Brooklyn Park residents can apply to serve on the Charter Commission by April 15, 2026. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga
Brooklyn Park residents can apply to serve on the Charter Commission by April 15, 2026. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga
Brooklyn Park is seeking applicants to fill six City At-Large seats on its Charter Commission, with submissions accepted through April 15, 2026. The commission reviews and monitors the city’s Home Rule Charter, a governing document akin to a constitution, and recommends changes to the City Council or voters when needed.
Brooklyn Park is one of Minnesota’s most diverse communities. The city’s population of roughly 83,000 is majority non‑white, with residents identifying as White (about 36%), Black or African American (approximately 30%), and Asian (around 20%), along with Hispanic, multiracial, and other groups.
More than 20% of the city’s population is foreign-born with 53% of the foreign-born being from Africa.
The commission consists of 11 citizen members and one city staff liaison. Members serve four‑year terms and meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., with a typical time commitment of about three hours monthly. Appointments are made by the Hennepin County Chief Judge following interviews.
Applicants must be qualified voters and residents of Brooklyn Park. For more information, contact the city clerk Devin Montero at [email protected].
Born and raised in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association.
An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association.
An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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