Guest notes from Cyrenthia Jordan

Director, Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity

As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the gifts, talents, and sacrifice of our colleagues and individuals we lift up within the community. For resources and events, visit AsianPacificHeritage.gov.

Yet, it is painfully obvious that racial violence and trauma in our nation, state, and region continue to plague us. As we reel from yet another senseless act of hate, our hearts and thoughts are with the victims of this weekend’s mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, and their families and friends.

We should all be feeling the weight and urgency of the persistent racial and social disparities that have now been put on display countless times. I know folks are feeling overwhelmed, as this is not simply the work that some of us do – it is our lives. In these times, we must pause, recommit, and hold ourselves accountable, in both words and action.

Whether you believe we are in a movement, some of us have been keenly aware of racial injustices and disparities our entire lives while many others are beginning to grapple with the very real impact of race and racism. And make no mistake the impact is real and lasting for everyone. The layers have been peeled back for some time, and we cannot look away and wish for a return to normal.

At this time, and in our work, we have to be explicitly focused on the disparities experienced by Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color. Not because there aren’t other disparities or other groups don’t face oppression, but because in this country remnants of enslavement, genocide, and discrimination financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually have been occurring for centuries.

Unless, and until, we acknowledge that past and the impact it has on the present, there will continue to be injustices and disparities for all. It is with the boldness of not dismissing any experience that we can support each other in transformation.

Everyone has a role individually and collectively. We must engage in personal transformation. We have begun this work in partnership with the Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity, Learning and Organizational Development, and division staff across the Met Council through our education in racial equity training. Our efforts continue in every team, department, and office throughout the organization.

At the Met Council, we acknowledge that racial equity is both a process and outcome. It is challenging and a continuous journey. There are no easy fixes, boxes you check, or one-size-fits-all method. The Met Council is dedicated to providing learning opportunities and resources to become better informed on equity, the impact on our region, and how to work though these challenging times. View the Met Council’s central Equity site on MetNet for further information.

This work will require everyone together understanding that the roles and experiences are different. And it requires empathy, humility, understanding, and willingness to engage in uncomfortable conversations to grow.

Next month, we will roll out multi-factor authentication for the Citrix application for Met Council staff. Citrix enables users to remotely connect to the Met Council network.

With the increase in cyber-attacks, protecting ourselves from unauthorized access is critical. Multi-factor authentication, sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication, is a security enhancement that prompts you to verify your identity through a second method after logging into your account with your username and password. Examples of second factors include a code texted to your phone or a fingerprint on your mobile device.

We upgraded the software earlier this month from Citrix Receiver to Citrix Workspace in preparation for implementing multi-factor authentication.

This change will impact Met Council employees who are connecting to Citrix from outside the Met Council network (whether that is through a web browser or the Citrix app), as well as our regional providers and vendors. We will be asking staff who are the primary contacts for our vendors to help share this information with them.

Stay tuned for more details on this update in the coming weeks.

A special issue COVID-19 update email was sent May 16 and includes:

• If you test positive for COVID-19 or are sick, you must stay home from work. Telework if you can, or use paid time off or sick time.
• If you test positive, talk with your manager and notify any close contacts at work.
• Take care onsite – consider masking and distancing.

COVID-19 vaccination:

• Schedule an appointment at either of the Met Council's Well@Work clinics. COVID-19 vaccines are available on Mondays and Thursdays by appointment. Masks are required at all times in the clinics.
• Schedule an appointment at one of the state's Community Vaccination Program sites.
• Use the state's Vaccine Locator Map to search for vaccine providers in your area.
• Schedule an appointment on the HealthPartners COVID-19 site or M Health Fairview COVID-19 site.
• Schedule an appointment for a vaccine at a pharmacy near you with the CDC: VaccineFinder.
• For more information about the vaccine and how to find an appointment, visit the Minnesota Department of Health vaccine site.

COVID-19 testing:

• Walk in or schedule an appointment for a free test at one of the state’s COVID-19 Community Testing Sites across Minnesota.
• Order free at-home rapid test kits through the state's COVID-19 at-home rapid tests program.
• Order free at-home rapid tests through the United States Postal Service.
• Find a testing option near you through the state's Find Testing Locations map.
• If you have a HealthPartners medical plan, access testing through HealthPartners or get your over-the-counter at-home tests covered by insurance. 

Read the most recent bulletin (May 12), which includes:

• Employees should stay home if they are sick – and not just with COVID-19.
• Hotel cube reminders:
  • Check out the Hotel Cubes page for details, including reservation instructions.
  • You must reserve the hotel cube if you want to use it.
  • Hotel cube equipment must stay in the hotel cubes. Please do not move, swap, or take the equipment.
  • Hotel cube users can follow new instructions for adjusting display settings with hotel cube monitors (PDF). Also, please do not unplug monitors from hotel cube docking stations.
• Please share your experience with teleworking at the Met Council or the hybrid workplace and submit questions, concerns, or suggestions you have in the Teleworking Feedback form.
• Check out these key resources for important details on the transition period and teleworking: Telework Transition FAQ, Teleworking Hub, and recordings of recent town halls.
• Review these resources for hybrid meetings:
  • How to join a Teams meeting from a video conference room (PDF)
  • Guidelines for conducting successful virtual and hybrid meetings
•  Complete your telework agreement, complete the two required trainings for teleworkers, and make sure you have the computer equipment you need.

Less than a week remains in the 2022 legislative session. On Monday, Gov. Walz and House and Senate leadership announced an agreement on a framework for supplemental budget, tax, and capital investment bills.

The agreement provides a total of $4 billion for a tax bill and $4 billion in spending for the current and next biennia. Of the $4 billion in spending, $1 billion is marked for education, $1 billion is marked for health and human services, and $450 million is marked for public safety. The specifics of how these funds will be allocated will be worked out in conference committees over the next several days.

The deal also includes a $1.4 billion bonding bill and $150 million in cash for capital projects. $4 billion of the state’s projected budget surplus would remain on the bottom line to manage economic uncertainty.

Legislators have until Sunday night to pass bills before the Monday, May 23, constitutional adjournment deadline. Under the state constitution, bills cannot be passed on the last day of the biennial legislative session.

For a deeper dive, read the most recent legislative summary from Government Affairs (PDF).

For questions or more information, email Brooke Bordson in Government Affairs at Brooke.Bordson@metc.state.mn.us.

Twin Cities Business Magazine recognizes Hauge achievements

The tech industry is dominated by men. You don’t need to remind Sue Hauge, deputy chief information officer, who was just one of a few women in information technology when she joined the Met Council in 1988 as a computer programmer.

Some 30 years later, she’s an integral part of the Met Council’s leadership team, and is recognized in the April/May edition of Twin Cities Business Magazine.

“I initially thought I’d work at the Met Council a year or two,” said Hauge. “But the Met Council’s mission and my relationship with colleagues corresponded with my own principles and values. So, I decided to stick around for a while and turn a job into a profession.”

Hauge provides strategic leadership for the people, processes, and technology of Information Services. She is responsible for the management practice within the department and acts as the Information Services sponsor for the Enterprise Resource Planning program and project work.

She oversees data management and application services teams, including more than 200 specific apps. They help manage the region’s wastewater treatment system, keep transit service running on time, as well as facilitate specific needs like ordering uniforms for bus drivers and distributing critical research and information needed by regional planners and city officials.

“Aside from her professional qualities, Sue is one of the most beloved leaders at the Met Council,” said Craig Bantz, chief information officer. “She is a pioneer among women in technology and has deservedly risen through the ranks. Sue is a rock star who has earned this award and then some.”

Throughout her career, women have been in the minority in the field and especially in leadership positions. Today, as an executive, Hauge says she’s proud to be part of an industry that is seeing women stepping into leadership roles. “You need to adapt, stand your ground, and stay true to your values,” she says.