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Authorizing acceptance of the gift of registration and in-kind travel support from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for the Office of Financial Empowerment’s Director Marcus Owens' participation in the 2026 PolicyLink Summit from 8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026.
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WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul recognizes the importance of advancing financial empowerment, community wealth building, racial equity, 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, PolicyLink is hosting the 2026 PolicyLink Summit in National Harbor, Maryland from 8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026; and
WHEREAS, Marcus Owens, Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment (the “OFE Director”), has been invited to participate in the 2026 PolicyLink Summit as part of the Minnesota cohort; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation has offered to provide the City with sponsored attendance for the OFE Director, including conference registration, up to four nights of lodging at the Gaylord National Harbor from 8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026, round-trip economy airfare, and other associated travel expenses; and
WHEREAS, the OFE Director’s participation in the 2026 PolicyLink Summit will serve a public purpose by supporting the City’s ability to learn from national peers, strengthen partnerships with Minnesota-based and national equity leaders, and inform Saint Paul’s financial empowerment, community wealth building, housing stability, and equitable community development strategies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council:
1. Accepts the gift of sponsored attendance from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for the OFE Director’s participation in the 2026 PolicyLink Summit in National Harbor, Maryland from 8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026 and thanks the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for their generosity.
2. Accepts the in-kind travel support associated with this sponsored attendance, including conference registration, up to four nights of lodging at the Gaylord National Harbor, and round-trip economy airfare.
3. Finds that the OFE Director’s participation in the 2026 PolicyLink Summit serves a public purpose by supporting the City’s work on financial empowerment, community wealth building, racial equity, housing stability, and equitable community development.