Ways to Engage

Policy Project Updates and Involvement Opportunities:

Anniversary outreach parties: As part of our 60th anniversary year, we invite more than 60 Citizens League members to host events at their home or workplace to introduce friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family members to the Citizens League. These events can focus on an issue impacted by the Citizens League, take the format of a workshop, or simply be an informal celebration and gathering. To host, contact Dani Fisher at dfisher[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1077.

Capitol Tracking: The Citizens League plans to advance a number of issues during the 2013 legislative session, including reforms to support prosperity, evaluate tax exemptions and deductions, reduce traffic congestion, and more. Members' help is needed to track these issues as they move at the Legislature. For more information and to volunteer, contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1072.

Check My Lake Online Portal: The Citizens League and Conservation Minnesota are developing an online portal for people across Minnesota to find and share information about the quality of our lakes. From a smartphone, tablet, or computer, users can view water quality, invasive species, and other information. Beta testers are needed as the portal is developed and new features are added. For more information and to volunteer, contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1072.

Common Cents: Minnesota - like many other states - faces significant budget challenges. The state budget is unstable and will be for years to come unless major changes are made. The Citizens League has launched set of workshops, "Common Cents: Minnesotans Weigh in on Taxes & Spending," in an effort to ask Minnesotans: What values and priorities are important to solving Minnesota's budget challenges for the long-term? For more information and to register for upcoming workshops, visit the Common Cents website or contact Juve Meza at jmeza[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1073.

The Communications Committee is charged with clarifying the key messages and case for change that the Citizens League offers, and improving the various methods through which we communicate with our members and the public. The committee meets approximately four times per year, with subgroups that focus on different areas. New members are always welcome. For more information and to get involved, contact Larry Schumacher at lschumacher[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1074.

The Development Committee is charged with developing and sustaining a long-term base of financial support for the Citizens League to achieve its mission, focused on individuals and businesses. The committee meets three to five times per year. New members are always welcome. For more information and to get involved, contact Dani Fisher at dfisher[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1077.

Electrical Energy: The Citizens League is convening a diverse group of Minnesotans to develop recommendations in answer to the question: What system-level policy changes would promote electrical efficiency in the long term? Working teams will meet every three to four months, approximately through April. Individuals with varying levels of expertise are encouraged to participate. For more information or to get involved, visit our project page or contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1072.

Emerging Leaders have three primary goals in mind: to provide opportunities for emerging leaders to learn about the work of the Citizens League and get engaged in policy work, to provide leadership and civic development opportunities to emerging leaders, and to provide opportunities for inter-generational dialogue about important policy topics. New members are always welcome. For more information and to get involved, contact Cat Beltmann at cbeltmann[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1075.

Higher Education: The Citizens League is focusing on three key challenges facing Minnesota's postsecondary education system: (1) 21st-century workers need the skills to invent, adapt, and reinvent on the job and in their careers; (2) Citizens need easy access to formal and informal educational opportunities throughout their lifetime; and (3) Students need help identifying, navigating, and creating career pathways. We are now exploring opportunities for projects that will help students improve their career and educational choices and optimize their time in the post-secondary system. For more information visit our project page or contact Lindsey Alexander at lindseyalexanderconsulting[at]gmail.com or 651-329-1328.

The Membership Committee is charged with helping to develop member recruitment and retention strategies for the Citizens League. The committee meets three to four times per year. New members are always welcome. For more information or to get involved, contact Cat Beltmann at cbeltmann[at]citizensleague.org or 651-298-1075.

Long-Term Care Financing: The Citizens League is supporting a framework of three essentials to encourage and support personal responsibility: (1) A strong reason to become financially prepared (Medicaid reform); (2) A mix of financial products that provide families the opportunity to prepare, appropriate for varying family situations and financial capacities; and (3) The knowledge and information to make sound choices. We are exploring opportunities to create reforms and savings products to advance this framework. For more information visit our project page or contact Lindsey Alexander at lindseyalexanderconsulting[at]gmail.com or 651-329-1328.

Pathways to Prosperity: The Citizens League is advancing reforms to fundamentally redefine and restructure current policies that react to poverty and begin to build a system that supports prosperity for those who set goals and are accountable. The cornerstone of our work will be establishing Family Independence Demonstrations: groups of families that develop networks and build human capacity rather than “family-professional” relationships that often build dependency. We are also pursuing legislative reforms to support this approach. For more information visit our project page or contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1072.