Local Nonprofit Organizations/Minnesota and Upper Midwest Web sites
Public Policy Organizations
These sites provide helpful features such as publications,
discussion forums, alert services and other resource links
to educate tomorrow's leaders and improve the quality of
public policymaking through research and professional training.
Citizens League - www.citizensleague.net
The Citizens League promotes the public interest in Minnesota
by involving citizens in identifying and framing critical
public policy choices, forging recommendations and advocating
their adoption.
Based in Minneapolis, the League focuses on public policy
issues at the local, metropolitan and state levels. Over
the years, the League has been one of the most effective
agents of change in Minnesota public policy. The League's
impact can be seen in areas such as public finance, regional
government, education, transportation and health care.
This site also has informative resource links to organizations
like Center of the American Experiment, Minnesota Taxpayers
Association, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute Policy Forum,
and Center for Economic Progress.
Minnesota Women’s Consortium –
www.mnwomen.org
The Minnesota Women's Consortium is the only one of its
kind in the country. As a statewide collaboration of 150+
member organizations, the Consortium serves as a resource
center to enhance equality and justice for women and children.
The Consortium does not take a stand on issues but rather
helps women working for progressive social change stay in
touch.
Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus
- www.mnwpc.org
The Minnesota Women's Political Caucus (MWPC) is a grassroots,
multipartisan organization of members throughout the state
dedicated to increasing the number of women in elected and
appointed office by identifying, recruiting, training and
supporting pro-choice women candidates. MWPC seeks to be
an expert resource for women in Minnesota and women candidates
supporting women's issues. Theirr goal is equality and equal
representation at all levels of government.
League of Women Voters of Minnesota -
www.lwvmn.org
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization,
encourages the informed and active participation of citizens
in government, and influences public policy through education
and advocacy. The mission of the League of Women Voters
is to encourage the informed and active participation of
citizens in government. The League is political and takes
action on selected governmental issues after membership
study and agreement. It encourages members to be informed
participants in political activity, but as a nonpartisan
organization, it does not support or oppose any political
party or candidate.
Children’s Defense Fund - www.cdf-mn.org
CDF is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and
advocacy organization supported by foundations, corporate
grants, and individual donations. As an independent voice
for children, CDF does not accept government funds. It was
founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman to provide a strong
and effective voice for the children of America, since they
cannot vote, hire lobbyists, or speak out for themselves.
Common Cause - www.commoncause.org
Common Cause is a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization
founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens
to make their voices heard in the political process and
to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public
interest. Today, Common Cause is one of the most active,
effective, and respected nonprofit organizations working
for political change in America. Common Cause strives to
strengthen democracy by empowering its members, supporters
and the general public to take action on critical policy
issues.
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs
(University of Minnesota) - www.cura.umn.edu
The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) is an
all-University applied research and technical assistance
center at the University of Minnesota that connects faculty
and students with nonprofit organizations, ethnic and racial
minority groups, businesses, rural towns, inner-city neighborhoods,
suburban communities, local governments, and public institutions
in Minnesota.
Institute for Local Self Reliance - www.ilsr.org
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a nonprofit
research and educational organization that provides technical
assistance and information on environmentally sound economic
development strategies. Since 1974, ILSR has worked with
citizen groups, governments and private businesses in developing
policies that extract the maximum value from local resources.
Jobs Now Coalition - www.jobsnowcoalition.org
The JOBS NOW Coalition is committed to the idea that all
Minnesota workers will have the opportunity to earn a family-supporting
wage.
The Coalition advances its agenda through a combination
of innovative strategies:
- Market-based research, identifying the gap between
the minimum wage/poverty level and a wage which allows
workers to support their families without public subsidies.
- Relentless public education, revealing the common interests
that employers and employees have in jobs that pay well.
- Aggressive advocacy, promoting public policies that
balance the real competitive needs of both workers and
business to ensure Minnesota's economic vitality.
Minnesota Senior Federation -www.mnseniors.org
The Minnesota Senior Federation - Metropolitan Region
is the oldest and largest grassroots advocacy organization
for seniors in the State of Minnesota. Their mission is
to empower seniors in the seven county metro area to meet
their own and community needs and concerns. They provide
consumer education for the entire community and program
benefits that enhance the value of membership.
Minnesota Public Interest Research Group
- www.mpirg.org
MPIRG is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that serves
its 20,000 community members in numerous ways -- offering
educational events and advocacy opportunities, organizing
Minnesotans into a cohesive voice for political and social
change, and passing meaningful public interest reform. Members
have opportunities to become involved through area meetings
and events, meetings with legislators, issue alerts and
other means. MPIRG is completely unique in the state in
its ability to mobilize such a broad membership behind consumer
protection and social justice issues, and has one of the
largest memberships of any environmental organization in
the state.
Minnesota Transportation Alliance
The Minnesota Transportation Alliance is a member-based
not-for-profit coalition of groups, businesses, labor and
local governments concerned about surface transportation
in Minnesota, including highways, bridges, streets and intermodal
connections to transit, trucks, railroads, barges, ships
and airports. The Alliance has resourceful links at http://www.transportationalliance.com/resources.htm
Univ. Of MN, Center for Transportation
Studies - www.cts.umn.edu
CTS is “A catalyst for transportation innovation
through research, education, and outreach”. It addresses
the need for closer cooperation between University faculty
and state and federal departments of transportation, and
strengthens the University's role in transportation research
and education.
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