Past Events
Architectural-Engineering Partnering (AEP) Open House
On August 7, 2009, the HREEO Department hosted an engineering networking event at the Amherst Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Over 50 engineering firms attended the event. In addition, representatives from minority business development and retention community partners were present: Association of Architects, Selby Area Community Development Corporation, Medtronic, the Association of Women Contractors, Metropolitan Economic Development Association, and the Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council. Also in attendance were governmental representatives from the HREEO Department, the City of Minneapolis, the Saint Paul Port Authority, Ramsey County, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council.
Introduced by the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO) Department Director, Luz Maria Frias, this new initiative is designed to connect architectural and engineering firms that are women-owned (WBEs), minority-owned (MBEs) and small business enterprises (SBEs) with larger established engineering and architectural firms. This new partnership initiative will be beneficial to all participants. Smaller engineering and architectural firms will have the opportunity to work with more established firms to build their capacity. Larger firms will have the opportunity to make connections and identify qualified subcontracting firms. Moreover, both small and large firms alike will have extensive networking opportunities available.
MBDR Forum
At the request of small- and medium-sized businesses, an MBDR Forum that included elected officials, city staff, partners and socially responsible investment banks was held in 2009 and focused on topics such as finding resources and support during tough economic times.
Partners for this forum included various Saint Paul-based businesses, community development corporations, AHANA Initiative, Project of Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC) and the City of Saint Paul departments of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO), Planning and Economic Development (PED) and the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI).
The MBDR Forum was videotaped and can be viewed at MBDR Forum.
Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conferences