Golden Valley is a dynamic first-ring suburb of more than 20,000 residents. Its proximity to downtown Minneapolis and access to four major arterial roadways make it a prime commercial and industrial location. Residents enjoy the conveniences of city living combined with the peacefulness of wide open spaces-and a long history of community spirit and achievement.
As home to one of the first suburban Human Rights Commissions in Minnesota, Golden Valley is a culturally strong community with a desire to be the best it can be. The Golden Valley City Council is determined to be proactive in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion. A strong desire to be part of a larger racial equity effort has led to numerous community conversations. GARE is a good fit for this environment, allowing the City Council, staff, and community to embrace the process while identifying ways to make their local government as knowledgeable and inclusive as possible.
The City of Golden Valley looks forward to thinking strategically about the community’s inclusiveness and recognizes the need to openly examine and willingly engage in advancing equity. It plans to do this by:
- using racial equity tools to create and amend policies, educate constituencies, and share messages
- strengthening the community socially, culturally, and economically
- embodying a firm belief that all can have access to the opportunities necessary to satisfy their essential needs, advance their well-being, and achieve their full potential
Golden Valley is participating in the 2017 Minnesota Advancing Racial Equity introductory cohort.
Tim Cruikshank is the city manager for the City of Golden Valley. After more than 25 years in the city government field (for six metro area cities), it is still his privilege and honor to serve our wonderful area. A lifelong Minnesotan graduating from St. John’s University and Hamline University, it is his hope that he has made life a little better in each community he has worked in.