Common Ground.
Common Good.
The Citizens League is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers people to engage in civic life and public policy to make Minnesota a better place to live and work for everyone.
Recent News
Minnesota Legislative Exchange
A first-in-the-nation effort to build trust and relationships across the political aisle in Minnesota.
Capitol Pathways Student Spotlight: Sahra Jilaow
Learn more about Sahra Jilaow, a senior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities double majoring in Sociology of Law and African & African American Studies. Through Capitol Pathways, she is interning at the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage.
Thanks for a great Civic Celebration!
Photos & Video: Hundreds of civic leaders, policy thinkers, and community builders gathered on April 10 for an evening to celebrate the people and ideas that make our state unique.
Interconnected: Shifting Landscapes – Understanding Migration Patterns in Minnesota
Watch now: Our latest Interconnected conversation co-hosted by the Center for Rural Policy & Development and the Citizens League covers shifting migration patterns in MN.
Report: Strengthening Public Service
Citizens League report on public service careers in Minnesota identifies recruitment and retention challenges, opportunities
Capitol Pathways Student Spotlight: Armando Akapo-Nwagbo
We begin our 2025 series of Capitol Pathways Student Spotlights by highlighting Armando Akapo-Nwagbo, a senior at Macalester College interning with Fresh Energy.
Current Work
Minnesota Legislative Exchange
The Minnesota Legislative Exchange is a first-in-the-nation effort to build trust and bipartisan relationships in state legislatures. As Minnesota’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit focused on civic engagement and public policy solutions, Citizens League is proud to lead this important effort, intentionally forging new relationships to bridge divides and govern our state effectively.
Capitol Pathways
With the long-term goal of making our government truly representative of our communities, the program opens access to the Minnesota Capitol to the next generation of leaders of color. Through this program, interns build relationships with established Capitol leaders, gain exposure to various kinds of careers in policy, get real-world experience in career fields they would like to learn more about and build a strong professional resume in the process.
Strengthening Public Service
Citizens League is embarking on a new project to dig deeper and explore the unique challenges and barriers to public service, with a particular emphasis on non-elected roles and people who make our state’s local governments work.
Events
The Citizens League hosts forums for civil discussion across Minnesota. Our event series includes events that are open to the public, member-only and workplace events to help inform and engage Minnesotans on important policy and civic leadership discussions.