City Of Minneapolis: Mayor Frey Forms Community Safety Workgroup

Press release from the City of Minneapolis:

December 2, 2021

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has brought together leaders from across the city to serve on a workgroup focused on developing public safety and accountability recommendations. The new group features participants with a sweeping range of perspectives, expertise, and lived experience. Frey prioritized bringing people to the table whose voices effectively reflect community safety priorities across Minneapolis neighborhoods.

“Minneapolis has an extraordinary opportunity to show the rest of the country that true progress is within reach,” said Frey. “That’s why we’ve brought together leaders with deep expertise, community connections, and – most importantly – varied perspectives on the same goal: a safer, more just Minneapolis. By setting aside politics and honing in on outcomes, we will be well-positioned to enact lasting, meaningful change in our city.”

The workgroup will be co-chaired by Nekima Levy Armstrong and Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis.

Levy Armstrong is a nationally recognized expert, award-winning attorney, and Minneapolis civil rights activist. She has previously served as the President of the NAACP Minneapolis Chapter and taught for thirteen years as a law professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School. She is the founder of the Racial Justice Network, the Executive Director of the Wayfinder Foundation and co-owner of Black Pearl, LLC, a Minneapolis-based firm.

“Minneapolis deserves a critical examination of the practices, laws, and policies that underpin policing and community safety,” said Levy Armstrong. “This workgroup’s focus will be on developing evidence-based, detailed proposals that reflect the different voices across our city. I look forward to working with Mayor Frey and this team to continue developing concrete change and reforms.”  

Davis is the Lead Minister for the Plymouth Congregational Church. He has a B.A. in Economics and Philosophy from Howard University, an M.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, a Doctor of Ministry degree in preaching from Luther Seminary, among other academic accomplishments. Davis has also worked as a senior legislative and policy assistant to several Members of the U.S. Congress, a federal relations director with Sallie Mae and has served in a variety of capacities in the nonprofit sector.

“As a city, we have the opportunity to respond – with decisive action – to the trauma and grief we’ve experienced over the last 18 months,” said Davis. “The eyes of the world remain fixed on Minneapolis, and this workgroup will be collectively resolved to show that we are serious about instilling accountability and enacting reforms. I’m grateful to the mayor for taking on these challenges in a substantive way and look forward to the hard work ahead.”

The workgroup will begin meeting the week of Dec. 13. 

Minneapolis Intergovernmental Relations Director Fatima Moore, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Office of Violence Prevention Director Sasha Cotton, and Civil Rights Chief of Staff Andrew Hawkins will also provide direct support to the workgroup.

This press release was produced by the City of Minneapolis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.