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
Audio: Policy On Tap – Sparking Joy and the World of Secondhand
Policy On Tap host Tom Weber was joined by a panel to talk the complex world of secondhand goods. Listen here!
Trust In Change: Cal Clark
Cal Clark spent his childhood and college years in Chadron, Nebraska, then came to Minnesota to join the Citizens League where he worked from 1970-1980 to streamline the organization’s approach to addressing civil issues. Learn more in this member spotlight.
Belonging: Kalia Xiong
Kalia Xiong is currently serving as the Capitol Pathways Program Manager at the Citizens League. Born the daughter of refugees from Thailand, she studied political science at Macalester College and was herself an intern in the Capitol Pathways program. Learn more in this member spotlight.
Paying Into The Pot Of Civility: Peter Bell
Citizens League member Peter Bell is Minnesota-born and has lived a diverse career path in regards to topics of civil importance. Learn more in this member spotlight.
We have a #GiveToTheMax Day Match!
Give to the Max Day donations will be matched up to $5,500! Donate now to help meet our match!
Capitol Pathways 2020: Now recruiting students!
We’re gearing up for the 5th year of Capitol Pathways, and we’re now recruiting students to apply for an internship during the 2020 legislative session!
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
The Citizens League hosts forums for civil discussion across Minnesota. Our event series includes events that are open to the public, member-only and workplace events to help inform and engage Minnesotans on important policy and civic leadership discussions.
Interconnected: Workforce Challenges and Opportunities for Local Government Entities in Minnesota
Join us for a timely Interconnected webinar co-hosted by the Center for Rural Policy and Development and the Citizens League exploring the findings of Strengthening Public Service in Minnesota, a new report from the Citizens League that examines the challenges and opportunities facing our state’s public workforce. Learn how Minnesota can better recruit, retain, and support the next generation of public servants—and why it matters for the future of our communities.