The District 1 Community Council has been working for several years with other Saint Paul district councils to find and put into place "best practices" for engaging ALL of our residents in the work we do. Historically, certain of our communities have not had a place at the table when decisions about their lives have been made. In 2014 several councils, including District 1, held cross-cultural dialogues to identify action steps each council wanted to take separately, and together, to make our City more inclusive. In 2015 we put into place those action steps, some of which are outlined below. We continue to use the dialogue process as a way to build trust and understanding among us. In 2016, District 1 developed its new mission, vision and values that focused on racial equity. In 2017 we will be leading other district councils in the development of equity plans for each of our organizations.

Community/City Dialogues

In 2015 we held dialogues between police and youth of color, between community members and the Parks Dept, and between City Planners and district councils to assure racial equity was central to these interactions.

Community Gatherings

Our August gathering focuses on the diversity of cultures in our neighborhoods and other gatherings and activities celebrate the history and assets we have to share with each other.

Youth Activities

Our Youth programming focuses on engaging young people in taking action around creating the type of neighborhood that serves all our community's needs and desires.