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
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...
Citizens League To Welcome New Board Members in 2018
Jessica Bell, John Knapp, Damon Shoholm and Kurt Zellers to join Citizens League board in 2018 The Citizens League will welcome four new members to its Board of Directors in 2018. At the Citizens League's Annual Meeting last week, members approved the election of...
Whose Streets?: Just the Facts
By David Schimke A new generation of protesters is becoming increasingly vigilant and disruptive. Lawmakers, citing public safety, are writing legislation to deter their behavior. For many Twin Citians, the week of July 4, 2016, remains seminal. The holiday took place...
To Afflict the Comfortable
By Neeraj Mehta For many people of color, protest isn’t a strategy to be analyzed—it’s a matter of life and death. Any debate or conversation about injustice, problem solving, or social change should begin by acknowledging that we often have different experiences,...
Citizens League Honors Dr. Josie Johnson & Susan Kimberly at Annual Civic Celebration
Thanks to all who joined us for this year's Civic Celebration honoring Dr. Josie Johnson and Susan Kimberly! Each year the Citizens League invites its members, partners and others in the community to the Civic Celebration. It’s an opportunity for other politically...
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.