Disparities in Minnesota
We Minnesotans take pride in our state and how it ranks “first” in many categories relative to quality of life and the opportunities for success that many enjoy. However, many of those “firsts” only apply to white-color Minnesotans, not to those who identify as black or brown or as being from other marginalized communities. When you dig into the data, the disparities become glaring. This talk isn’t intended to shame anyone about those disparities, nor is it intended to make anyone feel guilty about having a white skin color. Rather, I believe that most people want to do the right thing; it’s just that most aren’t aware of how bad the skin color-based differences are and many don’t have any idea of how to work for concrete, positive change. With this talk, Ellie seeks to shed some light on the gravity of the problem and offer some ideas on how to fix things. She welcomes your thoughts and ideas on this important topic.
Ellie Krug: In 2009, when she was a civil trial attorney in Cedar Rapids with 100+ trials, Ellen (Ellie) Krug transitioned from male to female; she later became one of the few attorneys nationally to try jury cases in separate genders. The author of Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change (2013), Ellie has trained on diversity and inclusion to court systems, law firms, Fortune 100 corporations, and colleges/universities on nearly 1000 occasions. A hopeless idealist, Ellie has presented her inclusivity training, Gray Area Thinking®, across the country. In 2016, Advocate Magazine named Ellie one of “25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Trans Rights” and in 2019, OutFront Minnesota conferred Ellie its Legacy Award. She is also a monthly columnist for Lavender Magazine and a weekly radio host on AM950 radio. Her monthly e-newsletter, The Ripple, reaches 9000+ readers and can be found at www.elliekrug.com . Ellie presently lives in Minneapolis and is the founder and president of Human Inspiration Works, LLC (www.humaninspirationworks.com).