FAIRMONT — Last fall, about 45 people came to the Fairmont Elementary School to have a discussion about race. On Thursday evening, some of them met again to continue the conversation and discuss what steps should be taken next in the community.

The discussion was sponsored by Region Nine Development Commission, the Greater Mankato Diversity Council and Fairmont Community Education and Recreation. This time around, discussion was led by Bukata Hayes, executive director of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council.

To begin, the 15 people in the room introduced themselves and talked about why they came to the discussion. Among those present were a City Council member, county commissioner, kindergarten teacher, a member of Kinship, a Mayo employee and others. Some have lived in the area their whole lives, while others have lived here only between one and five years.

“The real reason I’m here is because I believe we truly need this,” said Fairmont City Council member Ruth Cyphers.

Hayes pointed out that it is good to share who we are and why we come to the discussion because people often will make assumptions of who people are and why they are here.

“I can tell you that in Mankato, I hear ‘Why are there so many Somali people here? Why did they come to Mankato?'” she said. “But they come for the same reasons why most of us stay. Access to jobs, education, safety and security, a slower pace. They choose our community. One of the central pieces of community is that we all belong.”

Hayes encouraged everyone to think about all the different reasons people choose to call Fairmont “home,” and to acknowledge that everyone experiences a community differently.

Next up, those present thought of what can be done in the community moving forward, to keep the discussion going and make the community more inclusive.

Hayes noted one idea St. James community members came up with was to have a multicultural festival in which about 30 ethnicities were represented, and food and music was shared as a way to embrace different cultures.

Those present at the meeting Thursday wrote ideas on Post-it notes, then put them on the wall for Hayes to read. The ideas were then talked about within the group.

One idea is to have a series in the newspaper that showcases different people’s stories. Several people were in favor of having a multicultural fair, similar to what St. James had. Another popular idea was having a sort of “welcome wagon” with which to greet new people.

One frustration voiced is that more diversity is needed in different organizations, but it’s unknown how to go about engaging with new people and inviting them to join an organization. A suggestion was made to personally invite someone to an invite, rather than just send out mass invitations.

With all of the ideas written on the wall, the attendees went up to put check marks next to the three ideas they want to pursue first and feel most energized about. The idea that received the most votes was “storytelling.”

Hayes stressed that when people share their stories, they need to share them truthfully instead of leaving out the bad experiences.

“These stories help inform us where we may have blind spots or where we may not be seeing the entire picture or the incomplete experience of people who come into our community and then how we can make it better,” she said.

It was discussed that in order to help make people feel like they are part of the community, it is important to share individual stories so people can become aware of and appreciate both the differences and similarities in each other.

There will be another open community discussion from 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 26 in the Fairmont Elementary School Budd Room. Anyone with questions may contact the CER office at (507) 235-3141.