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
Announcement: Executive Director Transition
Bittersweet news: Citizens League Executive Director Kate Cimino is moving on. Read more from Citizens League Board Chair Breanna Schafer.
Watch now: Urban-Rural Conversations
This conversation series bridges the divide between urban & rural Minnesota by exploring our shared challenges and how to design a future that works for our unique communities. Watch the recorded conversations on topics like healthcare, elected office, and more.
Photos: Capitol Pathways Social at the State Capitol
While many Capitol Pathways interns have been at the Capitol for their internships during the session, for the first time this year, our Capitol Pathways students gathered as a cohort together at the Capitol late last week.
Capitol Pathways Student Spotlight: Amanda de Souza
“It is essential and urgent that people of color have access to decision-making spaces to craft policies,” says Capitol Pathways student Amanda De Souza. Read our Capitol Pathways Spotlight.
Capitol Pathways Student Spotlight: Jesus Gonzalez Ruiz
Meet Jesus Gonzalez Ruiz, a 2nd year student at Concordia College studying finance and accounting. Through Capitol Pathways, he is interning with Center for Rural Policy and Development.
Friday, April 14: Last Capitol Pathways Social
Join us for our final Capitol Pathways social of the year! Friends, hosts, and Capitol Pathways students will gather in the L’Etoile du Nord Vault Room at the Minnesota State Capitol on Friday, April 14, from 1pm-2pm.
Current Work
Interconnected: Rural-Urban Conversations
This conversation series – hosted by the Center for Rural Policy and Development and the Citizens League – bridges the divide between urban & rural Minnesota by exploring our shared challenges and how to design a future that works for our unique communities. All discussions are recorded and can be listened to and viewed online.
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.
Serving in Local Elected Office
Throughout the summer and fall of 2022, we sought out perspectives of those who have been asked to serve, those currently serving, and those running for local office in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Learn about what we heard.
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.