Advocacy
State Funding for AmeriCorps Promise Fellows
The Alliance is requesting funding from the Minnesota Legislature to support AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. Currently Reading Corps, Math Corps, and College Possible all receive state funds to support their AmeriCorps members. You can help our efforts to support Promise Fellows!
Email your State Representative that serves the district where your AmeriCorps member/s serve. Ask them to support HF1027. Use the template provided and this website to find your elected official. You can also tweak this template to email your own elected officials too!
Email your State Senator that serves the district where your AmeriCorps member/s serve and ask them to support SF1606, and use this template to reach out with your support!
Funding for The Minnesota Youth Council
We are pleased to share that we have introduced legislation to provide state funding for the Minnesota Youth Council: SF1579 and HF1798. Please reach out to your Senators and Representatives and ask that they recognize the importance of youth voice in Minnesota by supporting these bills!
Promise Fellow Host Site Resources
The Alliance is happy to support Promise Fellow host sites in building relationships with their local elected officials! Please utilize this toolkit to help with your outreach efforts.
- Elected Official Site Visit Invitation Template
- Elected Official Site Visit FAQ
- Find Your MN Elected Official
GradMinnesota
Minnesota continues to have one of the worst achievement gaps in the country between white students and students of color, as well as major differences in high school graduation rates based on race, special needs and socio-economic factors. GradMinnesota’s vision is that ALL young people in Minnesota graduate from high school prepared for success in postsecondary opportunities, work, civic engagement and life. Our recommendations focus on ensuring that Minnesota attains a 90% graduation rate for all students by 2020.
Minnesota Youth Council
In 2013, the Minnesota Legislature formally recognized the work of the MYC, passing into law the Minnesota Youth Council Committee Bill, which establishes the MYC as a voice for youth to provide advice and recommendations to the legislature and the governor on issues affecting youth and to serve as a liaison for youth around the state to the legislature and the governor. Read more about the work of the Minnesota Youth Council Committee here!
On April 21st, the MYC heard testimony on the following four bills, with responses below:
- HF 1027 Appropriation for AmeriCorps Promise Fellows (presented by Kori Redepenning, CEO of MN Alliance With Youth)
- HF 3594- Increase Teachers of Color Act strengthened, (Rep. Mariani)
- SF 1691 – Homeless families support services system redesign authorization and appropriation (Sen. Clausen)
- HF 2768 – Child sexual abuse, trafficking prevention (Rep. Jessup)
On March 27th, as part of Youth Day at the Capitol, the MYC heard testimony from legislators on four bills. Below are the Council’s responses to each bill heard.
- HF960 School Linked Mental Health Programs (Rep. Backer)
- SF3279 Criminal background checks for firearm transfers requirement (Sen. Little)
- SF1386 Children 10 years and over right to counsel disclosure (Sen. Relph)
Alliance Policy Agenda
To learn more about the policy work the Alliance is supporting throughout MN and nationally, please read our policy agenda.
If you have any policy related questions, please contact Kori Redepenning, Chief Executive Officer, at kredepenning@mnyouth.net.