# Keen Independent Research *Author of the 2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, Phase 1 Report.* Keen Independent Research is the author of the *2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, Phase 1 Report*, a document posted on the State of [[Minnesota]]'s mn.gov site.[^1] According to the report's summary (pp. 4–5), sixteen governments commissioned the study on February 15, 2024. Three of them are Hennepin County, [[Hennepin Healthcare]] and the [[City of Minneapolis]]. The report was completed on July 30, 2025.[^1] The report describes its own method as "based on relevant case law" and names Holland & Knight as legal subconsultant.[^1] The project's dossier links the study to paragraph 54 of a complaint published by the [[United States Department of Justice]]. It also links the study to a case entry at Clearinghouse.net.[^2][^3] This record does not carry the complaint's text, caption, docket, filing date or status. It therefore states none of the complaint's allegations. The record also does not establish the study's findings, its conclusions, or how any commissioning government used it.[^1][^2] ## Who Keen Independent Research is named as the report's author.[^1] The study was commissioned jointly by sixteen governments. The record names three of them: Hennepin County, Hennepin Healthcare and the City of Minneapolis. It does not name the other thirteen.[^1] ## What The document is the *2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, Phase 1 Report*. Its title identifies it as the first phase of a joint study.[^1] The record does not carry any of the report's findings, figures or recommendations. It also does not show whether a later phase has been issued.[^1] ## When - February 15, 2024: the study is commissioned by sixteen governments.[^1] - July 30, 2025: the Phase 1 Report is completed.[^1] ## How The report says its methodology is "based on relevant case law." It names Holland & Knight as legal subconsultant.[^1] The record does not describe the report's data sources, sampling or statistical methods.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### What The State's own account of its contracting policy appears in [[Mark Dayton]]'s Executive Order 16-01. That order established a Diversity and Inclusion Council and rescinded Executive Order 15-02.[^4] The order's preamble makes several statements about the State's values: - It declares that "diversity and inclusion are core values of the State of Minnesota and a priority of the Dayton Administration."[^4] - It states that the State "is committed to being a leader across the United States on issues of diversity and inclusion."[^4] The order gives the council these duties and structures: - The council is to recommend best practices in recruiting, retaining and promoting state employees, in state contracting, and in civic engagement.[^4] - A Contracting Practices Committee, chaired by the Commissioner of Administration, reports to the council.[^4] - The council's members include the Chair of the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)]] and the President of the [[University of Minnesota]].[^4] - The order states that the council's duties support the state's [[Affirmative action]] program.[^4] The record does not document a connection between this executive order and the Keen Independent Research study.[^1][^4] ## Notes [^1]: Keen Independent Research, *2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, Phase 1 Report* (July 30, 2025), Summary pp. 4–5 — commissioned February 15, 2024 by sixteen governments including Hennepin County, Hennepin Healthcare and the City of Minneapolis; completed July 30, 2025; methodology "based on relevant case law"; Holland & Knight as legal subconsultant. https://mn.gov/admin/assets/Minnesota2025JointDisparityPhase1Report_tcm36-694695.pdf [^2]: United States Department of Justice, *Complaint* (date not in this record) — cited at ¶ 54 in the project's dossier note on the Phase 1 Report; text, docket and status not carried in this record. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^3]: Clearinghouse.net, *Case entry no. 47712* (date not in this record) — listed in the project's dossier note alongside the Phase 1 Report and the DOJ complaint. https://clearinghouse.net/case/47712/ [^4]: Governor of Minnesota, *Executive Order 16-01: Establishing the Diversity and Inclusion Council; Rescinding Executive Order 15-02* (filed 2016) — the council's establishment, membership, duties and Contracting Practices Committee; the stated "core values" and "leader" language; the statement that its duties support the state's affirmative action program. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/archive/execorders/16-01.pdf