Dear John,

It’s the final stretch of the 2023 Minnesota legislative session, and there is a lot to celebrate! Organizing – building people power over many years – has landed victories for environmental justice, workers, children, and families. It’s powerful to move the needle towards dignity and justice for Minnesotans. This week, we also let ourselves learn from organizing outside Minnesota – with Philly’s Mayoral election and Brandon Johnson’s inauguration as Chicago’s new Mayor. We are eager to celebrate these wins – and continue to organize for the resources our communities need to be whole. 

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. Historic protection against pollution

“We are sending a clear signal that our neighborhoods, our bodies will no longer be pollution zones,” Roxxanne O’Brien from Community Members for Environmental Justice said about this historic bill – which requires an analysis of the cumulative impact of pollution in BIPOC and low-income neighborhoods in permitting processes.

2. The strongest Amazon worker protections in the country

The MN Senate passed the strongest Amazon worker protection legislation in the country (thanks to years of organizing) against huge opposition.

3. Return of librarians

Minneapolis districts are reinstating licensed librarians in each school, the Star Tribune reports.

4. Keep nurses at the bedside

Read this thread from the Minnesota Nurses Association after Thursday’s conference committee on this vital staffing bill. “For more than a week, MNA nurses fought hard to resist Mayo’s anti-democratic extortion, staging a sit-in at the State Capitol to call on elected officials to stand with patients and nurses, not corporate bullies.”

5. Keeping child care

“Every child has the right to be cared for,” shares Mary Solheim. Check out this commentary about continued public support for child care providers.

6. Mayor Brandon Johnson

Stellar historian Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor profiled the new Chicago Mayor this week of his inauguration, in the New Yorker.

7. Philly's progressive movement

A formidable force of labor partners and movement organizations powered Helen Gym’s candidacy. Gym didn’t win, but it’s worth reading about the coalition that banded together in the recent Philadelphia mayoral race.

8. Hacked: anti-trans medical group exposed

Mother Jones reports on documents leaked from The American College of Pediatricians, exposing tactics and ideology of the extremist anti-trans hate group.

9. #StopCopCity

Atlanta shows up in droves to sign up for public comment to #StopCopCity.

10. "Orange Prince"

Nothing Compares 2 this SCOTUS ruling.

And that’s a wrap!

Send us what you’re reading, watching, and listening to.

Until next time,

Katie Blanchard (she/her)
Basebuilding Director

Jessica Zimmerman (she/her)
Development Director