"The deaths of #JamarClark and now #PhilandoCastile cause Minnesotans to again question our reputation as a highly educated, healthy, and progressive state that has a thriving economy and is a safe place to raise children. Police shootings, as well as the dramatically low median income among Minnesota’s African American population surfaced by the latest Census Bureau data last fall, have broadened the concern. The elimination of racial and ethnic disparities is receiving more attention from the Governor's office to the Metropolitan Council to philanthropy and the state's leading businesses. Even prior to these more recent flashpoints, there was a growing awareness of the embarrassing “Minnesota Paradox”: While our state ranks among the very best in overall quality of life, we also rank among the very worst in racial and ethnic disparities. Professionals in fields ranging from education and employment to health and housing – as well as grassroots advocates and the affected communities...