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Further discussion included a commonly themed script for contact; advantages of involving <br />entities in planning prior to setting a date and /or topic(s); mixed feelings for videotaping the <br />forum versus maintaining privacy and honest dialogue of participants; future involvement and <br />interest of the City of Shoreview's Community Development Department in involving <br />businesses and providing business contacts to the HRC; and possible credit given for student <br />involvement similar to that used during the Patriot Forum. <br />Ms. Hite advised that out of a goal of 70 participants, they had 54 attend, and received positive <br />feedback of the experience, and anticipated more participation next time due to word -of -mouth <br />advertising. <br />Additional discussion included how to choose speakers and match them to those attending; <br />accuracy of the School District's demographic and cultural data based on school open enrollment <br />and University of MN graduate student families, and how it compares to city -wide data and <br />ethnicities. <br />Ms. Hite advised that they held their forum in April, with a gathering time for food at 6:30 p.m., <br />followed by the presenters and panels from 7:00 9:00 p.m., and were pleasantly surprised that <br />discussions continued and people lingered when it was time to end. <br />Loudi Rivamonte, United Way's Cultural Dynamics Committee Coordinator <br />Ms. Rivamonte reviewed assistance available from the United Way and options for choosing <br />presenters based on the needs of the community and cultures represented; assistance in guiding <br />questions for panelists; what welcome means based on background, awareness and cultural <br />sharing; ways to recognize and build trust among cultures; and provided references of other <br />communities the United Way had worked with and the success of their Cultural <br />Complementarity Model developed by the United Way's Cultural Dynamics Committee. <br />Ms. Rivamonte provided handouts with additional ideas for dialogue. <br />Ms. Rivamonte clarified that the Complementarity model was different from training sessions <br />and was developed to provide an opportunity for community engagement and cross cultural <br />communication tools as a blueprint for businesses to use, instead of or in lieu of training; how to <br />work with each other and clients and how to meet your neighbors. Ms. Rivamonte said this was <br />accomplished through a "Village" concept rather than a facilitated forum to develop an attitude <br />of abundance, using an inclusive approach by sharing experiential learning, what we've <br />experienced, and how we've internalized it while getting perspectives from others. <br />Additional discussion included the trust and good will built through this model; the checklist <br />provided by United Way and the HRC's progress through the checklist being on track for an <br />October forum; a community recruitment chart developed by the City of Shoreview; and costs <br />paid by Shoreview for consultation/facilitation to the United Way, food and beverages, <br />printing /postage costs. <br />Ms. Hite left the meeting at this time. <br />