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Councilmember Abdulle asked Mr. Abdiwahed to provide the Council with a brief history on his background <br /> and community involvement. <br /> Ahmed Abdiwahed explained he works for the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board as an athletic <br /> programming specialist to create youth and adult sports programming. He indicated he has also worked with <br /> after school youth programming. He noted he would like to continue to find more opportunities for youth. He <br /> stated he was involved in coaching youth soccer and basketball. He commented he was really proud of a <br /> program he directed, noting it was tailored to youth, which was a safe place to make friends and meet new <br /> people. He explained he advised tutors and coordinated events within this program. <br /> Councilmember Allen asked what motivated Mr. Abdiwahed to serve on a City Commission. <br /> Mr. Abdiwahed stated he would love to have his voice heard in the community and the City of New Brighton. <br /> He indicated he would like to contribute and give back to the community. He explained he came to America in <br /> 2007 and began volunteering in 2008. He indicated he would love to advocate and work towards providing <br /> more youth activities and sports in the community. He noted he has two daughters and he wants to advance and <br /> help minority youth in the community. He discussed how his programs were advertised to the public and <br /> noted a lot of minorities do not have email nor do they check websites. He wanted to see the City of New <br /> Brighton properly reaching all groups in the community in order to make them aware of the resources and <br /> programming that was being provided by the City. <br /> Councilmember Axberg stated each Commission is tasked with making recommendations to the City Council <br /> that comply with policies, rules or ordinances already adopted by the City Council. She asked Mr. Abdiwahed <br /> what he would do if he disagreed with a policy or ordinance already in place. <br /> Mr. Abdiwahed stated he believed issues, questions, or an improvement, should be discussed. He explained <br /> this would be the way he would want to handle issues in his job in order to have concerns addressed. He <br /> commented if he had a concern, he would bring it through the proper channels and to the right people in order <br /> to have his voice heard. <br /> Councilmember Dunsworth requested Mr. Abdiwahed to speak to the City's biggest opportunity and biggest <br /> challenge in addressing inclusion in New Brighton. <br /> Mr. Abdiwahed stated he was an apartment renter and he saw a lot of minority groups in his circle. He <br /> commented his entire life in America he has been involved in parks programs. He explained in his world he <br /> sees a need for inclusion very greatly, getting the programs to people who need those programs is the <br /> challenging part. He stated this was nobody's fault, it was just a challenge. He discussed the challenges he <br /> faced in his job in getting youth into his own programs. He believed New Brighton had a great opportunity and <br /> wanted to see more minority groups involved in its programs or activities. <br /> Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Mr. Abdiwahed for coming in and applying for this position. She noted City <br /> Clerk Spangrud would be in touch with further information on how the Council was moving forward. She <br /> explained the next person to be interviewed was Meghan Bakken. <br /> Councilmember Abdulle asked Ms. Bakken to provide the Council with a brief history on her background and <br /> community involvement. <br /> Meghan Bakken explained she was a young mom to three kids. She noted her kids were seven, three and one. <br /> She indicated she was very active in the community through her marketing job, which she has had over the <br />