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
Congrats to our 2021 Capitol Pathways cohort!
On June 10th, 2021, we gathered virtually to recognize the accomplishments of 32 students and 32 host organizations working together to broaden access for the next generation of leaders in policy.
Happy 100th Birthday, Tom Swain!
Former Citizens League board chair Tom Swain is turning 100 on July 4, 2021!
Watch Now: Understanding the Legacy of Racial Covenants in our Communities
Watch now: Tom Weber and guest Kirsten Delegard from Mapping Prejudice dive deep into how racial covenant policies have made a lasting impact, and what can be done to shape a more inclusive future.
Watch the discussion: Interconnected: Rural-Urban Conversations — Examining Healthcare Access
Watch now: A conversation focusing on healthcare access in urban & rural areas in Minnesota.
Citizens League submits recommendations from the Community-First Public Safety Commission to Mayor Carter and City Council
Diverse 48-member group convened for five months tasked with re-envisioning emergency response in Saint Paul
Update on the Saint Paul Community-First Public Safety Commission
In late 2020, the Citizens League was selected by the City of Saint Paul to lead a Community-First Public Safety Commission to help shape the City’s continued work to take a holistic and sustainable approach to building safer outcomes in our neighborhoods.
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
Through our engagement with communities in Minnesota, we strive to help people understand that public policy happens everywhere, and everyone has a role in decision-making.
Our events are organized around these goals, inviting a panel of different viewpoints to discuss policy issues that affect Minnesotans. We cover such topics as mental health, aging, disruptive protests, and water quality. Those in attendance can expect ample opportunity to voice their perspectives, questions, and ideas as well.