City Councilmember Mike Trepanier, Central District, City of Brooklyn Park, MN
Jason Aarsvold, Director of Community Development, City of Brooklyn Park, MN
Michael Davis, Chief of Police, City of Brooklyn Park, MN
Wokie Freeman, Community Member
Steve Larson, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Covenant Church
Elizabeth Tolzmann, Community Engagement Coordinator, City of Brooklyn Park, MN
Jamie Verbrugge, City Manager, City of Brooklyn Park, MN

Brooklyn Park – Be Part of It is in year three of a five year “Community Engagement Initiative” (CEI) involving a community-wide strategic planning process designed to engage, activate, and instill a shared vision of community amongst residents. The process has already changed how government interacts with the public, increasing the amount of civic engagement between residents and their elected officials and changing the role of government from provider to convener and facilitator of opportunities. Brooklyn Park is a racially diverse suburb of Minneapolis which has evolved into a community of communities. The CEI’s aim is to bring these different communities together, raise community awareness, and change attitudes and values so that by 2015, 90% of Brooklyn Park residents believe the city is thriving. Brooklyn Park – Be Part of It hopes to achieve sustainability and transferability of community engagement methods when there is a shift in City leadership. They also hope to learn more about leveraging economic development and making civic engagement relevant to the community.

Participating Teams: