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
Recap: Policy and a Pint – “The Caregiving Sandwich”
On Tuesday, December 5th, the Citizens League and Minnesota Public Radio's The Current hosted their last Policy and a Pint event of 2017. We discussed "The Caregiving Sandwich": The challenges and opportunities surrounding individuals who care for both their children...
Introduction: A Backup Plan for Solo Seniors
By 2030, more than 1 in 5 Minnesotans will be age 65 or older. A significant portion will be people without traditional family support – “solos” – or people aging alone.
Policy and a Pint®: Making It Our Business
For over a decade, we have partnered with Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current to engage people in important conversations about public policy and issues in the news. These conversations, usually held in the casual setting of a bar, restaurant, or theater, ...
A Coming-of-Age Story
As Minnesota’s “older adult” demographic multiplies, innovation is needed to address the opportunities and challenges Public dialogue around immigration rates, insurance costs, and educational trends too often fails to factor in the aging of America. According to the...
Trains, Politics, and Automobiles
"State lawmakers could save themselves time and trouble with the counsel of 21 Minnesotans brought together by the Citizens League to make sense of the state’s vexing disagreement over sustainable transit funding,” exclaimed the Pioneer Press’s editorial board in the...
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...
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.
Mind Opener – Past, Present and Future: The Case for Liberal Arts Education
Join us for a special Citizens League Mind Opener, hosted and sponsored by Macalester College, as we delve into an insightful conversation about the future of liberal arts and higher education, and the role it can play in building a resilient, strong civic life for Minnesota and beyond.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
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.