James C. Burroughs II

James C. Burroughs II is senior vice president of  government and community relations and chief equity and inclusion officer at Children’s Minnesota, one of the largest freestanding  pediatric health systems in the nation. James’ key focus areas include patient quality initiatives, employee recruitment and retention strategies, organizational culture, increasing financial investment with diverse businesses, and initiatives that address the social determinants of health for patients and families. James also  leads efforts to advance community relations and champion policies that improve children’s  health and well-being. 

James has more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, equity, diversity,  inclusion and employment law. Prior to Children’s Minnesota, James served in the Office of  Governor Mark Dayton as the state of Minnesota’s first chief inclusion officer, also making  history as the first state Chief Inclusion Officer in the country. 

James serves on the boards of Achieve Twin Cities, the American Red Cross-Minnesota and  Dakotas Region and the YMCA of the North. He is a member of the Nemours Children’s Health  Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, the Groundbreak Coalition Steering Committee and the  Mortenson Family Foundation, Expanding Opportunities for Children and Families Committee.  

On behalf of Children's Minnesota and other corporate and nonprofit partners, James founded  the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi  Fraternity, Incorporated. 

James earned a law degree at Georgetown University and completed his BA in political science  at Morehouse College. 

He is the proud father of Teresa Ann Burroughs.