National Action Network's Tay Elhindi Joins Brooklyn Park Mayor for Roundtable Conversation on Equity and AI in Local Government
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston sits at a table with guest speakers Tay Elhindi and Michael Halagan during an April 29 roundtable discussion at the Brooklyn Park Library. Three area teens, who are members of the library's Teen Tech Squad, were among the residents in attendance.
Photo by Jack Wiedner.
Brooklyn Park, MN – April 29, 2025 — Taycier Elhindi of the National Action Network joined Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston on April 29 for a pivotal roundtable discussion on the implications of artificial intelligence in local government. The event, hosted at the Brooklyn Park Library, brought together community leaders, youth, and tech experts to explore the role of AI in civic life and its potential to either bridge or widen existing social divides.
As a featured speaker representing one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations, Elhindi brought a critical perspective to the conversation. Responding to Mayor Winston’s remarks on the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools to streamline city operations, Elhindi posed an essential question: “How are you checking and balancing your AI use, especially in a city that is 64% people of color?” She underscored the risks of using AI trained on biased internet data, cautioning that without deliberate oversight, these systems can replicate and even amplify systemic inequalities.
Mayor Winston, a founding member of the Community Innovation Partnership (CIP)—a coalition of eight mayors committed to leveraging emerging technology for public good—acknowledged the concerns, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded education in both technology and social context. “Any outcome you see is very rarely random,” he said. “It’s attached to a whole system. You have to understand that system from end to beginning.”
The conversation also included insights from Michael Halagan of Local AI, who emphasized the future of AI will rely on custom-built, job-specific models that are mindful of local needs and communities.
With local teens from the Brooklyn Park Library’s Teen Tech Squad in attendance, the event highlighted the growing need for AI literacy among young people and the responsibility of public institutions to provide access and education.
This timely dialogue underscores National Action Network’s commitment to equity in emerging technologies and affirms the need for inclusive policies that ensure AI serves all communities—especially those historically left behind.