Each year for the past decade, Minnesotans have gathered for an evening to recognize what makes our state unique: An enduring civic culture, innovative leadership, and a commitment to find solutions that work for everyone. At the Civic Celebration, we honor those whose work has inspired, challenged, and transformed the wider community.

On March 18, 2021, the Citizens League held its annual Civic Celebration honoring community volunteer, Phyllis Rawls Goff, and former Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Charles R. Vig.

Community Volunteer

Phyllis Rawls Goff
Former Chairman, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

Charles R. Vig

Community Volunteer

Phyllis Rawls Goff

Phyllis Rawls Goff serves as a community volunteer with several nonprofit organizations across the Twin Cities area, including the Minnesota Historical Society, the McKnight Foundation, the Saint Paul YWCA, the Montessori Center of Minnesota, the Wilder Foundation, and Penumbra Theatre.  Prior to retirement, Goff worked as an executive in the industries of telecommunications, higher education administration, and philanthropy. Her career included handling government relations, community affairs and customer service at US West and Qwest (now CenturyLink/Lumen); serving as chief of staff to the president at Hamline University; and interim chief of staff at The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Foundation.  She currently resides in Saint Paul, adores spending time with her grandchildren, her volunteer work, and promoting Saint Paul.

Former Chairman, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

Charles R. Vig

Charles R. Vig is the former Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. A passionate advocate for his tribe, Vig served the SMSC in several elected positions for nearly 30 years. Before becoming Chairman in 2012, he served as the SMSC’s Vice-Chairman. Vig also served for 14 years on the SMSC Gaming Enterprise Board of Directors, which oversees Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino. He was chairman of the board when he was elected to the Business Council. Vig was also previously the chairman of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association; a member of the board of directors for Greater MSP; and the SMSC’s representative to the National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Association. He was among Global Gaming Business Magazine’s “25 People to Watch in 2017” and one of Indian Country Today’s “50 Faces of Indian Country” in 2015.

Speakers include Mayor of Prior Lake Kirt Briggs; Bill Rudnicki, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Tribal Administrator; Lou and Sarah Bellamy of Penumbra Theatre; Mitch Davis of Davis Family Dairies; Pam Wheelock, former interim president, McKnight Foundation; Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, secretary/treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Andy Vig, member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Gaming Enterprise Board of Directors.

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Citizens League
400 Robert St N, Suite 1820
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 293-0575