Brokering Trust
Bridging Divides
The Citizens League is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for Minnesotans to engage in building a strong civic life and effective public policies.
Recent News
Structural Racism in Healthcare: Impact on Black Mothers – Mind Opener Event
Join our virtual event September 25th to hear from our panel about the ways structural racism in the healthcare system impact maternal health outcomes for Black women, how social isolation and loneliness impact Black mothers, and ways to get involved in the conversation and create a more equitable healthcare system.
2021 Slate of Board Nominees
With great enthusiasm, the Citizens League Board of Directors has approved the following slate of board candidates for 2021!
Announcement: Meet our New Executive Director, Kate Cimino
It is with great excitement that the Citizens League has named Kate Cimino as its next executive director!
Mind Opener: How Urban Design Can Affect a Community’s Health
Join our virtual event September 3rd to hear from experts about the importance of urban design, how space and place can impact our health.
Mind Opener recap: What is Food Justice, and Why is it Important?
Reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, culturally appropriate, and nutritious foods is an important social determinant of health and a lack of these can lead to serious health and mental health consequences.
#CapitolPathways Student Spotlight: Genesis Carrazco
As a senior at Hamline University, Genesis interned with Ramsey County during the 2020 Capitol Pathways program. Genesis is now one of 164 alumni of our policy internship program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in college.
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.
Civic Celebration 2026
The annual Civic Celebration, Citizens League’s premier fundraiser and networking event, will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026! Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds, political parties, and ideologies will gather for an evening to recognize Minnesota’s civic culture, innovative leadership, and a commitment working together across our differences to build trust and improve lives.