Civic Celebration
2017 Civic Celebration Honoring Dr. Josie Johnson and Susan Kimberly
Our annual bipartisan event on October 18th!
Rub elbows with other politically interested Minnesotans, catch up with old friends, meet new and interesting people – and have a good time doing it – at our annual Civic Celebration!
Come for the social hour with complimentary bites, cash bar, and lively meet-and-greet, and stay for our program where we’ll honor two civic trailblazers: Dr. Josie Johnson and Susan Kimberly. Our honorees this year have shown how an individual person can blaze a path that has ripple effects throughout the generations. We hope you can join us!
Civic Celebration
Wednesday, October 18th, 2017
5:30 Reception | 6:30 Program
Minneapolis Event Center
212 2nd St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414 (map)
Individual Tickets:
Citizens League Members & Elected Officials: $45.00
Non-members: $70.00
Annual Membership + Ticket: $95.00
Complimentary appetizers & cash bar
⇒ Now accepting sponsorships! Click here for sponsor levels and benefits.
Our Honorees
In 1964, Dr. Josie Johnson led a multiracial delegation of women from Minnesota to witness first-hand the civil rights struggle in Mississippi. She was chief of staff to the Lieutenant Governor George Brown of Colorado, the first African American lieutenant governor elected since Reconstruction. She served as acting director of the Minneapolis Urban League, as the first African American regent at the University of Minnesota and associate vice-president for academic affairs at the U. She lobbied for fair housing and employment opportunities and is a recognized leader in education and community involvement.
Susan Kimberly has decades of public service in Minnesota. As Bob Sylvester, she served on the St. Paul City Council in the 1970’s and as head of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. He later became an investment banker with Piper Jaffray. Following her transition, Susan was back at City Hall, working for Mayor George Latimer. She was selected by Mayor Norm Coleman as his deputy mayor, and later worked for him in his U.S. Senate office. She has led St. Paul’s Planning and Economic Development department and served as interim president of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. Susan’s commitment to public service is legendary.
For the last two years, we’ve sold out early for this fun and lively event. Don’t be left out!
In 2015, we celebrated retiring Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, Last year, we honored Wheelock Whitney & Dr. Glen Nelson. See below for pictures and video from these lively, memorable, sold-out events.
We hope you can join us this year!
Speakers Announced!
The Citizens League is excited to announce our line-up of speakers for the evening. Speakers will include Shawntera Hardy, Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development in Minnesota (DEED); John Harrington, Chief of Metro Transit Police, and former Chief of Police for the City of St. Paul and former State Senator; and Mike Veeck, president and part owner of the Saint Paul Saints, and five other successful minor-league teams.
As a part of the Civic Celebration program, Commissioner Hardy, Chief Harrington, and Veeck will not only speak specifically of the leadership of Dr. Johnson and Kimberly, but also how their civic lives serve as inspiration to a new generation of leaders.
Civic Celebration 2016
Citizens League 2015 Civic Celebration