On Sept. 17, Metro State University hosted a Constitution Day* panel on its St. Paul campus featuring our Boards & Commissions Leadership Institute Director Chai Lee, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, and longtime community organizer Wintana Melekin.
The trio discussed how important the power of storytelling is to our civic engagement, their aspirations for the future of civic life in our country, and what they’re most proud of.
“From our different perspectives, we reflected on the long and vibrant history of communities engaging, from grassroots to impact institutions, and steering our systems toward more just and equitable policies. We talked about how Minnesotans came together in resilient ways to resist Metro Surge and banded together at the community, nonprofit, or foundation level to ensure there was justice and accountability in the aftermath of that occupation,” Chai says.
Coming from more direct issue campaigns and electoral backgrounds, both Wintana Melekin and Secretary Simon emphasized the significance of the moment we’re in. They both touched on the importance of the vote and the recent record-breaking success of Minnesota’s first 1.1 million voter turnout in a primary this past August.
Chai explains that there are a lot of ways people can be involved in voter protection work and election security. “We are lucky that Minnesota makes voting efficient and very accessible. People can volunteer to help organize getting people to the polls or get paid as local election judges. If you don’t feel safe voting in a public manner or from your own place of residence, you can get help from the state via the Safe at Home Program.”
Chai reminds us that Minnesota has a long history of using boards and commissions at the local level to affect progressive policy changes, such as creating local ordinances to protect civil rights, as exemplified by Minneapolis Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey nearly a century ago. “We were the first state to send volunteers when President Lincoln asked for troops to join the Civil War. Minnesota’s future and our country’s future are bright because we have an engaged populace who care about each other and standing up for what’s right.
This year, as we reflect on America’s 250th birthday, Constitution Day and Citizens Day have so much more meaning as the country continues to struggle to live up to the spirit of our nation’s founding on liberation, equality, and the rights of all human beings.”
*Public institutions receiving federal funding are required to host public events on Constitution Day to educate the public about the importance of our civic engagement and its rich history as it is tied to our ideals of liberty and equality. Constitution Day is combined with Citizens Day, which are part of the larger Constitution Week as proclaimed by the president of the United States.