Abstract
This qualitative study examines how Minneapolis City employees and community members perceive and experience the efforts of the City to engage them in public safety reform through community engagement initiatives. Although the City has pledged to prioritize racial equity and inclusion, many community members describe these engagement practices as manipulative and tokenizing. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Critical Race Theory and Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation, and guided by participatory action research and narrative inquiry, this study centers community voices. Data were collected through a community learning exchange involving City employees and residents, followed by semi-structured interviews with four community participants with extensive experience in engagement efforts. Thematic and narrative analyses revealed themes of performative engagement, tokenism, power hoarding, and aspirations and concerns with partnerships between the City and the community. This study contributes to the understanding of engagement practices in public safety and relationships between local governments and their communities. The study also offers recommendations for cities aiming to foster trust, redistribute power, and establish genuine partnerships with communities to co-create community-driven public safety solutions.
Advisor
Leslie Locke
Committee Member
Antonia Felix
Committee Member
Natalie Rasmussen
Date of Degree
2025
Language
english
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Program of Study
Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Leadership
College
Education
Recommended Citation
Reese, M. (2025). A path to trust: Addressing performative engagement and building authentic relationships between cities and communities [Doctoral dissertation, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1564/
Rights Statement
