Policy Advisory Committee

Co-chairs: Acooa Lee and Athena Atkins
Staff contact: Bob DeBoer (bdeboer[at]citizensleague.org or 651-293-0575 x13)

The Policy Advisory Committee's purpose is to build the policy capacity of the Citizens League in keeping with the mission, principles and guidelines.

To fulfill this purpose, the Policy Advisory Committee is charged with implementing a Civic Policy Agenda to develop and advance a new model for policy making based on the belief that all individuals and organizations -- not just government -- have a role to help develop and implement public policies that serve the common good. We call this civic policy making.

The Policy Advisory Committee has three fundamental goals:

  1. Set the course for the Policy Advisory Committee to evolve into the central place to help formulate, integrate and evaluate all processes for policy engagement in keeping with our mission, principles and guidelines.

    • Build the capacity for more strategic conversations that leverage resources and identify the appropriate tools.
    • Improve the ability to vet and choose what we do in policy work.
  2. Ensure that the Policy Advisory Committee is broadly representative of the Citizens League and those engaged in different aspects of our work.
  3. Establish a better exchange of information between the Board of Directors and the Policy Advisory Committee.
In 2010, the Policy Advisory Committee will focus on:
  1. Development and evaluation of standards. The first step in 2010 is to implement the evaluation tool that the committee developed in December 2009 to maintain the Citizens League guidelines by ensuring the quality and integrity of our policy work.
  2. Advancement of Citizens League positions: Assist the Board of Directors in developing a Citizens League point of view in key policy areas. This will be fulfilled through the evaluation and approval of work performed by advancement groups. If advancement groups that we are currently convening in health and medical care, transportation, regional governance, etc. are successful, the Policy Advisory Committee will have a direct role in approving the statements they produce.
  3. Selection of policy topics to pursue, review or advance: Review, refine and recommend policy topics to the Citizens League staff and Board of Directors. This function is undertaken each fall. A minimum of 10 members of the Policy Advisory Committee evaluate proposals for policy projects (primarily submitted through the online form). These recommendations are be considered in the context of the current Citizens League work plan and the context provided by the Project Development group (below).
  4. Project development: Assist in navigating the ideas and funding proposals that are generated by staff, board members and other sources on an on-going basis throughout the year for alignment with the Citizens League mission and policy work. This group will provide context around study proposal review and other activities. It will be required to stay abreast of more detail on partnerships, funding, etc. in order to provide more context to the entire Policy Advisory Committee.

Recent and Upcoming Meetings

The Policy Advisory Committee meets monthly, generally on the second Tuesday of the month. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings are held in the fourth floor board room at the Citizens League Office (555 N Wabasha Street, St. Paul).

Click on the meeting date to view agenda, notes and other meeting materials.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Children's Home and Family Services
1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul

Tuesday, October 14, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Children's Home and Family Services
1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Children's Home and Family Services
1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul
 Tuesday, June 8, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Children's Home and Family Services
1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

March 9, 2010
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

February 9, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Previous Meetings -- Click to show

Sign up to serve on the Policy Advisory Committee:

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You must be a member of the Citizens League to participate on a board committee. You can join online. If you have any questions regarding your membership, contact Catherine Beltmann at 651-293-0575 x10 or by email at cbeltmann [at] citizensleague.org.