Taking specific and meaningful action to advance racial equity in MSP

As leaders and members in the Minneapolis – St. Paul startup, tech and business community, we are deeply saddened and outraged by the senseless murder of George Floyd by four Minneapolis Police Department officers. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and community as they grieve and seek justice.

This and other actions, such as the racial profiling of black entrepreneurs by a white investor, witnessed in our community this week are not new occurrences. They are symptoms of the deep institutional and systemic racism that plagues our region, state, and nation. This racism is intentional, structural, and has deep roots in Minnesota and across our country. Redlining, housing and lending policies, economic instability, unequal access to education and healthcare, and racist policing practices are just a few examples woven into the fabric of our region.

Despite the efforts of many in our community who work tirelessly to combat these injustices, Minnesota ranks 45th among 50 states in racial integration, with massive racial wealth & education gaps contributing to the unequal treatment of Black people, Indigenous people, and all people of color.

As the Forge North coalition worked in recent months to establish bold 3-year goals for our startup, tech and business community, we heard a clear call to explicitly highlight racial equity as a top priority for our startup ecosystem.

This statement serves to reaffirm our commitment as a coalition, but we cannot stop there. We must take intentional action. The problem solvers in our startup and business community must build systems centered in equity, where Black, Indigenous, and people of color have equal access to the same wealth-building opportunities of their white neighbors.

We are calling on the Minneapolis – St. Paul startup, tech and business community to be leaders of change by pledging to take specific and meaningful action to advance our stated goal of racial equity across our community. Examples of ways to take action include but are not limited to:

• Shift spending and partnership opportunities to BIPOC-owned companies as demonstrated by organizations like Lunar Startups and MEDA.
• Analyze your company’s equity policies and practices with partners like Team Dynamics and Center for Economic Inclusion.
• Overhaul hiring, promotional, board membership, and ownership practices with an equity lens and priority for BIPOC leadership with help from partners like 26 Letters, Rae Mackenzie Group and The Forum on Workplace Inclusion.
• Publicly champion, mentor, and open doors for diverse entrepreneurs and their teams alongside organizations like GRAVETI, The Coven and TECHQUITY.
• Support community organizations helping small businesses rebuild, such as Lake Street Council, Northside Funders Group and Midway United, and ask that your funds be directed to BIPOC owners.

By signing on to this letter, you are pledging to take specific and meaningful action to build an inclusive startup community and advance racial equity across the Minneapolis – St. Paul region.

*This statement was drafted by the Forge North Leadership Council and leaders from a number of local entrepreneurial support organizations. Signatories will be provided a number of opportunities to engage with Forge North on future projects and opportunities to take action.

Forge North has partnered with Team Dynamics to host a series of sessions in February 2021 focused on culture, identity and equity in startups. The 4-part series will explore why culture and identity matter, the importance of handbook and hiring policy review, and how to turn tools into action. Please sign the pledge to receive an invitation or email meg.steuer@greatermsp.org for more information.

Partners in this Effort

• Pedro Medina, Haystack DataSolutions, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Silvia, Trade Center of theAmericas, Minneapolis
• Megan Mahn Miller, Mahn MillerCollective, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Rob Scarlett, Venn Foundation, St.Paul, Minnesota
• Nhi, Coconut Whisk,
• Jeni Ellick, Artisan Row, Minneapolis
• Lauren Pradhan
• Barry Gisser
• Shehla Mushtaq, Collectivity, St.Paul, MN
• Shehla Mushtaq, Interfaith Circle,
• Mary Caulfield, Total Tool Supply,Inc., St. Paul, MN
• Fredrick Blocton, UpNetTechnologies, Minneapolis MN
• Caleb Brunz, Paul DavisRestoration, Saint Paul, MN
• Danny Nelson, PFM Asset ManagementLLC, Minneapolis, MN
• Lauren Hunter, MinnesotaDepartment of Human Services, St. Paul, Minnesota
• David Manuel, Red Lake NationEconomic Development and Planning, Red Lake, Minnesota
• Tori Boye'r, WomenUnited/ADOS/1fam1comm, twin Cities
• Nancy Hope, JT Mega, Minneapolis, MN
• Grant Henry, Brio Marketing, Minneapolis,MN
• Emma Tuftin, Brio Marketing, Minneapolis,MN
• Matt Geiser, Tin Roof Collective, SaintPaul, MN
• Dalton Scott
• Anna Klombies, Total Expert, St.Louis Park, MN
• Brad Lehrman, MOJO MN, Minneapolis
• Kathryn tunheim, TUNHEIM, Bloomington,MN
• Erin Walsh, Spark & StitchInstitute, Minneapolis, MN
• Allison Hohn, Grow North, Minneapolis,MN
• Matt Meents, Yardstik, Minneapolis,MN
• Mandy Meisner, Anoka CountyCommissoner, Fridley, MN
• Steve & Krista Aspinwall, KASAFamily Foods, Twin Cities, MN
• Cathy Connett, Sofia Fund, StPaul, MN
• Christopher Nelson, Instructiv GBC,St Paul, MN
• Kenyon Barnette Bloomington, MN
• Karin McCabe, McGough Construction,Roseville MN
• Luis Moreno, TCBPN, Twin Cities,MN
• Steph Peters, WellRoo, Minneapolis,MN
• Tim Herby, Daugherty BusinessSolutions, Bloomington, Minnesota
• Lindsey Hillesheim, SkylarkScience, Minneapolis
• Brian Smoliak, Weathervane Labs, Minneapolis,MN
• Libby Doran, Doran LeadershipPartners, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Rob Rodriguez, Andcor, Wayzata MN
• James Hill, Student advocate, Hopkins,MN
• Uzma Samadani Wayzata MN
• Katie Kalkman, Impact Hub MSP, Minneapolis,MN
• Ernest Grumbles, Grumbles Law PLLC,Saint Paul MN
• Lisa Crump, Sofia Fund/CairnVentures, Minnetonka, MN
• Joy Lindsay, Sofia Fund/ StarTecInvestments, Minneapolis, MN
• Ann Holder, Odonata Health, Oakdale,MN
• Diana Purcel
• Ken Scheible, Feet First Events, Oakland,CA
• Susan Larson, LarsonCommunications, Minneapolis
• Ryan Kroening, Events by Lady K, Minneapolis,MN
• Peter Frosch, GREATER MSP, SaintPaul, MN
• Michaela Dean, UMN, Carlson Schoolof Management, Minneapolis, MN
• Nick VanWagner, OurFamilyWizard, Minneapolis,MN
• Travis Smith, SportsEngine, Minneapolis,MN
• Jess Stalbaum Eden Prairie, MN
• Andrew Gamson
• brian bell, SportsEngine, Minneapolis,MN
• Tyler Olson, SHYLD Academy, Minneapolis,MN
• Keith Quiring, Inspire11, Minneapolis,Minnesota
• Alex Haar, Parsyl,
• Michael Webster, SecurianFinancial, Saint Paul, MN
• Priya Morioka, Global LanguageConnections, Minneapolis, MN
• Y. Elaine Rasmussen, Social ImpactStrategies Group, Saint Paul
• Russell Fraenkel, MinnesotaAspirations in Computing (MNAiC), St. Paul, Minnesota
• Angela Gustafson, Gustola Granola,Minneapolis, MN
• Brian Gustafson Minneapolis, MN
• Malissa Adams, The DiversityInstitute, Minneapolis MN
• Malissa Adams, Stanton AdamsConsulting LLC, Minneapolis MN
• Bailey Johnson, Impact Hub MSP, Minneapolis,MN
• Robyn Bruggeman Minneapolis, MN
• Sarah Hill, Target Accelerators, Minneapolis,MN
• Suzie Stegic, Morgan MaeProperties, Minneapolis MN
• Justin Kaufenberg, Rally Ventures,Minneapolis, MN
• Jina Penn-Tracy, Centered Wealth, Minneapolis,MN
• Geoff Engelhart, Inspire11, Minneapolis,Minnesota
• Jeff Lin, Bust Out, Minneapolis,MN
• Jonathan Banks, NCXT, Minneapolis,MN
• Dale F. Weeks, Global Leadershipand Benchmarking Associates, Minneapolis, MN
• Timi Ogundipe, Safe Resell, SaintPaul, Minnesota
• Aneela Idnani, HabitAware, Minneapolis,MN
• Renee Powers, Feminist Book Club, Minneapolis,MN
• Laurie Healy, Self-employed, Lakeville,MN
• Jade Barker, Silicon PrairiePortal and Exchange, St. Paul, MN
• Amanda LaGrange, Tech Dump/TechDiscounts, St Paul, MN
• Teague Orgeman, Starting 11, Minneapolis,MN
• Charles Hackerson, Siteimprove, Minneapolis,MN
• Jake Smith, gener8tor, St. Paul
• Abbey Godlewski, Bank of America, Minneapolis,MN
• Cathy Paper, RockPaperStar, Minneapolis,Minnesota
• Mary Pat Blake, Blake StrategicConsulting, LLC, Minnetonka
• Rebecca Nash, Nash ExecutiveSearch, Minneapolis, MN
• Peter Bohacek, Pivot InteractivesSBC, Afton, MN
• Orri Gudmundsson, Siteimprove, Minneapolis,MN
• Amy Zaroff, Amy Zaroff Events +Design, Minnetonka, Minnesota
• JJ Hale Maple Grove, MN
• David Rassat, Attiture LLC, Minneapolis,MN
• Emily Pritchard, The Social Lights,Minneapolis,MN
• Christine Fruechte, Colle McVoy, Minneapolis,MN
• Karmen, Magenic, Plymouth, MN
• Craig Brityon, Britton MarketingGroup, Minneapolis, MN
• Eleanor Wayzata, MN
• Toni Oberto Minneapolis, MN
• Bruce Langer, EPIQ Partners, Minneapolis,MN
• Will Schnabel, Yotpo, Minneapolis,MN
• C'pher Gresham, SEED SPOT,
• Brad Kult, HGA, Minneapolis, MN
• Louis Garcia, Media Garcia, SaintPaul, MN
• Reed Thompson, Goat Consulting, Minneapolis,Minnesota
• Torben Rytt, Siteimprove, Minneapolis,MN
• Mike Carlson, Siteimprove Inc, Minneapolis,MN
• Anne Kitchen, Target Accelerators,Minneapolis, MN
• Brian Krohn, Modern Logic, Minneapolis,Minnesota
• Liz Carraro St. Paul, MN
• Quinn Kiley, Target Accelerators, Minneapolis,MN
• Jeff Tollefson, MinnesotaTechnology Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Stacy Marquardt, TargetAccelerators, Minneapolis, MN
• Will Tjernlund, Goat Consulting, Minneapolis,MN
• Anders Victor, GREATER MSP, St.Paul, MN
• Lisa Lokken, Home Share Connection,Duluth
• Brett Carter
• Lars Leafblad, Ballinger Leafblad,Saint Paul, MN
• Courtney Ready, TargetAccelerators, Minneapolis, MN
• Patrick Pelischek, ITA Group, Wayzata,MN
• Barbara Wetzel, United BusinessMail, Minneapolis, MN
• Takashi, Indie Do Good, Minneapolis,MN
• Hannah Roeder, Target Accelerators,Minneapolis, MN
• Justine Santa Cruz, TargetAccelerators, Minneapolis, MN
• Eliza O'Brien Wayzata, MN
• Madelin Snyder, Tin RoofCollective,
• Margaret Sines
• Eric Kijak Minneapolis, MN
• Charlie Youakim, Sezzle, Minneapolis,MN
• Jim McDonough Jr., Ph.D., The ParkTheater Company, St. Louis Park MN
• Steve Grove, Department ofEmployment & Economic Development, MN, Minneapolis, MN
• Lynne Osterman, MGP, New Hope, MN
• Benjamin Q Ihde Minneapolis, MN
• Anisha Murphy, Just Law LLC, Minneapolis,MN
• Lucienne Olson, Revival Training, StPaul, MN
• Andrew Felbinger, Urban InnovationFund,
• Diana Flotten, West MonroePartners, Minneapolis, MN
• Kathy Zeman, Minnesota Farmers'Market Association, Nerstrand MN - statewide
• Paul Gieser, Isern BiotechnoogyLLC, Oakdale, MN
• Michelle Maryns, We Sparkle Co., SaintPaul, Minnesota
• Sam Morantz Minneapolis, MN
• Ken Morris, KnectIQ Inc., Roseville,MN
• Natalie Paquet, Mediator withconflict resolution center, Saint Paul
• Kegan Zimmermann, University ofMinnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• Jason Breen, Target Accelerators, Eagan,MN
• Judd Grutman, Vonzella, Minneapolis
• Scott D Cole, Collectivity, SaintPaul, MN
• Tanmay Agarwal, Atland Ventures, Minneapolis,MN
• Kevin Sullivan, Sullivan, Ltd, Woodbury,MN
• Duane Rollins, SEED SPOT, Washington,DC
• Tammy Mann, Harmony Cricket Farm, GoldenValley, MN
• Dr. Chris Brooks, Brown VentureGroup, Minneapolis, MN
• todd marshall, Loan Doctor, StPaul, MN
• Kara O'Brien, She Rocks Research, Wayzata,MN
• Susan Burns, Susan Burns LLC, StPaul, MN
• Beth Minneapolis
• stephanie sommer, Ms., St. Paul
• John Bergstrom, RiverPointInvestments, Saint Paul, MN
• Brett Brohl
• Bharat Pulgam, Pikup, Minneapolis,MN
• Mynul Khan, Field Nation, Minneapolis,MN
• Zack Steven, Cloudburst, SBC, Minneapolis,MN
• Sairey Gernes, UrbanUndercover& TowelTopper, St. Paul, Minnesota
• Rajiv Shah, MyMeds, Minneapolis,MN
• Sara Dziuk, Junior Achievement ofthe Upper Midwest, St. Paul, MN
• Gina Blayney, Junior Achievementof the Upper Midwest, St. Paul, MN
• Gregg Mast, Clean Energy EconomyMinnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• Jay Johnson, Small Lot Wine, Minneapolis,MN
• Brett Carter, Xcel Energy, Minneapolis,MN
• Lee Jones, Rebiotix/Ferring, Roseville,MN
• Sergio Navas, Simply Drones LLC, Minneapolis,MN
• Chad Halvorson, When I Work, Minneapolis,MN
• Erin Mies, People Spark Consulting,Maple Grove, MN
• Susan K Otten, OttenAssociates/Indie Do Good, Chanhassen, MN
• Tony Lusiba, Upvant, Saint Paul,MN
• Tamara Prato Saint Paul, MN
• Mary Rick, Full Stack Saint Paul, SaintPaul, MN
• Steve Wellvang, EdNorth, Minneapolis,MN
• Anisha Murphy, CommunityReinvestment Fund, Minneapolis, MN
• Stephanie Rich, The Syndicate Fund,Minneapolis, MN
• Lauren Pradhan
• Damola Ogundipe, Civic Eagle, St.Paul, MN
• Eri, Collective.ly Digital, Minneapolis,MN
• Katrina Becker, FINNOVATION Lab, Minneapolis,MN
• Amanda Heyman, Starting 11 Inc., Minneapolis,MN
• Atif Siddiqi, Branch, Minneapolis,MN
• Caroline N Karanja, 26 Letters |Hack the Gap, Minneapolis, MN
• Alex West Steinman, The Coven, St.Paul, MN
• Pat Dillon, MNSBIR, Minneapolis
• Connie Rutledge, FINNOVATION Lab, Minneapolis,MN
• Casey Shultz, BETA, Saint Paul, MN
• Diane Rucker, UniversityEnterprise Labs, St. Paul, MN
• Brennan Townley, Collaboration.Ai,Minneapolis, MN
• Kowsar D. Mohamed, City of SaintPaul, Saint Paul, MN
• Melissa Kjolsing, Recovree, St.Paul, Minnesota
• Jessica Berg, MN Cup, Minneapolis,MN
• John Tedesco, Drip, Minneapolis,MN
• Ashleyn Przedwiecki, SocialEnterprise MSP, Minneapolis St Paul, MN
• Scott Burns, Structural, SaintPaul, MN
• Stephannie Lewis, Greater TwinCities United Way, Minneapolis, MN
• Maria Ploessl, Minnestar, St Paul,MN
• Amy Langer, SALO, LLC, Minneapolis,MN
• Lily Shaw, Startup Space, St.Paul, MN
• Adam Choe, Yonder, Minnesota
• Mary Grove, Silicon North Stars, Minneapolis,MN
• Sam Ndely, Graveti, Minneapolis,MN
• Matt Lewis, GREATER MSP, Minneapolis,MN
• Meg Steuer, GREATER MSP, St. Louis Park, MN

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