• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

New MN Office of Public Engagement Aims to Reduce Racial Job Disparities

3:37 PM | Tuesday, June 28, 2022

MN DEED Announces Launch of Office of Public Engagement 

A new state office aims to close economic gaps among communities of color. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced the new Office of Public Engagement during a press conference Tuesday in Brooklyn Park.

The new office will work in conjunction with organizations like ACER, a Brooklyn Park nonprofit that works to advance the needs of African immigrants. ACER hosted state officials for the announcement.

The Office of Public Engagement will also work to increase outreach to diverse communities that lag behind economically.

“It means coming out here at ACER to talk to the community in Brooklyn Park. It means going to north Minneapolis, it means going out to southern Minnesota and northern Minnesota to talk with our partners and our citizens about the work that they’re doing and what we can do to improve the services that we’re delivering to them,” said Marc Majors, DEED’s deputy commissioner of workforce development.

ACER: Job disparities grew during pandemic

Local agencies like ACER say job disparities grew significantly during the pandemic. Officials say even with the state’s low unemployment rate, which fell to a record low of 2 percent in May, communities of color are still grappling with finding good-paying jobs.

“Even though we have a low unemployment rate within our state, I’m not sure that people are really being connected with the right jobs that can pay them a livable wage where people can be able to make ends meet,” said Nelima Sitati Munene, executive director of ACER. “Our communities are still struggling.”

According to DEED officials, employment recovery has not been consistent for all Minnesotans. Black and Hispanic Minnesotans continue to experience higher unemployment rates than white Minnesotans. A 12-month moving average released by DEED put white unemployment at 2.6 percent compared to 6.9 percent for Blacks and 3.9 percent for Hispanics.

racial job disparities

Credit MN DEED/Note: these data points are a 12-month rolling average.

The new Office of Public Engagement will be in St. Paul. In addition to working to reduce racial job gaps, it will also seek to decrease gaps with veterans, persons with disabilities and regional employment disparities.

DEED will add the equivalent of 2.5 employees for a total of 3.5 to staff the new office. One of its focal points will be to increase language translation services for small business relief grant applications.

Maureen Ramirez, the director of the new office, says it will also work to increase its presence throughout the state by visiting cultural festivals and events.

“It’s kind of what like they say for campaign staff. You don’t want to have an office that’s too nice because the point is you’re supposed to be out and about,” said Ramirez.

The Office of Public Engagement can be reached at (651) 356-5423.


Also See: Veterans Express Employment Frustrations at Brooklyn Center Job Fair


 

Corey Bork, reporting

Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Champlin | Crystal | Golden Valley | Maple Grove | New Hope | Osseo | Plymouth | Robbinsdale | Rogers | Twin Cities | Wayzata

Related Stories

Newsmakers: ‘Culturally Responsive Mental Health Care’ Offered to Brooklyn Center Residents:  … Read More
Ex-Police Chief Sues Brooklyn Center, City Manager & Council Member:  Former Brooklyn Center… Read More
Robbinsdale’s Travail to Host Pop-Up Mexican Restaurant:  A pop-up restaurant is coming to… Read More
Opportunity Partners Offering Incentives to Fill Staffing Shortages:  Nearly every day, Linda-Mary… Read More
One Person Dead Following Brooklyn Park Apartment Fire:  One man is dead following a fire in a… Read More
Hennepin Tech, Northwest Tourism Partner on ‘World Flavors Culinary Tour’:  In Brooklyn Park and… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in