Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

NAACP says MnDOT not meeting diversity goals

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

The NAACP says the Minnesota Department of Transportation is not hiring enough people of color and women.

Group officials say only 315 workers on 3,500 road projects are minorities.

A MnDOT spokesman did not have numbers immediately available, but said that department officials are concerned about the issue as well and work hard to meet diversity goals.

St. Paul NAACP president Jeffery Martin said the problem isn’t that there aren't enough workers of color.

He said there are job training programs meant to put more people of color in construction jobs like the those required for road construction.

Rather,  the problem is that contractors working on transportation department projects aren't hiring those workers, Martin said.

“What we would like to see is if you don’t meet the rules you don’t get another contract from the state," Martin said. "That’s the clearest message to send to them.”

Martin said the state’s Department of Human Rights requires 32 percent of work hours on public projects the Metro area be given to people of color. Women are supposed to get 6 percent of those project hours.