Mtka Talks

 

welcome

This is a conversation with Jen Bouchard, Hopkins School District Board and Kissy Coakley, City of Minnetonka Councilmember. Feel free to watch segments that can help you get context for the engagement sessions coming up and come ready with your best thinking, authentic point of view and commitment to making our community even better!

 
 

what is your hope for this process?

  • Specific ways for leaders to collaborate & serve in this community for greater impact and coordination.

  • Community members feel included, heard, and have a sense that this is their city & their community where they can make a difference and grow.

 

what does community mean to you?

  • An organic feeling of togetherness - connecting in every day life with neighbors and sharing concerns, hopes, dreams

  • Looking after each other, ensuring everyone knows each other and is invited to be part of the collective.

  • An ability for everyone to be their full and authentic selves.

 

how are our institutions thinking about mental and physical health?

City: lots of parks and trails, recreation programs via the Park & Rec department and Williston Fitness Center; Officer Marks specializes in mental health; more opportunity for partnerships with non profits such as TreeHouse

School District: major focus in Roadmap to Reopening plan; system-level support; Hopkins Education Foundation funding grants for specific initiatives (big focus on mental health needs per audience); community partnerships myHealth and MoveFwd.

 

how can you get involved?

City: Contact your council person via email or phone; speak at a public meeting; serve on a board or commission. Additional resources and opportunities here.

School Board: Contact the board directly, speak at a public meeting; serve on a committee or participate in strategic engagement sessions.

 

In what ways do city and school board leaders collaborate?

  • There is desire & space for more collaboration.

  • Minnetonka City Mayor and City Manager periodically meet with superintendents.

  • Hopkins school board + superintend are meeting quarterly with city leaders of the cities the district touches; can be expanded and deepened.