Hopkins Race & Equity Initiative

About the Hopkins Race & Equity Initiative

The Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative (HREI) is a collaborative effort creating opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of race, equity and diversity and promoting a sense of community that welcomes and values all residents. Members include:

  • The City of Hopkins
  • The Gethsemane Lutheran Church
  • The Hopkins Public Schools
  • The Police Department

Read more about Race Equity in Hopkins.

Upcoming Events

On behalf of the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative and our partners, the City of Hopkins, Hopkins Police Department, Hopkins Public Schools and Gethsemane Lutheran Church, we want to express our sincerest condolences to Daunte Wright’s family, friends and loved ones.

We find ourselves, once again, struggling to find words. Instead, we are asking you, our community, to gather listen and reflect. Grace Apostolic Church and the Minnetonka community have invited us to join them:

We Are Better Together: From Healing to Hope

A Community Conversation

Tuesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

This continues to be a difficult time for our region. With each new troubling event there are concerns we all want to share and questions we want answered. Join your neighbors for the community conversation We Are Better Together. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. April 20 and will be led by Minnetonka Resident Community leaders, Grace Apostolic Church, Minnetonka Collective and the Minnetonka Police Department. Please RSVP with name and email to Karen Hendrickson, at khendrickson@minnetonkamn.gov.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5509565872 Meeting ID: 550 956 5872 Passcode: GAC One tap mobile +19292056099,,5509565872# US (New York) +13017158592,,5509565872# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 550 956 5872 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdCSBjDu9p

Previous Event Recordings

Our videos can be found on our Facebook Page or Youtube Channel. 

HREI Town Hall Forum Community Policing Today


Join the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative for a virtual conversation on policing in our local communities, featuring a panelist discussion moderated by Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Bill Wells. 

Panelists include: 

Brent Johnson, Hopkins Police Chief

Mike Harcey, St. Louis Park Police Chief

Scott Boerboom, Minnetonka Police Chief

HREI Presents Jim Crow of the North - September 9, 2020

Join HREI for a special screening and discussion of the TPT documentary, "Jim Crow of the North", revealing the history and impact of racist real estate covenants in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The Conversation also includes discussion on the future and affordable housing. 

Panel discussion moderated by Bill Wells featuring: 

- Dan Bergin, Producer, Jim Crow of the North;

- Dr. Kirsten Delegard, Project Director, Mapping Prejudice Project;

- Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Economic Development City of Hopkins

Racial Disparities: [Not] In my Neighborhood?! - June 29, 2020

Join the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative for a virtual conversation on racial dispartities in West Metro neighborhoods, featuring a panelist discussion moderated by Bill Wells.  

Panelists include: 

- Al Nuness, Para Professional and Director, Invictus Leadership Group

- Bishop David E. Johnson, Senior Pastor, Grace Apostolic Church

- Kissy Coakley, City Council Member, City of Minnetonka

- Dr. Kirsten Delegard, Director/Co-Founder, Mapping Prejudice Project

- Julia Ross, Joint Community Police Partnership, Hopkins Police Department

- Astein K. Osei, Superintendent, St. Louis Park Public Schools

Give the Gift of a Better Community


For the past five years, various leaders from the Hopkins city, school and faith community have volunteered their time to bring to life the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative. They have taken on the challenging and delicate work of bringing our community together to learn and listen so that we can have honest and caring conversations around the issues of race and equity.

Hundreds of people have come together to learn why it is so hard to talk about race. To hear perspectives on white privilege, racial profiling, and the racism many people still face today.  

We are inviting you to join with us in supporting the work of building a better community, bringing more people together, and moving the needle to eradicate systemic racism in our institutions, our schools, our city and our community. This happens one conversation at a time.

All donations are managed by the City of Hopkins and are tax exempt.We greatly appreciate you partnership and your support.


For donation, please fill out the Hopkins Race & Equity Initiative Donation Form.

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Grants Awarded

The Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative recently awarded seven micro grants to fund programs designed to engage Hopkins students and community members in projects and activities that align with the initiative’s purpose and goals.

 More information about the awards is available here.

HREI Logo

Resources

  1. Culturally Responsive Books for Children and Elementatry Through Middle School (PDF)
  2. Hopkins Minnetonka Community Assessment (PDF)
  3. Resources on Race and Racism for Parents and Children (PDF)
  4. Talking About Race (PDF)
  5. Three Things You Can Do to Learn About White Privilege (PDF)

Past Events

  1. Let's Talk About Race Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed's Presentation 2018 (PDF)
  2. Lets Talk About Race Event Take Away Points (PDF)
  3. Lets Talk About Race in Hopkins Community Conversation Executive Summary (PDF)
  4. October 2016 Hopkins Community Forum - Is white Privilege Real or Imagine (PDF)