Policy Fellows: 2006-2007 Group Work

The Humphrey Institute Policy Fellows program offers practical training in public affairs leadership for emerging leaders seeking new experiences and skills.

During the 2006-2007 program year, Policy Fellows did work in small groups to solve a public problem. The goals of the small group work were:

• To engage in meaningful action for the common good.
• To practice public skills, such as building relationships and working across differences.
• To explore the relationship between citizenship and professional work.
• To provide an opportunity for Policy Fellows to share their expertise and varied experiences with each other.

Policy Fellows presented and discussed the results of their collaborative efforts at the end of the Policy Fellows program year, and wrote short summaries of their work and learning (see below). Please contact program assistant Lea Chittenden at chit0018@umn.edu or 612-625-2530 for more information about any of these projects.

Education Group Executive Summary

Charissa Bryant, Nichelle DeCora, Abdullah Hared, Traci Parmenter, Karen Peterson, and Diane Tran

The focus of our project shifted over the course of the year. We initially talked with numerous interested people, and decided to investigate the reasons why Somali students leave Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) to attend charter schools. However, as the public debate about declining enrollment in MPS schools, and North High School in particular, became prominent, we shifted our focus to the general causes of declining enrollment in order to take advantage of the ongoing public discussion and the opportunity to team with the Citizens League.

In order to encourage the inclusion of student perspectives in the discussion about declining enrollment in MPS, our group teamed with the Citizens League to develop a forum for student discussion. Our work included establishing an interactive website called Students Speak Out, developing seed content for the site, encouraging students to visit the site and share their ideas, and ensuring that the student perspectives expressed on the site would be heard by adults involved in the public discussion. We also promoted the site on WCCO Radio and on other sites Citizens League representatives are involved with.

To date we have created substantial seed content for the site: blog postings, a survey asking MPS-eligible students why they choose to attend the school they do, video of a one-on-one interview with a student, video from focus groups at North High, audio from focus groups at Roosevelt High, and a fact sheet on MPS enrollment. We have had 7,000 page views on the site and 40 users. Because the Citizens League intends to maintain the site, our hope is that it will continue to grow in content and audience.

We had some success in getting adults to listen to the perspectives expressed by students. We heard some concern on the part of parents and school administrators about the motives of our project, but we believe that this is a positive indication that adults are listening. Again, we hope that the continuing efforts of the Citizens League will ensure ongoing participation by students and attention on the part of adults.

Energy Group Executive Summary

Yasin Alsaidi, Brad von Bank, Frank Jossi, Uri Neren, William Tenney and Emily Zweber

The group created a bill that would pay for a study to look at the potential job growth in Minnesota in renewable energy. The money would have gone to the Center for Rural Development in St. Peter, under the leadership of Dr. Jack Geller.

The group believed that the study could initiate a movement by the state's educational establishment to create more four-year degree, two-year degree and certificate programs in renewable energy. These programs currently exist in bits and pieces and do not constitute a broad-based renewable program of the kind the group envisions (e.g. what exists in other states such as Oregon).

Achievements

• Interviewed more than a dozen policy makers, energy experts, private sector energy representatives, educators and others to arrive at initial concepts and, later, legislation.
• Created talking point documents for group members and for representatives so they could better understand legislation - and the reason for it.
• Succeeded in having Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Aaron Peterson write and introduce bills based on our research and ideas.
• Recruited former Department of Commerce Secretary Jim Bernstein to participate in our discussions and testify before legislative committees.
• Had team members testify before House and Senate committees.
• Saw legislation pass out of House and Senate committees unanimously.

Although the bill was part of an omnibus bill that was vetoed - and was not ultimately passed - the group is optimistic that the study will go forward, either next legislative session or with funding from a different source.

The group extends special thanks to:
Jim Bernstein, Director of Special Projects, Anoka Technical College
Sen. Scott Dibble, Minnesota Senate
Dennis Donovan, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
Dr. Jack Geller, president, Center for Rural Policy and Development
Tim Penny, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
Rep. Aaron Peterson, Minnesota House of Representatives

MNCitizens Group Executive Summary

Alexander Beeby, Manager, Just Food Co-op; Jodi Boyne, Minnesota House of Representatives Republican Caucus Director of Public Affairs; Andrew Calkins, Director of Planning and Information for Minnesota Nurses Association; Ben Golnik, Midwest Political Director of Senator John McCain's presidential campaign; Ann Kaner-Roth, Child Care WORKS Executive Director; Melinda Maher, Attorney with PreferredOne; Jessie Ostlund, Himle Horner, Inc. Account Executive; Sondra Reis, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Associate Director; Tobias Spanier, University of Minnesota Extension Leadership & Civic Engagement Regional Educator; John Thorson, Political Representative

We...

• Explored the issue of civic engagement with stakeholders to identify a project of value.
• Identified a need for a clearer definition of a "good citizen."
• Developed questions to get an unmitigated sense of how respondents defined a good citizen, how they thought good civic behavior could impact the community, and what Minnesotans can do to encourage that behavior.
• Created an online survey and, through our networks, solicited over 3,000 citizens for their participation.
• Distilled the survey results from the over 450 respondents down to common themes and compelling quotes that seem to capture the general spirit of the responses.
• Created one-page, op-ed and online presentations of these results and disseminated them through a variety of channels. (What does a good citizen look like? Tell us what you think, Alex Beeby, Northfield News, May 30, 2007)
• Recruited and directed traffic to an online forum (MNCitizens.Gather.com) dedicated to expanding the discussion, problem-solving and resource-sharing.

Our goal is to provide a glimpse into the nuances of Minnesota's civic character that will inspire Minnesotans from all walks of life to think about how we can get more involved in the public issues that connect us to the communities in which we live and work.

With special assistance from:

Lea Chittenden, Center for the Study of Politics and Governance, University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute

Dennis Donovan, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute

Returning Veterans Group Executive Summary

Col. Eric Ahlness, Renee Worke, Scott Arneson, and Rachel Tschida

Our Returning Veterans Group investigated several aspects of veterans' issues to provide effective reintegration from active federal service back to their communities as productive, contributing citizens. We reviewed a number of areas of concern that returning veterans may face upon their return from overseas duty. We integrated additional partners throughout our Policy Fellows experience and morphed our focus, but maintained our mission to aid in the transition from warrior to citizen. The Returning Veterans Group is proud to be deemed the catalyst of a statewide civic movement welcoming home our citizen soldiers, while Minnesota at large, including the Minnesota National Guard, continues to lead the nation in its veteran reintegration efforts. The key issues our group sought to address:

• Power of Attorney reform
• Veterans and the Court System
• Mainstreaming Veterans with Disabilities
• Enriching Civic Engagement

Leadership Skills Refined
Each fellow demonstrated profound leadership skills via public speaking, independent research, networking and relationship building. Throughout the development of the project, each member went above and beyond the professional bounds of the project and personally sought information about issues veterans may face back at home, ultimately contributing to the group's success. This included engaging in dialogue with service members; developing a sense of empathy; and seeking roles in parallel efforts to address reintegration of our veterans. Building mutually respectful relationships with leaders in the state government, members of the military service, and graduate students, has contributed to the group's work. By appealing to Minnesota’s common interest in supporting veterans of war and their families, and building broad base participation, the Returning Veterans Group sparked the broader Warrior to Citizen Campaign.

Challenges and Successes
The 2007 legislative session proved challenging for the Returning Veterans Group's legislative efforts. Key elected leaders were cognizant of the issues and sponsored a bill to reform the Power of Attorney, but due to the timing of the bill's submission it did not advance out of committee. However, our group was extremely successful in engaging the legislature through meetings with legislators; in bringing the executive, judicial and legislative branches together to pass a joint resolution declaring May Minnesota Family Appreciation month; and in advancing civic engagement ideals.