Lessons on Resilience and Equity from the COVID-19 Epidemic
City officials will discuss their pandemic response with a particular focus on how their civic capital and focus on equity mitigated the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities of the outbreak.
Presenters will discuss the racial equity components of their COVID-19 community action plans; existing civic infrastructure that enabled a more efficient response; efforts to bridge the digital divide through partnerships with key stakeholders; and neighborhood partnerships that provide available PPE resources to at risk individuals and organizations.
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Speakers
Derek Okubo, Executive Director of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships for the City and County of Denver
Derek Okubo attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a degree in Psychology and double minors in Communications and Sociology.
Derek was hired by Big Brothers of Metropolitan Denver as the services coordinator for Denver County. Three years later, Derek started the Big Brothers High School Program where he utilized high school students as mentors and tutors to the children on the waiting list. Derek was appointed Governor Roy Romer’s staff as a community liaison to northeast Colorado. A few years later, Derek was hired by the National Civic League as the Assistant Director of Community Services. Through July 2011, Derek rose through the League’s ranks becoming the Senior Vice President where he oversaw projects and programs. Derek continues to serve on the League’s Board of Directors.
In July 2011, Derek was appointed Executive Director of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships by Mayor Michael B. Hancock. In this role, Derek oversees eight offices and 10 mayoral appointed commissions. The agency acts as a conduit of communication and convener of problem solving among local government, non-profits, businesses and residents.
David M. Rubedor Director of Neighborhood Community Relations for the City of Minneapolis.
David M Rubedor is the Director of the Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) department for the City of Minneapolis. David was hired by the City of Minneapolis in 2009 to create the NCR department and has served as the Director since its inception. Prior to his arrival at the City of Minneapolis, David served as the Executive Director of PRG Inc., an affordable housing development organization that tailors its services for neighborhood organizations and cultural communities. He has also served as the Executive Director for the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association.
David has over 15 years of experience working in Minneapolis neighborhoods and communities. Much of David’s professional experience has focused on ensuring access to resources, programming and decision making by BIPOC, disabled and under-engaged communities.
David received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and Regional Studies and Geography from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and a Master in Public Administration from Hamline University. In his free time, David enjoys photography, increasing his proficiency in Portuguese and traveling.
Stacy Schweikhart
, Director of Strategy and Engagement for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.
Stacy Wall Schweikhart is the Director of Strategy and Engagement for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), serving the communities in an eight county area surrounding and including Dayton, Ohio. Stacy joined MVRPC in July 2019 in this new position created to assume leadership of multiple agency efforts including spearheading the community’s recovery following the devastating nationally declared May 2019 tornado disaster and the launch of the Institute for Livable and Equitable Communities. The purpose of the Institute is to convene critical private and public partners from all sectors and acts as the central point of coordination for a long-term, multi-faceted effort in our Region to focus on equity, launching programs and transforming systems that create an environment where people of all ages, races, incomes and abilities can thrive. Prior to her role at MVRPC, Stacy served for 18 years in various leadership roles for the City of Kettering, Ohio. She started her career in the public sector focused on community and neighborhood development, coordinating public engagement in the reinvestment and revitalization efforts within urban Dayton, Ohio neighborhoods.
Stacy earned her Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Dayton (Go Flyers!) and has since served as an Advisory Board member and Adjunct Faculty for the University of Dayton graduate Public Administration program and a Guest Lecturer for the Wright State University Public Policy program. Stacy was recognized with the 2017 local government innovation Navigator Award from Atlantic Media / Route Fifty in the Next Generation category for her national public sector leadership. She is a published author on a book entitled “Building Brands and Creating Cultures of Authentic Servant Leadership” and an active contributor to research, essays and podcasts on the topic of leadership, public engagement, attracting and retaining the next generation of local government talent and strategies to build & balance the bench.
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