2 of 7

Indigenous Acknowledgement

Boozhoo, Rebecca Higgins indizhinikaaz!

As we begin the day, I pause to welcome and honor our Indigenous people, lands and ecosystem that are One. Wherever we are today, we stand on the earth and drink the waters intrinsically joined to our First Nations. We honor the past, present and future on these lands and waters. May our work today learn from the past and uplift a positive future to heal both people and planet.

5 of 7

Meet Our Speakers

Katrina Marini

Ashley Muench

Gabriel Kaplan

E. Calvin Alexander, Jr.

John Barry

Kevin Kuehner

Tannie Eschenaur

Peter K. Kang

Mo Feshami

Cathy Johnson

Gary Johnson

Carrie Jennings

Alyssa Fabia

Rosie Russel

Valerie Neppl

Peg Furshong

6 of 7

Special Guests

State Representative Peter Fischer, D44A

David Schultz, Distinguished Professor

And now, I’m honored to introduce our first special guest, a dedicated public servant who has been a steadfast advocate for our community, State Representative Peter Fischer. Representative Fischer has deep Minnesota roots, having grown up here in Maplewood and as a graduate of Hill-Murray. His journey of civic engagement began at Lakewood Community College, where he was actively involved in the student newspaper and government. He even took part in the historic 1979 Community College Faculty Strike, demonstrating his commitment by occupying the State Capitol until a resolution was reached.

Representative Fischer holds an Associate’s degree from Lakewood and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources from St. Thomas. He spent 35 years in the private sector before transitioning to the non-profit sector in 2007, where he has made significant contributions working with homeless youth in the Twin Cities. This experience has enriched his understanding of the challenges faced by our disadvantaged community.

Since his election to the Minnesota State House of Representatives in 2012 and now in his 7th term, he has been a tireless advocate for our community. Representative Fischer embodies the spirit of public service, guided by the belief that "We all do better when we all do better," a sentiment famously expressed by Senator Paul Wellstone. He is here today to reaffirm his commitment to building a better Minnesota for all of us. Let's give a warm welcome to Representative Peter Fischer!

1 of 7

2 of 7

3 of 7

4 of 7

5 of 7

6 of 7

7 of 7