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Hello Residents,
The last 3 months continue to be a busy and exciting time here at the County. I continue to onboard and learn about the different committees in which I have been appointed. You can find a list of all the committees in the gray area to the left in this newsletter. As Chair of the Workforce Innovation Board (WIB), I have been able to join many of our community partners to learn, share and celebrate many of the job hiring events, graduations and celebrations. It has truly been a highlight of my last 3 months to participate in community events, some, you will learn about in this newsletter.
Ramsey County is now holding in-person meetings. Our board meetings are taking place in the County Board offices in the Ramsey County Courthouse. My office continues to serve constituent needs via phone or email.
I look forward to the coming year and all that it will bring! I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you District 4 and all of Ramsey County residents. Please stay safe and know spring is coming!
Sincerely,
Rena
County Board Workshops
Most weeks, our County Board meets to discuss specific policy issues and receive updates from County Departments and Service Teams in our Board Workshops.
Workshops and discussions are held on Tuesdays and are open to the public. These take place at the Saint Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse in Suite 220 (2nd floor). You can find the schedule for all upcoming board meetings, workshops, and discussions sessions below.
Recent workshops include: look up all of March workshop and place here:
You can access video recordings of the meetings as well as the materials shared by clicking here.
You can watch upcoming workshops live by clicking here.
I attended the 155th Annual Event for St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. They are a strong partner of Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board (WIB).
The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce is a business organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota that provides networking opportunities, advocacy, and other services to its members. The organization hosts various events throughout the year, including business luncheons, networking events, and workshops focused on professional development and education.
Attending a St. Paul Chamber event can provide opportunities to meet other professionals, learn from experts in your field, and stay up-to-date on business trends and news in the St. Paul area.
  I wanted to share with you my recent visit to the 911 Emergency Center. As your commissioner, it is important for me to stay informed about the critical services that our community relies on.
During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to respond to emergencies and keep our community safe. I was impressed by their professionalism and commitment to their work.
I also had the chance to observe firsthand the advanced technology and equipment used by our emergency responders to quickly and effectively respond to 911 calls. It was clear to me that our emergency center is well-prepared to handle a wide range of emergencies and keep our community safe.
I want to extend my gratitude to the staff at the 911 Emergency Center for their hard work and dedication to our community. I also want to reassure our residents that they can count on our emergency services to be there when they need them most.
If you have any questions or concerns about our emergency services, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
  This event I attended was being hosted by Milestone Community Development, a partner of Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board. Ramsey County APRA, funded the project they were celebrating.
The 20 young men and women being honored for their achievement were poised and spoke well of the bright futures they anticipate. There were 140 attendees including multiple legislators. They group of students wrapped up an 8 week IT certification in: Information Technology (IT) Help Desk Support and Introduction to Data Analytics and are now moving into internships and/or employment.
The graduation of minority IT students is a significant achievement and represents progress towards increasing diversity in the tech industry. Graduation is an important milestone in the educational and professional journey of students, and it is particularly noteworthy when minority students are able to overcome systemic barriers and achieve success in the field of IT.
The graduation of minority IT students can have a positive impact on the industry as a whole by bringing fresh perspectives and diverse experiences to the workforce. It can also inspire other minority students to pursue careers in IT and help to create a more inclusive and equitable tech community.
It is important to continue to support and uplift minority IT students, both during their education and throughout their careers, to ensure that they have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. This can include mentorship, networking, and other forms of support and advocacy.
 
I visited a local grade school to promote Women's History Month by reading to school-aged children. This can have a positive impact in several ways:
- Promotes Gender Equality: Reading stories about influential women in history can help promote gender equality by highlighting the contributions of women in various fields and inspiring girls to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
- Encourages Diversity and Inclusion: Women's History Month celebrates the diversity of women's experiences and contributions, including those of women from different ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. Reading stories about diverse women can help children appreciate and embrace differences, leading to greater inclusivity and acceptance.
- Fosters a Love for Reading: Reading to children can help instill a love for reading and encourage them to explore new books and authors. By introducing children to stories about inspiring women, they can become curious about history and motivated to learn more.
- Builds Community: Visiting a local school to promote Women's History Month can help build community relationships and promote collaboration between schools and local organizations. This can lead to future partnerships and opportunities for educational outreach and community engagement.
Overall, the impact of promoting Women's History Month by reading to school-aged children can be significant, encouraging diversity, inclusion, and gender equality while fostering a love for learning and community building.
I attended the Mississippi River Restoration & Resilience Initiative Event hosted by Congresswoman Betty McCollum.
The Mississippi River is an important waterway that affects many aspects of life in Minnesota, including Ramsey County.
The Mississippi River is the fourth-longest river in the world and flows through 10 US states, including Minnesota. It has played a significant role in shaping the history and economy of the region. Here are some ways the Mississippi River is important to Minnesota and Ramsey County:
- Transportation: The Mississippi River is a major transportation route, allowing goods to be transported to and from Minnesota via barges and other watercraft.
- Tourism: The Mississippi River is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors who want to explore its scenic beauty and learn about its history.
- Agriculture: The Mississippi River Valley is a fertile agricultural region that supports a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat.
- Natural resources: The Mississippi River and its surrounding areas provide important natural resources, such as fish and wildlife, timber, and minerals. These resources support local industries and contribute to the state's economy.
The river's impact on the state of Minnesota as a whole is significant. We must continue to work to ensure the Mississippi River's role in transportation, tourism, agriculture, and natural resource management is supported. The river has positive effects on the economy and quality of life for those in Ramsey County and beyond.
  Ramsey County commissioners and staff are active at the State Legislature on a number of important issues for our residents. I’ve been active in my new role as commissioner testifying in a few committees on some of these bills. I was able to testify in support of Community Corrections funding with HF 1838 (Feist) dealing with community corrections funding and HF 2495 (Lee) which gives properties in targeted neighborhoods the same allowance for paying back property taxes as other parts of the city. I will testify in support of funding for the county’s homelessness work with HF 1686 (Hollins), which is a request for $75 million of state dollars to pay for five years of this important work until more affordable housing is online.
Here are just a few other key bills we are supporting as a county this year at the state Capitol.
HF 1377 (Lislegard) - a bill that would appropriate more County Program Aid for counties and more Local Government Aid for cities. These are important general purpose dollars that keep down the property tax.
HF 600 (Her) / SF 393 (Murphy) a bill that would appropriate $15 million for Youth Justice Homes.
SF 2916 (Hoffman) a bill that funds Ramsey County youth mental health urgency rooms at $1.5 million each year.
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What
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Date
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Time
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Where
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CERT Open House
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April 5
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8-10 am
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Shoreview Community Center
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Workforce Recruitment Resource Fair
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April 13
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8-10 am
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Roseville Skating Center - Olympic Room, 2661 Civic Center Dr.
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Fair Opportunities Networking Event & Art Exhibit
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April 20
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4-6pm
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Creator Space
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Growing The Infrastructure Workforce Through the Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act (IIJA) tty
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May 1
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11:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Ironworkers Union Hall - 851 Pierce Butler Rte
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Youth Job Fair
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May 6
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TBD
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Maplewood Mall
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Roseville Job Fair
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May 31
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3-6 pm
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Ramsey County Library in Roseville
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Midway Area Job Fair
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June 29
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10 am - 2 pm
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Allianz Field - Lots B & C
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