What can each of us do to ensure Eagan is an inclusive community where everyone thrives?

About Community Conversations

Community Conversations bring people together in a comfortable environment to exchange ideas.

Focus on the Future

• Students and children are essential leaders for Community Conversations.
• Student Conferences are a special opportunity to gather their voice.

Variety of Settings

• How do you like to get together?
• Some Conversations took place in intimate settings with small groups; others with energetic, large gatherings.

Expert Facilitators

• Robin and Paula from The Finding Human Institute expertly crafted meaningful questions and created safe spaces for conversations.

Rooted in Race Equity & Inclusion

Racial disparities in homeownership, education, employment, health, and wealth exist and persist in Eagan. That's why we emphasize race equity as a way of ensuring that prejudice does not prevent anyone from thriving in this community.

Summary Report

A Message from City Administrator Dianne Miller

Over the past year, the City of Eagan has been on a journey of listening, learning, and engaging with our community about what it means to thrive here.

The journey began several years ago, when we first made race equity and inclusion a priority in our organizational values and citywide vision. We recognized that to serve our entire community well, we needed to better understand the experiences of our residents, acknowledge where inequities exist, and commit to building a future where every person feels welcome, valued, and supported.

The City is investing in this work because it strengthens our community. Cities are built not only on infrastructure, budgets, and services, but on people. Cities thrive when all residents can thrive, when barriers are reduced, voices are heard, and people can see themselves reflected in the community’s future.

The idea for Community Conversations came from our desire to create more spaces where residents could come together across generations, backgrounds, and perspectives to talk openly about belonging in Eagan. We hoped these conversations would provide honest insights, surface ideas we may not have considered, and help us imagine together what thriving looks like. To ensure these dialogues were truly inclusive and constructive, the City issued a request for proposals to bring in a skilled facilitator — someone with the expertise to create safe and meaningful spaces for dialogue.

We know that we are not the only leaders in this space. Eagan is fortunate to have schools, faith communities, nonprofits, businesses, and neighborhood groups who have been leading on issues of race equity and inclusion for years. Our goal is not to step ahead of them, but to join with them, to listen, to support, and to bring the City’s role and resources to the table.

This report reflects what we heard through a year of conversations. It is not the finish line, but a milestone along the way. Together, we are building a more inclusive and more connected Eagan.

Volunteer Opportunities

Host a Self-Guided Mini Conversation

• Bring together your friends, neighbors, colleagues, pickleball opponents, or D&D group for an intimate conversation in a personal setting.

Move from Conversation to Action

• Bring a curious mind and open heart to the conversation, and you may be inspired. Take the lead if you see an opportunity to celebrate our diverse community, lend a helping hand, or build resilient neighborhoods.
• Stay tuned for ways to get involved with the City’s efforts to learn from Community Conversations and improve our municipal programs, operations, and services.

Apply to Serve on a Board or Commission

• Eagan's Advisory Boards and Commissions are a dynamic opportunity to grow leadership skills and share your expertise and passion across a range of issues. Commissions meet regularly to review information, gather ideas, and provide recommendations to the City Council. The selection process runs from March to April of each year.

Celebrate Juneteenth

• Eagan’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, which is hosted by a resident-led Planning Committee and sponsored by the City of Eagan, occurs on the Sunday after Juneteenth at Viking Lakes.

Why Have Community Conversations?

• Nurture civic connectedness
• Encourage dialogue
• Inspire action towards an inclusive community where everyone thrives

Through Conversations, participants will uncover and deepen their understanding of our diverse perspectives and experiences in Eagan.

What Happens After the Conversation?

People who join a Community Conversation will have a chance to see the city in a new way – through each other’s eyes. You will leave with new connections, perspectives, and maybe even ideas for actions you can take in your neighborhood, workplace, or organization to foster inclusive connections and thriving communities!

Additionally, the City of Eagan will listen, learn, and use insights from these Conversations to celebrate our diverse community and eliminate inequity in municipal operations.

Inspiring Stories

What does it look like for conversation to turn into action?

In 2023, two Eagan residents reached out to the City of Eagan to ask, “What are you doing to celebrate Juneteenth in this community?” They described their vision of a holiday that elevates Black history and joy through music, food, games, and art.

Two weeks later, two more residents reached out and asked the same question.

Through conversation – city staff and four residents with a big question and an even bigger idea – Eagan’s Juneteenth came alive.

Over the next year, this group dreamed and worked hard to bring about a vibrant event with music, food trucks, activities, and an educational history walk at Viking Lakes. This event was designed and created by community members with support from the City of Eagan.