Recent climate talks & the Blueprint In today’s newsletter we want to draw attention to the climate talks happening in Scotland (referred to as COP26) this week. The summit is a convening of nearly 200 countries to discuss climate action, the AP reported. COP26 follows recent climate negotiations in Italy, where “major polluters including China and Russia had already made clear they had no immediate intention of following ... Read More
Public health and Minnesota We are talking about public health in this week’s newsletter not with the intention to weigh you down with heavy news, but to emphasize the importance of vigilance in combating this pandemic and to refocus conversation on the public health crisis that this country faces and must confront— both with COVID-19 and beyond. COVID-19 in Minnesota Around 3.2 million Minnesotans are fully vaccinat... Read More
Labor shortages in Minnesota — especially in education This week’s newsletter will focus on labor shortages in education and beyond, both in Minnesota and countrywide. Schools are dealing with not only COVID-19, but understaffing, struggling students, and frustrated parents, said MPR education reporter Elizabeth Shockman on Twitter. Shockman wrote this article at the end of September about school staff burnout. It outlines the... Read More
MN Equity Blueprint lauded in Brookings report The MN Equity Blueprint, co-created by G & J and OneMN.org alongside hundreds of rural and urban partners statewide, is featured this month in a new report, State resilience and recovery: Strategies to reduce inequality and promote prosperity by creating better places, published by the Brookings Institute. (See pages 23 & 26 of the report for the Blueprint shout-out). The collaborat... Read More
Following the Yes 4 Minneapolis charter amendment While many of you are likely already knowledgeable about the Yes 4 Minneapolis charter amendment, here’s a quick summary and explanation of what’s happening (as well as articles to send to those who aren’t familiar with it). The amendment would create a question on November’s ballot asking voters if they would like to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with ... Read More