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<br /> <br />learn how to heal yourself, while regulating your own body. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Ms. Lau for coming in and applying for this position. She noted City Clerk <br />Spangrud would be in touch with further information on how the Council was moving forward. She explained <br />the next person to be interviewed was Kristin Upton. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg asked Ms. Upton to explain how both your personal and professional experiences will <br />help her be an effective member of the Equity Commission, if appointed. <br /> <br />Ms. Upton stated over the past couple of years she has done a lot of learning, growing and listening. She <br />discussed how she was taking the time to listen to the BIPOC community and what was going on. She reported <br />at her work she has diversity, equity and inclusion matters at every team meeting. She noted this was going <br />outside of her comfort zone in order to get these voices heard. She stated both professionally and personally <br />she was learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle asked what are some specific goals Ms. Upton hopes to accomplish by serving on <br />New Brighton’s Equity Commission. <br /> <br />Ms. Upton responded open conversation for everybody. She wanted to see open communication within the <br />community to learn their hopes, within the government in New Brighton, and within the law enforcement in <br />New Brighton. She wanted to see a safe space in this area to make changes and get work done. She wanted to <br />see people getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. She recommended this group get into the schools in <br />order to reach children in New Brighton as well. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen asked what opportunities and challenges are important for New Brighton to consider in <br />addressing inclusion in New Brighton. <br /> <br />Ms. Upton stated the challenge was of people being scared. She understood people heard certain terms and <br />were scared to learn more. She indicated people were scared to be called a racist and she understood these <br />conversations would be tough to hold. She wanted to see the City break through this stigma. She hoped the <br />City would be able to move from equality to equity, while also encouraging people to see the difference <br />between not being racist and anti-racist, which meant switching a focus. She encouraged the City to work with <br />the children in the community in order to being this shift. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas explained topics addressed by the Equity Commission will be sensitive, emotional, <br />and important. If she had concerns about a specific policy or issue being discussed, how would she address <br />this. <br /> <br />Ms. Upton commented she was comfortable with being uncomfortable. She believed she was a good listener <br />when it came to sensitive topics. She noted she would also voice her opinion when necessary. However, she <br />also did not want her voice to be the one that is heard because she was not a member of the BIPOC community <br />and her voice was not the important one. She understood it was important to be sensitive to others was <br />important. She stated if she came to something she didn’t know, she would take the time to step back, collect <br />her thoughts so she could have a respectful conversation. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Ms. Upton for coming in and appl ying 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 Lindsay Spooner. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg asked Ms. Spooner to explain how both your personal and professional experiences