Think Again Minnesota
November News and Upcoming Events
Don't forget to VOTE ON NOV. 4!
From our fearless leader
Jeremy Wieland It's the most basic of our civic obligations, but has enormous repercussions. I hope you have or intend to vote today!

Beyond that, how about this lineup?
Competing events! A Saturday morning head-to-head forum this week, with a choice between ALEC or state demographics. Either way, it'll be a way to wind down from Tuesday's results.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Wieland

President, Think Again MN
November Stone Arch
Saturday, November 8, 2014

Why Worry About ALEC?  

   
Saturday, November 8
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Gardens of Salonica 19 5th St NE, Minneapolis (map)

This month we hear from Dee Voss, a local expert on the conservative ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Council, and why you need to be worried about it.

As usual, invite anyone interested--free and open to the public. Come, buy your coffee (the law is you can't bring food or drinks into a restaurant), learn a lot and have your questions ready.  

November Brooklyns Forum
November 18, 2014

Equal Employment in the 21st Century
Tuesday, November 18
6 p.m.  Pizza Buffet & Social              6:30 p.m.  Program

Brooklyn Park City Council Chambers
5200 85th Avenue N
   
Please RSVP and Share on Facebook
or RSVP to Carol Woehrer, carolwoehrer@usfamily.net 
 
 

Commissioner Kevin Lindsey manages the Department whose mission is to make Minnesota discrimination free. The Department of Human Rights investigates approximately 1,000 charges of discrimination a year. It ensures that large state contractors who do business with the State of Minnesota provide equal employment opportunity, and it helps the Governor of Minnesota develop policy to reduce disparities that exist in the areas of education, employment, health, criminal justice, public accommodation, and public services. Commissioner Lindsey will tell us about both changes in laws and new laws aimed at reducing discrimination, and he will listen to our concerns about disparities that still need to be addressed.

 

His discussion will include updates in the legal requirement for diversity and inclusion in state hiring and in state contracts with large employers as well as recent legislation such as Ban the Box and the Women's Economic Security Act. He'll talk about recent instances of discrimination in employment and education that have arisen due to the ebola crisis. He'll describe the requirements for filing a claim and the assistance that is available for filing a discrimination charge.

A question and answer session will follow Commissioner Lindsey's presentation.  Please bring your observations on employment,  education, and other disparities to which you think our state needs to give attention and your ideas on the policies and programs which could reduce or eliminate the disparities.

Kevin Lindsey was appointed Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in February 2011. He had previously served as a civil litigation attorney in the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney, and has 20 years of experience in resolving complex legal and public policy questions.
   

 

Sponsored by Think Again MN, The Brooklyn Park Human Rights Commission, the Brooklyn Park Diversity Team, and the Brooklyn Park, Osseo, Maple Grove, and Brooklyn Center Chapter of the League of Women Voters.



Immigration - Its Contribution to Minnesota's Demographics and Economy

 

Saturday, November 8, 2014, 9 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Time: 9:00 a.m. Social Time with Coffee and Pastries

St. Louis Park City Hall, Council Chambers, 3rd Floor
5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416

 

allison churilla liuzzi

9:20 Welcome

9:30 Changing State Demographics

Allison Luizzi, Research Scientist

MN Compass & Wilder Research

10:00 Immigrant Contribution to the Economybruce corrie
Prof. Bruce Corrie, PhD, Concordia; 

Sarah Radosevich, MN Chamber of Commerce

10:30 Current State Policies/Legislation around Immigration
Judy Stuthman, LWV Minnesotajudy stuthman

11:00 Immigrants Share Personal Stories
Global Golden Valley 



RSVP: Appreciated, but not required at
http://welcomemyneighbor.eventbrite.com
sarah radosevich
Questions: Contact Kim Kang, LWV Plymouth kimdakang@gmail.com  

 


Sponsored by the LWV West Metro Alliance
(Brooklyn Park/Osseo/Maple Grove, Crystal/New Hope/E. Plymouth, Golden Valley, Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins, St. Louis Park, South Tonka and Wayzata/Plymouth.

 

A Video Introduction to Kids At Risk Action
This powerful 4-minute video explains the injustice done to children when issues of abuse are ignored. Mike Tikkanen, head of Kids At Risk Action, spoke at the Stone Arch Discussion in June 2013.

View the video...

 The Quie-Fraser example
Sondra Samuels said aloud what others had been thinking Wednesday at a salute to two of Minnesota's favorite nonagenarians, former Gov. Al Quie and former Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser: "I am so honored that we are not here doing a eulogy!"

Quie and Fraser were undoubtedly glad about that too.



But it was more than longevity and past accomplishments that were being praised as the two former elected officials, one Republican, one DFLer, were honored as part of the Citizens League's annual meeting and the sixth annual observance of the "Common Quest for Common Ground" series established in honor of the late Humphrey School dean John Brandl.

Samuels called attention to the work Quie and Fraser are still doing, today more together than apart, to spur organizations such as the one she heads, the Northside Achievement Zone, to lift families out of poverty via improved education for their children. With a voice thick with emotion, Samuels called them "my brothers" because "they love children and they love justice."

Read more at Startribune.com...
Three events from the Humphrey's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance

What Happened on Tuesday? A Post-Election Analysis  Wednesday, November 5, 12:00 - 1:15 PM, Humphrey Forum, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Register now!

 

The upcoming 2014 elections have the potential for a shift in power both locally and nationally. Please join us for a conversation with Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota DFL Party, and Senator Michelle Benson to discuss the results and the implications moving forward. Moderated by Professor Larry Jacobs, the conversation will bring insight from party leaders, legislative experts and political science junkies for an in-depth look at state and national election results. 

 

Is Obamacare Taking America in the Right Direction? With former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle
 
Friday, November 7, 1:00 - 2:15 PM, Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
 
Register now!
 

The hex of high costs, unmet needs, and uneven quality has cursed American health care for decades. In 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act with the aim of expanding coverage, bending the cost curve downward, and improving the quality of care for many. How has it performed? Can Obamacare be improved and attract broader support, or should America start over? Join us for a conversation with former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle about the current state of affairs in health care, moderated by former U.S. Congressman Vin Weber. This event is part of the Vin Weber Lecture Series.

MNsure 2.0: Consumer Satisfaction, Private Insurance Enrollment, and Financial Balance in 2015 Friday, November 14, 1:00 -  3:00 PMCowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Register now!

MNsure expanded coverage and reduced the ranks of the uninsured during its first year of enrollment but will its second push to enroll Minnesotans beginning on November 15th be easier for consumers and more effective? Will the troubled sign-up and processing of applications become more satisfying to consumers? Most of the enrollment in 2014 was in public programs; will enrollment in private insurance - one of MNsure's primary purposes - be substantially increased in 2015? How can MNsure become financially self-sufficient? Featuring Joel Ario, Managing Director, Manatt Health Solutions; Julie Brunner, Executive Director, Minnesota Council of Health Plans; Scott Leitz, CEO, MNsure; and Christopher Snowbeck, Health Care Business Reporter, Star Tribune. The conversation will be moderated by Professor Larry Jacobs. Co-sponsored with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.  



Two Short Book Reviews
The Next American Revolution
Grace Lee Boggs who is now 99 years old became radicalized after college when she needed a cheap place to live in Chicago and became involved in tenants' rights.  Later she moved to Detroit and witnessed that city's decline.  She is still active in the efforts to make Detroit a City of Hope.  The Next American Revolution is part autobiographical, part philosophical (her PhD is in philosophy), part historical, and part a call to action.

What Then Must We Do?
Another good book is What Then Must We Do? by Gar Alperovitz.  If you don't like the current model of capitalism and don't like state socialism, where to turn?  Alperovitz imagines how a new economic system might actually emerge from the bottom up in the next few decades.  He emphasizes the need for democratization of wealth - especially means of production.

Short reviews from Vici Oshiro
Recommended Reading
Articles that inspire (or anger) our Board to action

Other Good Events
For more info, see the Think Again MN Calendar
    
In This Issue
Previous Podcasts
Listen in to Stone Arch Discussions you couldn't attend

Michael Diedrich on Education MN2020
audio and recap

Mike Tikkanen with Sam Ashkar - Invisible Children
audio and recap

Sherman Patterson - Youth Violence and Gun Control
audio and recap

Glenn Ford Talks Food Deserts
audio and recap

Buy Local Energy for Minneapolis? audio and recap

Tom Berg and Rep. Martin Sabo discuss a Minnesota Miracle: audio and recap

Higher Education: Problems and Prospects: audio and recap

Minnesota Care with Sen. Linda Berglin and Rep. Lee Greenfield: audio and recap

Civil Rights and the Minnesota Marriage Amendment: audio and recap

A Grand Consensus with Iric Nathanson and Lori Sturdevant: audio and recap

Taxes with the MN Budget Project's Nan Madden: audio and recap
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