MINNEAPOLIS, MN — On December 2, the Hennepin County Board’s Administration, Operations and Budget Committee unanimously approved a resolution to establish a Reparative Justice Research Task Force, a bold and historic step toward addressing the county’s legacy of racial injustice. The measure, co-authored by Commissioners Angela Conley and Marion Greene, is expected to receive final approval at the full board meeting on December 11. 

The task force will be charged with conducting a comprehensive historical analysis of Hennepin County’s role in racially discriminatory policies and practices, including housing covenants, exclusionary zoning, unequal access to public services, and more. It will focus on the enduring impacts of slavery, segregation, redlining, and systemic racism on Black and Indigenous communities. 

“This is a necessary and courageous step toward acknowledging past harms and building a more equitable future,” said Commissioner Conley. “Reparative justice is about meaningful accountability and responsibility. It’s about repairing the harm caused by policies rooted in racism—and doing so with intention, research, and community voice.” 

The task force will report to the county’s Race Equity Advisory Council (REAC) and will partner with academic institutions and community historians. Its work will inform community-driven recommendations in areas such as housing restitution, educational investment, economic development, and direct compensation. 

The resolution directs the County Administrator to work with REAC to establish the task force’s membership and meeting schedule by December 31, 2026. Findings will be included in REAC’s annual report to the Board of Commissioners. 

Commissioner Conley added, “This is not just about studying the past. It’s about actionable steps to repair harm and create a future where equity is not aspirational, but real.” 

The Reparative Justice Research Task Force will be one of the first of its kind at the county level in the United States, joining a growing national movement of local governments exploring reparations and racial justice initiatives.