Welcoming Communities Assessment - New Ulm, Springfield and Sleepy Eye

Key findings

• Community participants completed a total of 223 assessments: 79 assessments for Sleepy Eye,  78 assessments for Springfield, and 66 assessments for New Ulm. Some participants may have completed assessments for more than one sector.
• In Sleepy Eye: The school system sector appears to be on the leading edge of inclusion efforts, but has made less progress in sharing power and promoting inclusion through policies and practices.
• In Springfield: The health care system, non-profit organizations and religious organizations sectors appear to be on the leading edge of inclusion efforts, but have made less progress in developing policies and practices. 
• In New Ulm: The health care system sector appears to be on the leading edge of inclusion efforts for all dimensions, including policies and practices.
• Overall, many sectors for all three communities are at least slight to moderately aware of and engaging for inclusion. However, there has been less progress in developing policies and practices.

 

About this report

In November 2019, participants from New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, and Springfield, Minnesota participated in the Welcoming Communities Assessment to document community strengths and weaknesses related to diversity and inclusion efforts. We defined inclusion as efforts to unite people and remove barriers to equal opportunity and responsibility in both community and life.

While our focus for this project was on inclusion based on race or immigrant status, we did not exclusively focus on race, because race intersects with other ways of excluding based on gender, disability status, income/class, religion, or sexual preference/identity. Each assessment examined six aspects of inclusion in seven sectors of community life. Some participants may have completed assessments for more than one sector.

Aspects of inclusion

1. Awareness of the importance of inclusion
2. Engagement of diverse groups in community activities
3. Resources to address inclusion
4. Leadership energy to promote inclusion
5. Sharing power in planning and decision-making
6. Policies and practices that promote inclusion

Sectors of community life

1. The school system
2. The health care system
3. Law enforcement
4. Non-profit organizations
5. Business community
6. Local government
7. Religious organizations

Read welcoming assessment reports for each community using the below links.

Sleepy Eye's report Springfield's report New Ulm's report