TITLE
Authorizing acceptance of travel expense reimbursement and in-kind travel support for the Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment’s participation in convenings related to community wealth building, financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, housing, and community development.
BODY
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul recognizes the importance of advancing financial empowerment, community wealth building, entrepreneurship, housing stability, and equitable community development strategies to improve resident financial stability and expand economic opportunity; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Financial Empowerment is responsible for advancing strategies that support resident financial health, community wealth building, and cross-sector partnerships that align with the City’s broader economic and community development goals; and
WHEREAS, Marcus Owens, Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment (the “OFE Director”), participated in a Knight Foundation-supported city tour in Atlanta and Macon, Georgia from May 6–8, 2026, to learn more about how cities are supporting financial empowerment strategies related to entrepreneurship, housing, and community development; and
WHEREAS, the Knight Foundation has offered to provide the City with travel expense support of up to $2,500 for eligible expenses associated with participation in the Atlanta and Macon city tours; and
WHEREAS, the OFE Director also attended the Reframing Community Wealth Building for Black America convening hosted by The Democracy Collaborative in Washington, D.C. from June 11–13, 2026; and
WHEREAS, this convening brought together approximately 15 professionals from government, nonprofit, academic, and private-sector organizations to discuss how community wealth building strategies can create impact in communities, and the OFE Director participated as a speaker representing the City’s work and perspective; and
WHEREAS, The Democracy Collaborative has offered to provide in-kind travel support to the City, including airfare and lodging for the participant, associated with attendance at the convening; and
WHEREAS, the travel and participation in these convenings served a public purpose by supporting the City’s ability to learn from national peers, share Saint Paul’s work, and strengthen strategies related to financial empowerment, community wealth building, entrepreneurship, housing, and equitable community development;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council:
1. Accepts the travel expense reimbursement support offered by the Knight Foundation, up to $2,500, for eligible travel expenses associated with the OFE Director’s participation in the Atlanta and Macon city tour from May 6–8, 2026 and thanks the Knight Foundation for their generosity.
2. Accepts the in-kind travel support provided by The Democracy Collaborative, including airfare and lodging, for the OFE Director’s participation in the Reframing Community Wealth Building for Black America convening in Washington, D.C. from June 11–13, 2026.
3. Finds that the travel and participation described above served a public purpose by supporting the City’s work on financial empowerment, community wealth building, entrepreneurship, housing, and equitable community development.