New One Woodbury Event Unites City

Pictured in this story are several—but not all—of the of the planning commitee members from differing community organizations. Find the City of Woodbury’s Community Engagement Resource Guide at woodburymn.gov. Photos: Chris Emeott

Woodbury celebrates its diverse community through an all-new inclusive event.

This September, Woodbury residents have the opportunity to celebrate the faces and cultures that make up our diverse community at the new One Woodbury event.

“The idea for the event came to be through a city-led community engagement planning process last summer where a diverse group of community members and staff gathered to create the Community Engagement Resource Guide,” says Shelly Schafer, community engagement and equity coordinator for the City of Woodbury, noting that the guide serves as a resource to build equitable community engagement. “In our discussion, it was identified that there was a desire to create a better feeling of belonging and connectedness within our community.”

Woodbury resident Temmy Olasimbo brought forward the idea for One Woodbury, an event similar to one that she created for her employer, Best Buy. “I was able to create an event a few years ago at the Best Buy corporate offices … [I wanted to create] a sense of people feeling like they truly belong and the celebration of community,” Olasimbo says.

Alongside, but separately from, Olasimbo dreaming up this event, the Woodbury Community Foundation and local YMCA gathered community members to work on racial equity; that group identified the need of hosting more culturally diverse events in Woodbury. Now, One Woodbury has more than 40 people on its planning committee and has been a collaborative effort between the City of Woodbury, Washington County, South Washington County Schools, the Woodbury Community Foundation, YMCA and several residents. And Olasimbo, who also serves as a commissioner on the Community Development Agency and as a member of the Washington County Board’s Board of Commissioners, has put forth her insight in creating the event.

“My vision for the event is everyone being able to see themselves. When you come to the event, I want you to feel a great sense of belonging and have a curiosity to learn about other people,” she says. “It’s really a great opportunity for us to be able to do that.”

One Woodbury

According to Schafer, One Woodbury will include diverse performances, food trucks, vendors and educational opportunities—all with the goal of celebrating different cultures, faiths and identities within the community.

Headlining One Woodbury is the city’s own Nunnabove—a positive alternative pop group made up of four siblings. “They have always wanted to perform in Woodbury, and this felt like a great opportunity to give them that platform and for the city to be able to enjoy their music,” Schafer says.

“My hope is that the impact will be something where we are able to truly and positively interact with each other and engage with each other. One thing that prohibits that from happening is a sense of unknown—the first gut reaction is to be fearful of it,” Olasimbo says. “I’m hoping this creates that dialogue to bring that intentional curiosity of ‘What is this about? I want to learn more. What kind of music do they listen to or food do they eat?’

“… I really, truly, want it to be something that everyone [will] belong. Where you can feel that energy that, ‘This is the place for me, and I can grow and thrive.’ It’s a place where we have curiosity to learn more about each other,” Olasimbo says.