Walz, Flanagan Announce Appointments to Community Council on Inclusion and Equity

Press Release

Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointments of Antony Stately, Desralynn Cole, Rachel Zhang, Bernadette Burnham, Dr. Rebecca Evan, Elda Macias, Emmanuel Oppong, Georgia Miller-Kamara, Pleasant Radford, Natalie Ringsmuth, Myat Thanda Tun, Kenneth Rodgers, Ravyn Gibbs, and Maryam Nur to the Governor's Community Council on Inclusion and Equity.

"The Community Council will play a key role in our efforts to transform the work and practices of state government to be more inclusive and equitable," said Governor Walz. "I applaud the appointees for committing themselves to public service and dedicating their talents and efforts towards fostering a Minnesota where people of all races and all walks of life can succeed."

"The Community Council's work is to help create an inclusive and equitable Minnesota where everyone -- Black, white, brown, and Indigenous -- has the opportunity to live a full, beautiful life," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "Today's appointees all have demonstrated a firm commitment to serve our communities and fight for a fairer future. I am thrilled about their appointments and hopeful for the progress yet to come. This work requires Minnesota to be "all-in" to close gaps and provide opportunities for everyone in our state."

"The administration has prioritized equity from day one. The Governor's Community Council, in partnership with the One MN Council, will collaborate to create a plan to advance equity in Minnesota, and work to realize the vision of One Minnesota" said Chris Taylor, Chief Inclusion Officer.

The Governor's Community Council on Inclusion and Equity will advise and collaborate with the One Minnesota Council in achieving its goals to design, create, and implement effective, inclusive, and equitable practices for the State to address disparities and inequities in our communities. The Community Council, in collaboration with the One Minnesota Council and state agencies, must prepare a report to the Governor on an annual basis. The report will provide an update on the status of the Community Council's work and recommendations for an effective, inclusive, and equitable state government.

Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan appointed the following individuals:

Antony Stately, Chief Executive Officer, Native American Community Clinic
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Antony Stately, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer for the Native American Community Clinic, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center in Minneapolis. Previously, Dr. Stately was a research scientist at the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute at University of Washington-Seattle. He has taught in clinical psychology and social work graduate programs and has served as a consultant and advisor to numerous federal and state agencies, NGOs, and non-profits delivering health services to tribal and indigenous communities nationally and internationally. He is a current member of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) group and the Indigenous Peoples Task Force. He earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University.

Desralynn Cole, Race and Equity Program Manager, Minneapolis City Coordinator Office
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Desralynn Cole currently serves as the Race and Equity Program manager for the Minneapolis City Coordinator Office. She is also a Senior Director of Programs with the African American Leadership Forum, as well as a coach, consultant for the Urban League Twin Cities Young Professionals. Ms. Cole is a HBCU graduate from Fisk University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology.

Rachel Zhang, Chief Operating Officer, Rochester Community Initiative
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Rachel Zhang is the Chief Operating Officer for the Rochester Community Initiative. She has pushed for equity and inclusion in her community through running grassroots campaigns, creating educational workshops, and leading within the nonprofit Rochester Community Initiative. Ms. Zhang is a first-year student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bernadette Burnham, Vice President, Education Minnesota
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Bernadette Burnham is Vice President of Education Minnesota. She also serves as co-chair of the AFL-CIO Racial and Economic Justice Committee. Previously, Ms. Burnham chaired the district's Asian Pacific Advisory Board. As an Asian Pacific Islander, she is the first person of color to serve on Education Minnesota's officer team. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in education.

Dr. Rebecca Evan, Assistant Professor, College of Management at Metropolitan State University
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023
Dr. Rebecca Evan is an Assistant Professor in the College of Management at Metropolitan State University whose work focuses on diversity management within corporations. Prior to Metropolitan State University, Dr. Evan worked at Cargill HQ, Target HQ, as well as numerous non-profits in the Midwest.

Elda Macias, Senior Director of Customer Insights and Experience Design, Securian Financial
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Elda Macias is Senior Director of Customer Insights and Experience Design at Securian Financial. Prior to Securian, Ms. Macias worked at Ameriprise Financial, Wells Fargo & Company, the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas, and the Walt Disney Company. She is an active volunteer in the Minnesota Latino community and currently serves as board secretary for Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Ms. Macias earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.

Emmanuel Oppong, Adjunct Professor, St. Cloud State University
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Emmanuel Oppong is the Community Engagement Director in the Mayor's Office for the City of St. Cloud, leveraging community partnerships and engagements and managing boards and commissions. Mr. Oppong is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and a Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) approved supervisor working primarily with marginalized communities, underserved immigrants, refugees, and the BIPOC population. He was appointed by former Governor Mark Dayton to serve on the State Advisory Council on Mental Health from 2016 to 2020. Mr. Oppong earned a master's degree in community counseling psychology from St. Cloud State University and completed the "strategies for leading successful change initiatives", a professional development program, at Harvard University.

Georgia Miller-Kamara, Education Support Professional (District 287) and Child Protection Social Worker (Hennepin County)
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Georgia Miller-Kamara is a Title IV-E, Active Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) and a Licensed Tier 3 Educator. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair for Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) at the Minnesota Department of Education. Ms. Miller-Kamara is a racial equity advocate and a member of various professional organizations, including Education Minnesota, National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Minnesota School Social Workers Association (MSSWA), and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). She holds a bachelor's degree in social work, a master's degree in social work, and a master's degree in public policy. She is pursuing a doctorate in social work.

Pleasant Radford, Health Equity Officer, UCare
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Pleasant Radford Jr. is the Health Equity Officer at UCare, where he works across the organization to align clinical, community, and provider health equity initiatives and services to more than 500,000 members throughout Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin. Previously, Mr. Radford worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, UnitedHealth Group, University of Chicago, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, and the Peace Corps in Nicaragua.

Natalie Ringsmuth, Anti-Racism Trainer (St. Cloud State University) and Executive Director of #Unitecloud
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Natalie Ringsmuth is an anti-racism trainer with the CARE (Community Anti-Racism Education) team at St. Cloud State University. Previously, she taught middle school choir, worked in the church sector, and founded Unite Cloud, a non-profit working to reduce racial, religious, and cultural tensions in central Minnesota. Ms. Ringsmuth is currently a member of the St. Cloud School District 742 Board, the United Way Community Impact Team, and the Welcoming America Content Advisory Board. She earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Concordia College in Moorhead.

Myat Thanda Tun, Program Manager - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Organizational Development and Learning, Fairview Health Services
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Myat Thanda Tun is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager at Fairview Health Services. Ms. Tun earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Rangoon and a master's degree in health and human services administration from St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

Kenneth Rodgers, Disability Programs Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Kenneth Rodgers is a Disability Programs Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Previously, Mr. Rodgers worked as a teacher and as a cardiac RN at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Mr. Rodgers received a bachelor's degree in human services and education from California State University at Fullerton and a bachelor's degree in nursing and a graduate certificate in holistic health studies from St. Catherine's St. Mary's campus. He earned a master's degree from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute School of Public Affairs.

Ravyn Gibbs, Professional Staffer, United States Senate
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Ravyn Gibbs is a professional staffer in the U.S. Senate, whose work focuses on federal policy related to Native and Tribal affairs. Ms. Gibbs is Anishinaabe, and as an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa with family ties to the Red Lake Nation, she serves to uplift the voices of Native communities. She earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, as well as a master's degree in social work and a master's degree in public health from the University of Minnesota with a focus in community practice and community health promotion.

Maryam Nur, Executive Director, Lead the Way MN
Member
Effective: August 16, 2021
Expires: April 3, 2023

Maryam Nur is the Executive Director of Lead the Way MN. Ms. Nur has more than 15 years of community outreach including developing, presenting, and facilitating diversity, inclusion, and cultural development work in greater Minnesota. She speaks Somali, English, and Arabic fluently.

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