Walk into a workspace and you can feel it. Some places invite connection and creativity. Others, not so much.

We launched the Inclusive Spaces Initiative in 2024 under the guidance and support of our Office of Inclusion and Belonging. The goal was simple but powerful: create work environments that make employees feel connected, supported and valued. 

The project began with a call to Department of Public Safety (DPS) staff to join the Inclusive Spaces workgroup to reimagine how our physical spaces can support the work we do. Employees from across the agency stepped up. They brought different experiences, priorities and perspectives, and quickly discovered the power of combining their voices.

At first, the team focused on a simple task: renaming DPS meeting rooms. But they didn’t want to make decisions in a vacuum. Instead, they asked DPS employees to choose names showcasing Minnesota’s diversity, beauty and cultures. From Mille Lacs to Cedar to Itasca, the choices reflected a collective sense of identity — not just where we work, but the state we serve.

Deputy Commissioner Cassandra O’Hern encouraged us to dream even bigger. 

“When we spend this much of our time and energy doing something, it makes sense that we would like to feel valued, included and respected at work,” O’Hern said. “We want to experience ‘belonging.’ When we feel like we belong, we’re more likely to look forward to work and see our contributions as valuable.”

Those contributions matter because when employees feel connected, they can collaborate more effectively and deliver better results for Minnesotans.

Design consultant Melissa Jancourt guided the process, interviewing staff and leading workshops to explore what inclusion and connection mean to different people. Her goal was to translate feelings into visual design. What does a welcoming space look like? What does it sound like? What makes someone feel comfortable, focused and inspired?

For Dan Kerwin in our Driver and Vehicle Services division, the work felt personal.

“America is a melting pot of different backgrounds and cultures,” he said. “We’re trying to make a space that works for everybody. These spaces are just an extension of what we already do at DPS, making sure all Minnesotans are safe and supported. The more inclusive we are internally, the better we serve the public.”

That mindset was a theme across the project. Team members shared stories about what names, symbols and spaces meant to them, from childhood memories of local landmarks to Indigenous traditions tied to Minnesota’s natural resources. 

Yeeleng Vue is on our Community Affairs team. He described these conversations as “planting seeds,” with ideas growing into bigger opportunities for connection. 

“Everyone really wanted to be there to contribute and support in any way they could,” he said. “The meetings created space to make a difference — ideas were heard, acknowledged and valued.”

Ray Nash, who joined the project later as part of the facilities team, was struck by how much research supports the process. From the effects of color and sound to café-style seating and lighting, every decision tied back to data about how design influences collaboration, creativity and productivity. 

“This was an agency-wide effort to make our spaces more welcoming and a place where people want to come to work,” Nash said. “That helps all of us do our jobs better, and that benefits the people of Minnesota.”

What started as a room-naming project has become a broader initiative focused on belonging, accessibility and collaboration. Soon, the team will move into the design phase. They’ll consider ideas like interfaith prayer spaces, additional collaboration areas and other improvements that reflect the diversity of DPS and the communities we serve.

By creating environments where DPS employees feel respected and supported, we’re building the foundation for stronger teamwork, better innovation and better service to the people who count on us every day.