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Lakers, North Stars and…Vikings? Oh my!
08 February 2012 7:43 AM | 3 CommentsThe chatter is getting noisier. They are going to raise our taxes! That RICH guy is going to get richer! Our public schools don’t get any money – but that dumb team does! I don’t care – let the team leave! However, Minnesota history indicates...
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Your help is needed to close one hole in Minnesota safety net
06 February 2012 3:11 PM | No CommentsYou may have read about Charles Van Heuveln in Jon Tevlin’s Star Tribune column a few weeks ago. A good program that benefits people with disabilities — Medical Assistance for Employed People with Disabilities (MA-EPD) — has a loop hole in it. A hole that...
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Theater of Public Policy
02 February 2012 12:19 PM | No CommentsPolitical satire and improvisational theater have a long history in the Twin Cities thanks in part to Dudley Riggs. Huge Improv Theater on 30th and Lyndale in south Minneapolis is adding a new chapter to this legacy with the Theater of Public Policy. In partnership...
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Author Archive
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Tapping into the Power of Young People
Posted on January 26, 2012 | No CommentsEvery year I conduct admissions interviews for my alma mater. I love getting the chance to meet with high school seniors to talk with them about their accomplishments, and to get a sense for what their goals are for the future. After each interview I... -
My Leadership and Community “Holiday Wish List”
Posted on December 7, 2011 | 1 CommentNow that the holiday season is in full swing, and holiday gift lists are taking shape, I thought this might be a nice time to put forth my “Leadership and Community Holiday Wish List.” As I look around at issues we’re facing as a state,... -
Minnesota Musicians Helping Minnesota Kids
Posted on November 2, 2011 | 1 CommentIn Minnesota we are extremely lucky in a couple of very important ways. We have access to some of the best health care in the country. We are also home to an incredibly talented and diverse arts community. In my work at Children’s Hospitals and... -
Going the Extra Mile to Stop Bullying
Posted on September 29, 2011 | 5 CommentsLike many Americans, I was appalled to hear the crowd at a recent Republican debate boo a military serviceman who asked a question about gay rights. I was even more disgusted by the story out of New York this week about students cheering the death... -
A Minnesota Broadcasting Legend Reminds Us of the Power of Truth
Posted on August 22, 2011 | 3 CommentsNine months ago, the people of Minnesota received a gift when Don Shelby retired from his anchor post at WCCO television. Shelby spent more than three decades at WCCO and he had earned his place alongside his mentor Dave Moore as a legend of Minnesota... -
Five Tips for Avoiding the NEXT Shutdown
Posted on July 19, 2011 | No CommentsConventional wisdom says the sign of a good compromise is when neither side feels happy about a resolution. Unfortunately, it appears the impending agreement to end the government shutdown will be the exception to prove that rule. It’s hard to imagine anyone feeling good about... -
Using Hatred as a Diversion: Minnesota’s Gay Marriage Amendment
Posted on June 8, 2011 | 3 CommentsBefore the start of the legislative session, I was introduced to a woman who runs a non-profit organization promoting marriage equality. I asked her how she was feeling in light of the unprecedented sweep of new Republican, and in many case Tea Party-backed, legislators into... -
Mission Accomplished: But Even Greater Challenges Remain
Posted on May 2, 2011 | 3 CommentsI was a little late to the game last night in hearing about Osama bin Ladin’s death. I was watching last week’s episode of Glee on Tivo, completely unaware of the drama that had been unfolding around the world. When the show was over, and... -
Time for Minnesota to Reject False Prophets and Vaccinate Our Kids
Posted on March 22, 2011 | 4 CommentsHow would you react if you heard a “child safety expert” was coming to Minnesota to meet with community groups, advising parents to remove all the seat belts from their cars? Or what if a doctor started advocating drinking alcohol before driving. At the very... -
Is “Penny Wise, Pound Foolish” the New Motto for Our Government?
Posted on February 21, 2011 | 1 CommentThere’s no denying this past election ushered in a new era of government both in Minnesota and in Washington, DC. Congress and the state legislature saw a huge influx of new faces, including many with little or no experience with government. The common mantra for...
