David's BlogMonday, June 29, 2015Connecting with Candidates One month ago, I embarked
on a journey of discovery. I did so after determining the Chamber would greatly
benefit if I met with each individual who announces their intent to be a
candidate for a local elected position. This includes candidates for the:
District 709 School Board, the Duluth City Council and the Mayor of Duluth. My
talented colleague, Roger Wedin, Director of Policy & Education, joining me
in this endeavor.
It has been an enlightening and encouraging experience. While we
still have candidate meetings to schedule, our interactions have already been
abundantly productive. We have met with six of the twelve announced candidates.
I am reaching out to the remaining candidates to arrange for our meetings.
I describe these fine individuals as "announced
candidates" because the official filing for local elected office does not
begin until July 7th. Consequently, community members will not know, for sure,
who is officially running for office until the filing period concludes July 21.
When contacting candidates, I preface my request to meet with
them by assuring them that our meeting will not be an interview. I also
reassure then the Duluth Area Chamber does not endorse candidates. Rather, the
Chamber educates our members regarding candidate stances on local issues that
impact our business community. I explain that our motivation to meet with them
is simply to get to know them better and to better understand their positions
on local issues. It is also an opportunity for the candidates and the Chamber
to establish an ongoing and production conversation pertaining to local public
policy.
Roger and I also let them know the Chamber is planning to host
Candidate Forums between September 15th, which is Primary Election Day, and the
General Election, November 3rd. We plan to host three forums: a City Council
Candidate Forum, a Mayoral Candidate Forum, and a District School Board Forum.
In recent years, we have partnered with the Duluth News Tribune
to host the forums. The Tribune has been an outstanding partner in bringing
these candidate forums to our beloved community. We hope to, once again,
partner with the Tribune.
I anticipate the local media will cover these anticipated
forums. By doing so, the media outlets allow community members to access the
forums on television, radio, and various websites. Our community benefits when
we understand the positions that candidates plan to take on local issues.
Duluth's future is bright. I am confident of this, after meeting with these intelligent, motivated and conscientious individuals who seek to serve our community as elected officials. I hope you will join me in setting out to learn as much as we can about Duluth's future leaders.
In support,
posted by David Ross
at
7:19 AM
Monday, June 08, 2015Diversity Drives Population Growth
As
Duluthians, we have reason, well, actually, two reasons to celebrate.
First, we can celebrate that Duluth has reversed the three-decade
decline in population it experienced from 1970 to 2000. Second, let's
celebrate that this stabilization of our population is due, in large
part, to an expansion of our minority population.
Duluth's growth
parallels that of other Minnesota metropolitan communities which have
also grown as a result of their increasing minority populations. They,
too, have reason to celebrate.
According to the 2015
census data, 10% of Duluthians are identified as non-white. 9,768 of our
86,265 citizens are American Indian, Black or African American,
Hispanic or Latino, and Asian.
Community leaders are
heralding the good news that an abundance of new jobs are being created
in our Zenith City. This opportunity for employment is bringing new
coworkers to our workplaces and new neighbors to our neighborhoods.
Duluth is concurrently
drawing more people to our community because of our expanding reputation
as a place of increasing cultural opportunities. We would be wise to
cherish and protect this expanding reputation as much as we do the other
recent recognitions and affirmations received by Duluth.
The leadership of the
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is embracing our increasingly diverse
community. We are striving to ensure that our business community is one
in which persons of different colors, races, religions, sexual
preferences and genders are encouraged to achieve at their highest
level. As our community becomes increasingly varied, we are wise to
recognize and embrace the power of this diversity.
The Chamber understands
that a community goal must be to position businesses for success in a
multicultural business environment. Starting a business is a challenging
endeavor. The brave souls who try it will testify that it involves
overcoming many obstacles. We simply cannot make it any more difficult
for our brothers and sisters of mixed cultural backgrounds and diverse
preferences.
Consider for a moment
the vibrancy that will enrich our community if all persons, regardless
of background, are encouraged to fulfill their greatest potential. It is
a goal we need to work together to attain. If Duluth is going to reap
the harvest from the seeds planted so optimistically in recent years, we
must first work to have every voice heard, every idea considered and
every talent employed.
These are exciting times
in our beloved community. Duluth is changing for the better. We are
called to unite in ensuring that minority-owned and operated businesses
are welcomed and supported in Duluth. If we are successful in
accomplishing this, we will add to our collective quality of life.
In support,
David Ross, President & CEO
posted by David Ross
at
12:47 PM
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