Phase I of the DOP included hosting 14 focus groups across the state of Minnesota, with hundreds of women of color and community partners.  A final report was generated, outlining the history of the project and procedures and highlighting the general themes.  The report will be released in the end of November 2007.

Program Objectives

Objectives of the program are: 1) to increase the voice of women of color and representation in the political process within Minnesota; 2) develop and expand partnerships with existing leaders and organizations from the racial/ethnic communities; and 3) through the partnerships, identify the primary issues and concerns of women in each of the five key communities: African-American, African immigrant, Hmong, Latina, and Native American.

Program Focus

The DOP focuses on educating, engaging, and empowering women in underrepresented populations, with an emphasis on the five primary racial/ethnic communities. The Program aims to increase the number of women of color running for office at all levels, and the long-term objective is to increase the number of women of color in public office.

Program Strategies

The MWPC- EC’s strategy to address challenges facing the women of color’s political community in Minnesota and to accomplish the programmatic goals is to partner with communities of color, nonprofit and service organizations, as well as develop strong relationships with recognized and emerging women of color leaders.  These partnerships will, in turn, support the pooling of resources and collaboration on issues of concern to women in each of these communities.