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
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...
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.