2021 Draft Priorities - Using an overarching diversity, equity and inclusion lens for policy consideration HUMAN CAPITAL Top Priorities: o Improve access to affordable health care, including a MinnesotaCare buy-in and pursuing other pathways to universal coverage. o Improve the economic security of households through successful safety net programs and ensure that pay and benefits for workers provide a route out of poverty. o Increase inves... Read More
The Minnesota Solution to close the $287 billion racial economic gap One of our partners in the Minnesota Equity Blueprint work, Dr. Bruce Corrie, co-founder of OneMN.org, testified recently at the Minnesota House Select Committee on Racial Justice, presenting The Minnesota Solution, a set of policy recommendations to address the racial economic gaps of the ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) comm... Read More
Reflections on Veterans Day & Public Policy Activism In lieu of regular e-news this week, I share some reflections on two related events: Veterans Day and our upcoming MN Equity Blueprint Blast-Off sessions to prioritize a legislative policy agenda for the 2021-22 session (Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, both noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom). These events are related in my heart and mind because of my Dad, Rod Leonard, a Korean War veteran ... Read More
Climate Change, COVID-19 and Disparities To keep climate change in the spotlight, we decided to do two newsletters in a row on environmental resilience— this time, we’re focusing on the intersection between climate change and the pandemic. At a time when less people are traveling and commuting, many are wondering whether it will have any impact, if at all, on climate change. In this podcast episode from MPR News titled “... Read More
GET OUT THE VOTE! Please take a look at this powerful video and share it widely! Thank you, Mark Ritchie! The Climate Clock is counting down… The giant digital clock installed at the Metronome in New York was recently converted into an artistic statement that counts down the time until an “an irreversible climate emergency alters human existence as we know it,” says a recent article from The Washington Post... Read More