to subjects and officers. The SPPD also established the Law Enforcement Career Path Academy (LECPA), focused on recruiting diverse adults between the ages of 18-24 who reside in Saint Paul and come from a low-income family or who face a barrier to employment. The 2019 SPPD Academy class included the first LECPA graduates, helping to make it the most diverse class in the history of the department—30 of the 39 graduates were women and/or BIPOC. This has helped diversify the SPPD ranks; at the end of 2020, 28 percent of officers were BIPOC, compared to 18 percent just four years earlier. In addition, in March of 2021, Chief Axtell signed the 30x30 pledge, to work towards increasing the number of female recruits at SPPD to 30 percent by 2030. Another example of innovation can be found in the SPPD’s Community Outreach and Stabilization Unit (COAST), which is a program based on two nationally recognized police mental health collaborative best practices—a co-responder program and a case management program. The unit, which was originally launched in 2016 to focus on mental health calls, has expanded over the past couple years to include a chemical dependency program and a homeless/un-sheltered outreach program. It is a shining example of what can be accomplished when communities, social service providers and police departments work together to address emerging issues in innovative ways. These changes and many others have helped to make the Saint Paul Police Department a model for excellence in policing. Axtell wrote to the department’s officers last October that they’ve “taken what those who came before us built and made it stronger. You’ve watched over St. Paul through unprecedented unrest,” he wrote to them. “You’ve responded to human tragedies that our community has never before experienced. You’ve worked longer hours with fewer colleagues and never stopped being there for the people in the throes of life’s worst moments. And you’ve done it all under glaring and often harsh scrutiny. I’m so incredibly proud of all of you.” The same can be said about you, Todd. We are better for your service, and are deeply grateful for your commitment to service and to our city. On a side note: St. Paul has named a police chief selection committee. I applied and was accepted on the committee. Meetings will begin in late May/early June. I’ll keep you all posted on the progress. See you in the trenches. B
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