Greater Twin Cities United Way: Improving Lives, Strengthening Communities
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Close the Gap: How Employers Can Help

 

The Twin Cities region is a widely recognized success story. However, there's another story—one that is often lost—about individuals, families and communities that don't share in the region’s success. The Brookings Institution recently issued a report, Mind the Gap, that details the alarming facts about the socio-economic disparities in our region.

Closing the gap will require major policy change, but it will also require smaller changes in the decision-making and acts of individuals and organizations throughout the region.

Findings

Read more information about the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program.

Resources

1—Close the Gap Employer Toolkit
As an employer in the Twin Cities community, you can help close the gap using these tools. Download this guide (PDF) of practical suggestions for Twin Cities employers to make a positive impact on disparities issues.

 

2—Free! Close the Gap Documentary on DVD
The Close the Gap documentary shows issues created by race, class and place disparities here in the Twin Cities metro area. By profiling existing solutions, the goal is to inspire community members and organizations to find ways to close the gaps.

Produced by the Itasca Project, the documentary features five 30-minute episodes plus a 60-minute retrospective and is free. There are no shipping charges.

 

Ordering info.

  • Send an e-mail including how many copies you'd like and your mailing address to: mindthegap@unitedwaytwincities.org.
  • You may also order through United Way 2-1-1™.  Just dial 2-1-1. Cell phone users can call 651-291-0211.
  • Free downloads of the series are available through www.tccompass.org.

3—Close the Gap Speakers
Request a speaker to help you and your employees better understand the issues and how they can be addressed.

 

Taskforce members: Mary Brainerd, president and CEO of Health Partners (chair); Paul Fate, executive director, Payne-Lake Community Partner; Ron James, president and CEO, Center for Ethical Business Cultures; St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly; Chancellor Jim McCormick, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; J. Keith Moyer, publisher and president, Star Tribune; Carleen Rhodes, president,The St. Paul Foundation; Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak; Lauren Segal, president and CEO, Greater Twin Cities United Way.