Post type Archives - Page 10 of 21 - TakeAction Minnesota

“Is it too much for me to ask for my receipt?”

Last week the Justice 4 All Program was supportive of an event at Lino Lakes led by a group of incarcerated men called the B.R.I.D.G.E Trust. This group is led by Kevin Reese who, even though he is incarcerated, has organized not just the men at the prison, but several community partners, the MN Dept. of Corrections (DOC) and the Governor’s office to take note of the powerful work they are leading to advance prison reform.

It is my pleasure to share Kevin Reese’s wisdom on the issue of Voting Rights Restoration with you. Please share with your people.

My name is Kevin Reese, and I’m 28 and I’ve been in prison since I was 18. I take full responsibility for my actions that led me here. The state of Minnesota sentenced me to 22 years to pay my debt to society, and paying my debt is what I’ve been doing. I’ve completed every mandate that the judge placed in front of me, and tapped into every resource the prison can offer.

Now I want to pose the question: after I pay my debt is it too much for me to ask for my receipt? And on that receipt can we acknowledge that, jobs, community, and family are the cornerstones to keeping people from ending up back in prison?… Continue reading »

Caregiving Resources – My Experience

When we first started talking to Willmar and area residents about care and care-giving for the elderly, several adult children said they were sometimes at a loss in dealing with issues of their aging parents.

We all know that as Minnesotans live longer lives they become exposed to various disabilities that require some help so they can remain in their own homes.

Just how adult children without a background in health care can deal with issues facing the elderly got me looking into some of the available resources.

One, with an emphasis on health care, is free training offered by the Minnesota Human Services Department. That agency offers online training in personal care of the elderly and disabled. While it leads to certification as a personal care assistant (PCA) after passing a test, the material it covers gives the average person a good grounding in topics ranging from responding to medical and non-medical emergencies to controlling infection to dealing with stress. That’s good training for all of us.

The nine-part online PCA course can be taken whenever it’s convenient; there is no deadline. At the end of the training those who register to take the final exam, which, like the course, is free, can earn PCA certification.… Continue reading »

Panel hears from both sides for easing drug-crime sentences

A Minnesota commission has heard both support and concern for easing the penalties for possession and drug dealing ahead of an impending vote on drug-sentencing changes.

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission received emotional testimony Wednesday as members weighed a proposal for drug-crime leniency. The main plan before them would cut two to three years off sentences for first-degree drug sales and reduce the severity levels assigned to first-degree drug possession and second-degree drug crimes. There would also be flexible sentences for other crimes and considerations for treatment for chemically dependent defendants.

People with prior felony convictions spoke of their trouble escaping addictions that made them into criminals. Faith leaders and other backers of an overhaul said drug laws have been too draconian and exacerbated racial disparities in the prison system.

Randy Anderson, a three-time felon in recovery for a cocaine addiction, told the panel that the assumption that all dealers are dangerous is ludicrous. At the height of his addiction, he was charged with possessing more than 1,000 grams of cocaine.

“I didn’t burglarize, I didn’t assault anyone, hell, I even paid my taxes,” Anderson said.

Robert Small, executive director of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, said law enforcement is worried about sending the wrong message to drug dealers and users.… Continue reading »

Changing the Story

2015 has been a full year. Personally, the biggest moment was August 22nd when my wife Teresa and I welcomed our third child into the world, baby Joseph. I’m now the father of three children under the age of 5, and my life is fuller – and my work for social change is more urgent – than ever before.

When I think back on the year, I have a lot of memories and lessons learned. I remember traveling around the Leech Lake Reservation with TakeAction member Christina Bowstring and hearing the heartbreaking and courageous stories of tribal members fighting against sex trafficking, drug abuse and poverty.

I remember a perfect fall day, looking out over Lake Superior while walking from one door to the next, as I and other volunteers got out the vote in Duluth.

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I remember the frustration of seeing a golden opportunity to restore voting rights to 47,000 people slip away in the final days of legislative session, and the hope and emotion I felt a few months later when the teenage son of Kevin Reese, an inmate at Lino Lakes prison, presented Gov. Dayton with letters from his father and 100 other inmates, asking that voting rights be restored.… Continue reading »

Nicole: Fighting for #RestoreTheVoteMN

My name is Nicole, and I’m a working mother of two who wants the best for my family and all others who’ve been impacted by the criminal justice system. That’s why I decided to connect with the Justice For All Program at TakeAction as soon as I found out about it.

On Election Day, I was invited to participate in the #RestoreTheVoteMn Twitter storm led Nicole by Jason Sole. The goal was to help raise awareness of disenfranchisement laws in Minnesota. As someone who has been through the justice system, I was more than happy to join forces with others like myself and community advocates who all fully understand the scope of this problem.

Currently in Minnesota, there are at least 47,000 men and women who are denied the right to vote, even after completing their time in prison. That’s 47,000 of our fellow Minnesotans who remain voiceless during our democratic process. I strongly believe that disenfranchisement laws in this state are wrong and serve no purpose other than the continued oppression of a sect of people who are told to rehabilitate themselves yet, continue to face obstacles at every turn.

I’m reminded of this every day, as I work hard to live with dignity alongside my family.… Continue reading »

Study: 42 percent of Minneapolis workers don’t have paid sick time

About 123,000 Minneapolis workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, according to a new analysis from the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

The report, released Thursday, says that number amounts to about 42 percent of Minneapolis residents ages 18 and older. It also notes that Hispanic workers are the least likely to have sick time, with 68 percent lacking access to paid leave. By contrast, 49 percent of black workers, 42 percent of Asian workers and 37 percent of white workers don’t have paid sick time.

Workers with the lowest rate of access to paid leave are those in service occupations, construction and maintenance, the report said. Part-time workers were also unlikely to have sick leave, with only 25 percent of those working less than 35 hours per week receiving that time off.

By contrast, 70 percent of workers who put in 40 hours a week have sick leave.

“We found that some of the most economically vulnerable are the least likely to have paid sick days,” said Jessica Milli, study director for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Milli said the breakdown of who does and doesn’t receive sick leave is similar to what her group has found in the entire state of Minnesota and in other communities across the country.… Continue reading »

TakeAction’s Justice 4 All: We Dare to Struggle

Two years ago last week in front of an audience of 300 people, Target announced their support for Ban the Box and the adoption of the policy for their company. Justice for A 1039758 ll (J4A) leaders and our allies fought long and hard to make that happen and earlier this week we had another victory with President Obama.

On Monday, Nov 2nd, 2015, President Obama issued an Executive Order to Ban the Box for all Federal jobs. This is something we have been working on with allies for months. Last week we had the opportunity to tell Senior Advisor to the President Valarie Jarrett the Target story and backed it up with 100,030 pettition signatures and letters from men incarcerated at Lino Lakes.

Fred Hampton once said “Those who dare to struggle, dare to win. Those who dare not struggle… Don’t deserve to win.” I am proud to say, that in J4A we dare to struggle and that is why we win.

Why do we take on BIG fights (Target, the White House, Restoration of Voting Rights)? We dare to struggle because anything else would be submission to a Justice System that targets our families for profit and demolition.

We dare to struggle because even when we win we know there is more work to do.… Continue reading »

Care Worker Story Series: Meet the TakeAction Senior Caucus

You have either been a caregiver, You are a caregiver, You will be a caregiver, Or someone will care for you. – Rosalynn Carter

In early September, members of TakeAction Minnesota’s senior caucus – a group of older TakeAction leaders who have been working together on organizing, issues, and politics for a little over a year – went to Willmar, Minnesota to talk to seniors about care and caregiving. You can read an article about the event from the West Central Tribune by clicki The Senior Caucus meeting in Wilmar ng here.

The Senior Caucus, inspired in part by Ai-jen Poo’s book “The Age of Dignity,” has decided
to do work around care and caregiving – recognizing that this issue is meaningful, touches everyone in one way or another, and is critically important as our state ages.

The meeting in Willmar was a listening conversation, a chance to hear people’s stories and experiences, and to explore what is working well and what needs to change. It was also an opportunity to build relationships with people who’re just as concerned and passionate about the work of care and caregiving. The team will be going back to Willmar in the middle of November to talk more about how we can begin to improve the experience of care and caregivers in the Willmar area and across Minnesota.… Continue reading »

Care Worker Story Series: Vivian

At our Aging Together event in Willmar, the Senior Caucus heard over and over again about how caring for family members can become a regular part of our lives, often at unexpected times. Here’s Vivian’s caregiving story:

In 2000, Vivian’s mother-in-law had a stroke, just 7 days after Vivian’s own mother passed away. The stroke left her left mother-in-law’s arm and hand compromised, and she also suffered a fall requiring a rod in the bone. This was an extremely stressful time for all of them.

Her mother-in-law went from assisted living to independent living in Willmar, where she has been for five years. At age 90, she is “determined and spunky”. When she decided to move to an apartment closer to the elevator, people told her that it was a bad idea because she would hear the noisy elevator. But this social woman just said, “I’ve decided to like it, and I will.”

Vivian and her husband live in Willmar and the rest of the family is scattered, although they receive some caregiving help from other family members. There are also times when Vivian and her husband need to get away for a while, and the rest of the family helps.… Continue reading »

Care Worker Story Series: Meet Todd and Kent

For this pair of brothers – Todd who’s fifty five, living in rural Grove City and Kent who’s sixty one, living in rural Atwater – it started as “keeping an eye on mom” as she got older. Soon it evolved into the practice of caregiving as their mother edges closer to 90 years of age. Both brothers are now semi-retired due to their own health issues, but they still make time to visit their mother regularly. They helped her relocate to a senior citizen complex in Grove City, where she has her own room.

At her new home, their mother benefits from hot meals at noon and communal dining, as well as the sociability of being part of a community where residents look after each other and offer companionship. Their mother also receives bi-weekly occupational therapy and physical therapy sessions after a hospital stay when she had difficulty breathing.

Todd and Kent are present in their mother life and they’re starting to understand the instrumental role they play in her life at this stage, the same way she did for them when they were children. They work hard to care for her, creating a schedule so that one of them visits her nearly every day.… Continue reading »

Care Worker Story Series: A Daughter Caring for her Parents

As an only child I spent much of my growing up years with adults. I enjoyed their company and encouragement. So it was natural that when my father was diagnosed with dementia, possibly Alzheimer’s, I knew it my responsibility was to assist my mother in his care at home. It wasn’t requested by either of my parents. This was what I wanted to do. I was less sure of my ability to do it.

Two weeks before my father’s diagnosis by a neurologist in Minneapolis, my husband and I had moved into our home in the Twin City area – two and a half hours from my parent’s home in Pennock. The doctor told my dad to continue doing the activities he enjoyed but to avoid starting anything new. It was fall of 1987. At this time I was employed part time. Not knowing what would happen next, I decided to resign my position. I knew I needed to be available on short notice to aid my mother.

The next years were filled with many large and small emergencies, including hospitalization, and a brief stay in a nursing home. My husband and I drove to my parent’s home with ever increasing frequency.… Continue reading »

Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Financing: Health Care or Health Insurance?

As a MN citizen and taxpayer; retired public health nurse; a health care reform advocate; and, someone who needs health care, I care deeply about people and how health care policy and financing affects them. Decisions made at the state level about health care directly impact me, my family, and my community.

I realized how complicated and unaffordable health insurance is when my husband and I retired early and were forced to purchase private insurance. We couldn’t find affordable coverage, and ended up being uninsured for a while and then paying way too much for our insurance. Now, we’re grateful to be on Medicare.

I’ve also volunteered in my community as a Navigator, helping folks get connected to new coverage options under the ACA. I’ve worked with countless families who struggle with the cost of coverage, while observing how insurance companies continue to make astronomical profits, even off of our public health care programs.

During the last legislative session, conservative legislators attacked public health programs such as MinnesotaCare and the MNsure exchange. Governor Dayton, recognizing the work that needs to be done to address these issues, initiated a Health Care Financing Task Force (TF). Made up of 29 members, there are 8 legislators and a variety of people representing categories of non-profit organizations, health care providers, the insurance industry, and others.… Continue reading »

Vision Duluth brings community together

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) — Duluth community leaders came together on Monday to launch a campaign called Vision Duluth.

The group is comprised of nine Duluth organizations that came together less than a year ago to work towards a more equitable community.

The group has gotten input from community members on what they would like to see changed or improved on in the city.

Organization members have created an all–inclusive conversation to identify disparities.

Some common disparities that were identified include how income, access to food, and access to quality education varies depending on what part of the city you happen to live in, but this is just the beginning of the conversation.

“We’re listening to people say, ‘I don’t make enough money to help my family live, I can’t go to the grocery store because I don’t have a car to drive in, or I don’t have a decent place to live and I don’t feel safe in my neighborhood.’ We’re giving them an opportunity to talk about these things and that’s what it’s all about,” said Candy Hershner, the Executive Director of the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse.

The next step is to have community leaders hear the message and then it’s hoped that change for the better stems from that.… Continue reading »

Vision Duluth will work to address social concerns

Nicole Williams has called West Duluth home for about 40 years now, and in that time she has made significant progress. She overcame homelessness and found stable housing. After learning to cope as a single mother, Williams now is happily married. And as other parts of her life fell into place, she earned a college degree.

“My vision for Duluth is better wages, because you can’t live on $9 an hour,” she said.

Williams was just one of many residents to join in shaping an initiative called Vision Duluth.

The initiative began with nine community organizations joining forces in an effort to promote equity in Duluth. At the core of the effort were TakeAction Minnesota, CHUM, SOAR Career Solutions, Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault, the YWCA-Duluth, the American Indian Community Housing Organization, Community Action Duluth, Education Minnesota and the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body.

Leading up to the official launch of Vision Duluth Monday, the group contacted 8,000 residents throughout Duluth via email, social media, face-to-face encounters and eight community conversations over the past nine months.

Organizers knocked on 800 doors and engaged in 256 individual conversations with neighbors in Spirit Valley, Denfeld, Lincoln Park and Park Point.… Continue reading »

Vision Duluth Launches!

For the last year we’ve been working hard at TakeAction and with other organizations to put together a shared vision for Duluth rooted in equity and democracy. Personally, I’ve participated in hundreds of conversations with people who’s voices are too often invisible and unheard. And I am so inspired by what has come out of these conversations and how it has created a clear path for our work at TakeAction. After hearing from hundreds of people, and sharing with thousands more, we are finally ready to bring this vision to the larger community. On October 19th we’re launching Vision Duluth!

What is Vision Duluth?

It began as nine organizations thinking together about how to strengthen our capacity to move forward policies that advance equity across our city. It moved into hundreds of conversations across our city where people began to imagine what a new vision for Duluth could be. It’s about working together, across organizations and with individuals, to address disparities by moving equitable solutions at a city level. Vision Duluth is rooted in the belief that together we are stronger, solutions must be shaped by those living experiences of injustice, and that we do so by being in deep, accountable, and transformative relationships with our elected officials.… Continue reading »

TAKING THE BAN THE BOX FIGHT NATIONAL

Last week Justice 4 All leaders and our partners had to be clear with Senator CQ9quqBWoAUKOFa Cory Booker’s staff – politics is personal. Senator Booker is moving bipartisan legislation called the #FairChanceAct. At first glance, this sounds like a great thing for families impacted by the Justice System. But in a room with people that collectively had over 300 years of prison time, it became clear that the #FairChanceAct is more about Republicans and Democrats playing nice together than real structural reform. We took that very personal.

One of our partners from All of Us or None had to remind Sen. Booker’s staff that slavery was a policy with bipartisan support. Jim Crow had bipartisan support and yes, mass incarceration had bipartisan support. The United States of America did not end up with 25% of the world’s prison population by accident. Lawmakers in partnership with corporate profiteers intentionally took us down this path.

Together, our coalition shared this message with both Sen. Booker’s staff and White House Staff. And we shared our message to the stage at the Million Man March. Our message was featured on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah. John Legend joined our fight by advancing our petition from the Color of Change.… Continue reading »

Getting our message to the governor

“I have never been in a situation where we got more time with the governor than scheduled.” So said my colleague Dan McGrath of TakeAction Minnesota as our morning meeting with Governor Mark Dayton was wrapping up.

TakeAction’s Justice 4 All organizer Justin Terrell had arranged a photo op with the governor to deliver 100 letters from inmates at Lino Lakes Correctional Facility asking for support of voting rights restoration for Minnesotans who have been released from prison (current Minnesota law calls for disenfranchisement until completion of probation).

This was a meeting long in the making. We had it scheduled for last spring, toward the end of the legislative session. But budget negotiations caused the governor to have to cancel our meeting then. That call came the morning of our scheduled meeting — disappointing for all involved, but especially for two people who have a real stake in this issue.

My friend at Lino Lakes Correctional Facility and the initiator of our BRIDGE partnership and this ongoing column is Kevin Reese. He had organized the writing of letters from his fellow inmates. The stories in those letters speak to the human costs of losing the right to vote and the deep desire to be connected and participating in our community.… Continue reading »

Fighting for Earned Sick and Safe Time in Minneapolis

My name is Angelo Love. I am a leader on the Organizing a New Economy Team at TakeAction MN working to ensure that every worker in Minnesota earns paid sick and safe time.

I believe this is a Angelo Love ONE 2 critical issue for our community – working families in Minneapolis and our state – because workers who don’t have any paid sick leave are forced to work sick. This can lead to their conditions worsening, and they can unintentionally get other workers sick, workers who also may not have earned sick time, and the cycle repeats itself. Workers should be able to take time off to get better and to care for their loved ones if they’re sick. I have paid sick leave, but I’ve also had times when I haven’t gathered enough hours to take time off. I know what it’s like to get up for work when you don’t feel well and to feel like the only option you have is to go in. And I know I’m not alone. That reality, is just not right.

It’s why I’m part of the local workers movement – composed of mothers, community leaders, students, fathers, and organizations like TakeAction – who are fighting to get earned sick & safe time passed at the municipal level and then the state level.… Continue reading »

A Crisis Demands Solutions

Did you see the Star Tribune’s article last week reporting that income for Black families had plummeted from its already dismal level? If you didn’t, pause right now and read it. Everyone should.

According to the US Census Bureau, from 2013 to 2014, Black households lost $4,500 of their annual median income, lowering it to $27,000. That’s a drop of 14%. White median income is $64,800. For Asian families, $68,000. Latino families sit at $42,000. The poverty rate in our state held steady at 11%, which is unacceptable. But for blacks, the poverty rate increased to 38%. Let me repeat: for Black households in Minnesota, more than 1 in 3 are living in poverty. This is truly damning. Everyone in our state should be outraged, embarrassed, and most of all, motivated to take action against this persistent pattern of injustice.

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As I read more and the facts began to sink in, here’s what became clear to me.
First, racism is baked into each and every system, structure, and institution in our state. Second, the elite consensus that has governed Minnesota for decades has deliberately avoided any conversation about racial disparities and the harm felt by all of us. Third, when we fail to confront this stark and painful reality, it slowly becomes accepted. … Continue reading »

Bold & Visionary change in Duluth

This year we had the awesome opportunity to talk with thousands of Duluthians about their vision for Duluth’s future. We collaborated with many organizations representing the diverse people of our communities to develop a shared vision for our city – AICHO, CHUM, PAVSA, SOAR Career Solutions, YWCA, Northeast Area Labor Council, Community Action Duluth and Education Minnesota.

What came of this is resounding shared interest in jobs that pay living wages with benefits like earned sick and safe time so people aren’t forced to choose between caring for a loved one and earning a paycheck. Residents wanting resources and consideration of needs to be spread across the city, increased green space, free youth activities & racial justice.

We have the unique ability at TakeAction to talk about these issues and more as we engage with voters in our community. We want to see bold and visionary change! The kind of change that happens when people – like our endorsed candidates who share our vision and the vision of so many Duluthians – are elected to office. Our endorsed candidates for November are: Gary Anderson (District 2); Em Westerlund (District 3); Joel Sipress (District 4); Janet Kennedy (District 5); Elissa Hansen & Noah Hobbs (At-Large); and Emily Larson for Mayor!… Continue reading »

Where does redemption come into the picture?

Mass incarceration has imposed such staggering human and economic costs on our communities that conservatives and liberals are finally reaching a consensus on the need to reform the criminal justice system. Momentum is building for a congressional bill that would eliminate or reduce mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent drug offenders.

This effort is welcome, and surprising, but depressingly inadequate. The Bureau of Prisons estimates that there are 95,000 federal drug offenders. Even if the bill could apply retroactively, it is so limited in scope that many would not qualify anyway.

It’s hard to see how the bill could affect even four percent of America’s 2.2 million prisoners going forward, let alone many of the 10,000 who are serving life sentences for nonviolent offenses.

I suspect the bill has gained bipartisan support for three reasons. First, it’s so easy to implement. Second, it only targets the least dangerous offenders. Third, there have been so many stories that have given us permission to feel empathy for those whose lives have been destroyed by lengthy prison terms for relatively minor crimes.

But limiting action to uncontroversial cases won’t have much of an effect on mass incarceration. We need greater efforts to expand our capacity for empathy by humanizing the tragedies that all people face through encounters with our adversarial system.… Continue reading »

Caring for older adults: Local forum kicks off statewide discussion on elder policy

WILLMAR — For some of the participants in a forum this week on aging, less red tape and better access to needed services would be a change for the better.

Others wanted to see better rural models of caring for older adults and more community awareness and education about the issues that come with aging.

TakeAction Minnesota, a grassroots organization that works for public policy change, launched its latest initiative Tuesday in Willmar — a campaign to reshape how Minnesota approaches the twin issues of aging with dignity and supporting the caregivers of older adults. The effort will be carried out statewide.

“We’re trying to start a network of people talking about this,” said Jane Price, of TakeAction Minnesota. “We need to start this conversation.”

About 40 people showed up for a town hall meeting Tuesday, hosted by the health ministry of the Church of St. Mary, to help begin the process of identifying issues, concerns and potential solutions surrounding the graying of the population and its growing impact on the state.

There’s some urgency. Within 20 years, the number of Minnesotans older than 65 is projected to double to 1.4 million. Most will continue to live in their own homes, cared for by unpaid family members, neighbors and friends who will be called on to perform increasingly complex tasks.… Continue reading »

Too Sick to Work Without Paid Sick Days

One of the best parts of my job as a community organizer with TakeAction MN is getting to know the hard working women of our state. Like Evelyn Pechous, she’s a student at Hamline University triple majoring with hopes of going to Law School. This week was back-to-school for her and other Hamline students, as well as thousands of other college students in our state.

As summer winds down, Evelyn will need to leave two of her four jobs, and the 65 hours she’s working to make ends meet. She’ll have to work just two jobs and forty hours, because she’s going to be a full-time student. Evelyn’s forced to work these kinds of hours, despite her heavy class load, because of her medical expenses, and employers that refuse to offer her anything but part-time status with no benefits or protections — far too many college students share this experience. Again, Evelyn works so many jobs and so many hours, because she not only has to pay for her housing and living expenses, but also the high cost of her medical care. Did I mention she’s heavily involved on campus and volunteering? When I met her, she was struggling to figure out how she was going to have time to go to treatments for her chronic illness – Lupus – which are akin to chemotherapy, and still work enough hours to meet all of her costs.… Continue reading »

From Labor Day to Lyndale Avenue: the New Movement to Lift Standards in Cities

By 9am on Tuesday, September 5th, 1882 New York’s City Hall was surrounded by rows of armed police officers both on foot and mounted on horseback. Assembled a full hour before a parade of jewelers, bricklayers, and carpenters were set to march to park and have a picnic: this was the scene at the start of the world’s first Labor Day. From that beginning, with a major city government literally defending itself from its residents, Labor Day has evolved and so has the role of cities in ensuring the rights of working people.

More than once U.S. cities have led the country as a whole, setting standards for their residents that would eventually become a national norm.

breadandroses_0308 Police officers, firefighters, and teachers in New York City had municipal retirement plans over forty years before the creation of Social Security. Cities took the lead on providing for the unemployed years before Congress. Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Louisville all created jobs programs for their residents in the early 1930’s years before the creation of Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration.

Still, over the last three decades many U.S. cities have picked up on this old trend, asserting a more direct role in setting standards that improves the lives of workers. … Continue reading »

Clinton pulls in big dollars in Minnesota, but state’s progressives are waiting to be convinced

Dan McGrath and his organization’s people are the shoe leather and the passion that could carry Hillary Clinton to victory here.

McGrath’s progressive activist group, TakeAction Minnesota, has more than 60,000 e-mail addresses and 15,000 dues-paying members from every congressional district in the state. His 35-person team aggressively walked precincts four years ago and is widely credited for the sound defeat of of the photo ID amendment that was on the state’s ballot in 2012.

But as Clinton prepares to address a summer meeting of the Democratic National Committee in Minneapolis on Friday, along with presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley and others, it becomes clear she has some work to do — even in a state that hasn’t gone for a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972.

Ask McGrath what he thinks of the candidate many once assumed would become the nominee and his mouth turns down.

“The Democrats are letting the opportunity slip through their fingers,” said McGrath, who, despite his deep well of man-on-the-street resources, has not been asked by any presidential candidate for support. “As Donald Trump is offending most of America every day, the Democrats are not really providing a very compelling inclusive alternative vision.… Continue reading »

Back to School Without Earned Sick Time

All summer long workers have been gathering together with Minneapolis City Council Members to talk about the difficult choices they make when they or their family members become sick.

With school resuming this week, working parents without paid time off for illness, will face tough decisions between caring for their kids or keeping their paycheck.

The numbers bear this out – a University of Chicago survey found that parents who don’t earn sick time are twice as likely to send a sick child to school. Fortunately, in Minneapolis, residents and workers have the opportunity to fight for a city ordinance that would ensure that every worker has paid time off to care for their family.

Gayle Zoffer, a TakeAction Minnesota member, recently held a house party to spread the word about the ordinance with neighbors and friends. As a teacher, Gayle sees and experiences the struggle first hand,

“As an adult educator, I work with many students juggling work, parenting, and studying, and I believe that all of them deserve access to paid sick time to care for their children and to ensure that they don’t arrive at work (or school!) sick. Many of them work in restaurants, at nursing homes, or child care facilities, and their working while sick puts other vulnerable people at risk.

Our Women in Leadership Event: A Great Success!

Our Women in Leadership event held in Duluth was a huge success! Thanks to the over 60 community members and their families who shared their evening with us at our picnic style event. We heard stories from five powerful leaders in our community: Rep. Jennifer Schultz, Renee Van Nett, Annie Harala, Rebecca St George & Emily Larson. Each of them highlighted the importance of women holding positions of leadership in our city. We also had tons of fun with the science show for the kids, led by core team leader Elizabeth Kersting-Peterson, and we listened to the great music of talented local artist, Maddy Sitter.

Beth leads a science experiment

Thankfully, we had great weather for the event, and took advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the power of women in leadership with our neighbors. A huge thank you to our speakers, all the great women, for sharing stories and to Karen Perry for being a wonderful MC of the event. Thanks to Rep. Paul Thissen for attending the event during his visit to Duluth. And last but not least, thanks to our Duluth core team for their deep commitment to make this event happen. Your hard work behind the scenes is greatly appreciated. Now, we’ll let the pictures of the event tell you everything else we’ve missed here.… Continue reading »

Members named to new state Task Force on Health Care Financing

Gov. Mark Dayton today named 11 members to the newly-formed state Task Force on Health Care Financing, which will look the future of health care programs in Minnesota, including MNsure and MinnesotaCare.

The Legislature authorized the task force, which will begin meeting in August and report its findings in January.

In addition to the members named today, the group will include Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, Health Commissioner Dr. Edward Ehlinger and Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson. Also on the task force will be the MNsure executive officer, currently Allison O’Toole in an interim position, and legislative appointees.

Those appointed today by the governor are:

Lynn Blewett – St. Paul, Director, University of Minnesota State Health Access Data Assistance Center
Elizabeth Doyle – Minneapolis, Associate Director/Policy Director, TakeAction Minnesota; Member from Broad-Based Nonprofit Consumer Advocacy Organization
Monica Hurtado, – Minneapolis, Health Equity/Racial Justice Organizer, Voices for Racial Justice; Member from Organization Representing Consumers of Color.

Read the rest of the article here.… Continue reading »

Task force to review MinnesotaCare, MNsure takes shape

The chief executives at Allina Health System and a trade group for health insurers are among those named to a new state task force that will consider the future of Minnesota’s public health care programs including MNsure and MinnesotaCare.

Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday released his 11 appointees to the task force, which was created through legislation earlier this year to tackle thorny questions about financing and operating the state’s health care programs.

The task force will be the arena for debate over the future of MNsure, after Republicans and DFLers couldn’t agree during the legislative session on major changes for the state’s health insurance exchange.

Republicans have called for dropping MNsure in favor of the federal government’s HealthCare.gov website. They’ve also called for fundamental changes to the MinnesotaCare program, which provides health insurance for lower-income Minnesotans.

DFLers have talked about seeking federal innovation waivers to address coverage “cliffs,” where people with small income gains move from comprehensive coverage in MinnesotaCare to private plans with large deductibles. As a result, people can find themselves with unaffordable medical bills even though they have health insurance coverage.

The 33-person task force is scheduled to begin meeting in August, and report its final recommendations to Dayton and lawmakers by Jan.… Continue reading »

New State Budget Comes With Higher Costs for MinnesotaCare

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers kept MinnesotaCare intact but not without a cost that will trickle down to some of the more than 100,000 low-income residents on the program in the form of higher monthly premiums starting in August.

The increases kicking in Saturday vary based on income, and those making less than 150 percent of federal poverty level — roughly $17,600 for a single adult — will escape the increases altogether. But others will see bill increases from as low as an extra $8 a month to as much as an additional $30, according to a letter from the Department of Human Services sent to lawmakers earlier this month.

And by January, those rises will be coupled with undetermined increases to co-pays, deductibles and other charges.

The increases were part of the state’s new health care budget passed this year, a way to shore up a historically volatile funding mechanism and compromise with Republicans who sought to do away with MinnesotaCare altogether.

MinnesotaCare enrollees and advocates of the program are still weighing the satisfaction of maintaining the program against the increased costs contained in a new health care budget. And there’s the lingering question of the program’s future as its main funding source is set to expire by the end of the decade.… Continue reading »

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