The Latest from the League
Recap: Policy and a Pint – “The Caregiving Sandwich”
On Tuesday, December 5th, the Citizens League and Minnesota Public Radio's The Current hosted their last Policy and a Pint event of 2017. We discussed "The Caregiving Sandwich": The challenges and opportunities surrounding individuals who care for both their children...
Introduction: A Backup Plan for Solo Seniors
By 2030, more than 1 in 5 Minnesotans will be age 65 or older. A significant portion will be people without traditional family support – “solos” – or people aging alone.
Policy and a Pint®: Making It Our Business
For over a decade, we have partnered with Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current to engage people in important conversations about public policy and issues in the news. These conversations, usually held in the casual setting of a bar, restaurant, or theater, ...
A Coming-of-Age Story
As Minnesota’s “older adult” demographic multiplies, innovation is needed to address the opportunities and challenges Public dialogue around immigration rates, insurance costs, and educational trends too often fails to factor in the aging of America. According to the...
Trains, Politics, and Automobiles
"State lawmakers could save themselves time and trouble with the counsel of 21 Minnesotans brought together by the Citizens League to make sense of the state’s vexing disagreement over sustainable transit funding,” exclaimed the Pioneer Press’s editorial board in the...
Beyond Civility
Healthy disagreement is essential to our democracy, and it doesn't have to hurt By David Schimke, founding editor, Citizens League Voice I’ve been itching for an argument since I learned to talk. Just ask my parents. When I was in grade school, I spent countless hours...
A Website for the Ages: Calling Home
What does home mean to you? When we’re starting our careers and families, it’s a question we often answer unconsciously as we make in-the-moment life decisions. On the other side of middle age, though, the concept becomes more complex and tends to require more...
MinnPost Commentary: The case for good debate
In case you missed it, Citizens League Executive Director Sean Kershaw and Citizens League Voice founding editor David Schimke explain why healthy debate is needed now more than ever. "Instead of working together to find the best solutions to our common concerns, too...
A GOOD DEBATE: WHOSE STREETS?
The Case For and Against Disruptive Protest Essays by Representative Nick Zerwas, Sarah Janeblum, and Neeraj Mehta. Each quarterly issue of Citizens League Voice will feature a section that involves bringing people together to share their differing opinions on a...
Informed. Engaged. Empowered
Wilder Foundation’s Community Equity Pipeline helps young leaders of color navigate the state capitol By Adam Wahlberg Walking the grounds and wandering the halls of the Minnesota State Capitol, one can’t help but be awed. Its white marble exterior, influenced by the...
How To Mobilize
Patty Thorsen’s transit work is highly personal—and effective By Jacqueline White Though her high-rise residence at City Walk Condominiums in downtown St. Paul puts her less than a mile from the Minnesota State Capitol building, Patty Thorsen has to draw on her...
Citizens League To Welcome New Board Members in 2018
Jessica Bell, John Knapp, Damon Shoholm and Kurt Zellers to join Citizens League board in 2018 The Citizens League will welcome four new members to its Board of Directors in 2018. At the Citizens League's Annual Meeting last week, members approved the election of...
Whose Streets?: Just the Facts
By David Schimke A new generation of protesters is becoming increasingly vigilant and disruptive. Lawmakers, citing public safety, are writing legislation to deter their behavior. For many Twin Citians, the week of July 4, 2016, remains seminal. The holiday took place...
To Afflict the Comfortable
By Neeraj Mehta For many people of color, protest isn’t a strategy to be analyzed—it’s a matter of life and death. Any debate or conversation about injustice, problem solving, or social change should begin by acknowledging that we often have different experiences,...
Citizens League Honors Dr. Josie Johnson & Susan Kimberly at Annual Civic Celebration
Thanks to all who joined us for this year's Civic Celebration honoring Dr. Josie Johnson and Susan Kimberly! Each year the Citizens League invites its members, partners and others in the community to the Civic Celebration. It’s an opportunity for other politically...
The Dangers of Disruption
By Rep. Nick Zerwas Why I want to increase penalties for protesters who block traffic Our country relies on the American people to be able to create and have constructive dialogue. Citizens can get involved in their community through communicating with their elected...