ARRM's Daily Dispatch

It's Time to Vote!

Hello there, Grassroots Organizer Madeleine Lerner here with all you need to know about voting in 2020! I have written a blog each month since May, detailing a different aspect of voting. This month marks the last voting blog as next month is the Election! To read last month's blog, click here. If you have further inquiries, please reach out to me via email or visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

 

Graphic from MN Secretary of State

 

Election Details

• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3
• You can currently register to vote HERE
• You can currently register for an absentee ballot HERE
• You can vote early in person now; find your county election office information HERE
• You can vote on Election Day at your Polling Place

2021 Priorities

*No one can tell you who to vote for. You have the right to vote and cannot be swayed when going to the polls.*

For 2021, ARRM is focusing on 3 mains points: 

• Close the Wage Gap
• Workforce Crisis
• Access to Support

For more detailed information, please download the 2021 member doorknocker from our website. These are important issues to keep in mind while voting.

Upcoming Candidate Forums

Attend the remaining Candidate Forums hosted by ARRM and MOHR!

District 23 Forum
October 2nd at 10am, Register here

District 25 Forum
October 9th at 10am, Register here

District 44 Forum
October 16th at 10am, Register here

District 56 Forum
October 23 at 10am, Register here

 

Thank you to all who have attended and participated in these forums. Your voices need to be heard! Attend these forums and remember to vote by November 3!

Learning About The Candidates

Hello there, Grassroots Organizer Madeleine Lerner here with all you need to know about voting in 2020! Each month, from May until November, I will be writing about a different aspect of voting. To read last month's blog, click here. If you have further inquiries, please reach out to me via email or visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

 

Graphic from MN Secretary of State

 

Learning About Candidates

*First and foremost, no one can tell you who to vote for. Selecting and voting for your candidate is a private matter. It is up to you alone to share the information if you so choose.

Before you vote, learn about the candidates running in your area.

• For Minnesota, all candidate filings are listed on the Secretary of State's website. Candidates running for State and Federal Offices, Judicial Offices, State Senate Offices, and State Representative Offices can be found here.
• You can learn more about candidates by visiting their website and reviewing the listed priorities.
• Do you have questions about who will be on your ballot? View your sample ballot by visiting the Secretary of State's website!

Meeting Candidates

Right now, with COVID-19, it's not easy to interact with candidates running for local offices. Candidate forums, town halls, and other public events are being held less frequently. However, if you do plan to attend an upcoming event, come prepared!

• Review a candidate's priorities and determine if they fall in line with your own.
• Bring a one-pager with your issues to distribute to the candidates.
• Draft questions related to your areas of concern and be prepared to ask the candidates your questions.

Upcoming Events

As mentioned previously, there aren't nearly as many candidate events being held as there have been in past years. That's why ARRM and MOHR are teaming up to bring you six candidate forums! Here are the details: 

District 14 Candidate Forum
September 18 at 10am; Click here to register

District 7 Candidate Forum
September 25 at 10am; Click here to register

District 23 Candidate Forum
October 2 at 10am, Click here to register

District 25 Candidate Forum
October 9 at 10am; Click here to register

District 44 Candidate Forum
October 16 at 10am; Click here to register

District 56 Candidate Forum
October 23 at 10am; Click here to register

 

These forums are a great opportunity to interact with candidates and ask your burning questions. We hope to see you virtually over the next few months!

GUEST BLOG: Minnesota Disability Law Center on Voting

Contributed by: Dianne Naus, Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC)

 

Greetings from the Minnesota Disability Law Center!

For those not familiar, MDLC provides legal advocacy and representation to individuals with disabilities in matters of abuse and neglect, community integration, self-determination, employment, education, assistive technology, accessibility, discrimination, and VOTING. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), provides funding for agencies like ours to ensure marginalized groups have access to their polling places. To that end, MDLC partners with the Secretary of State's office to survey polling places for accessibility, staffs a Voter Hotline (1-800-292-4150) open 7am - 8pm on election days, and offers legal advocacy to voters with disabilities. We also offer trainings to individuals, family members, and staff on the voting rights of people with disabilities.

HAVA

By law, HAVA requires states to ensure the following voting rights for people with disabilities:

• Accessible polling places, ballots, and voting equipment
• Independence, privacy, and assistance while voting

By Minnesota law, all voters can:

• Curbside vote
• Vote no-excuse absentee

But that's not all! There are many elements that make a polling place accessible, from having a signature guide and magnifying glass to offering the ballot marking machine (Automark) to every voter regardless of disability status. Tables must be high enough for a wheelchair to fit under, and there must be clear signage directing voters to the area of the building where voting takes place. Voters with disabilities have the right to bring their service animal and even a sample ballot! Printing a sample ballot and filling it out at home is a great way to support the independence of voters with disabilities!

Elections and COVID-19

The COVID-19 peacetime emergency in Minnesota may still be in effect during upcoming elections. Additionally, the restrictions and recommendations that are in place due to COVID-19 will impact the voting process for many Minnesotans later this year.

There is a change to Minnesota state election law that aims to make elections safer. The main part of the bill focuses on absentee voting. The bill provides money to promote the usage of absentee ballots so people can vote from home. Additional funds will allow for polling place sanitization and the installation of plexiglass protection. The bill also outlines some polling places can be closed, especially ones that are close to vulnerable populations.

Because of fears over COVID-19, there is a worry that it might be hard to staff polling places. Social distancing requirements may still be in effect, causing long lines. The lines could extend outdoors, and if the weather is bad, this might create hardships for some Minnesotans with disabilities.

What Voting Options Do I Have?

• Vote Early by Mail

In Minnesota, you can vote early by mail with an absentee ballot starting 46 days before the General Election (September 18).

Individuals can apply for a ballot any time during the year, except on Election Day. You can ask that it be mailed to you by:

• Visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State's site
• Calling 1-877-600-VOTE (8683)
• Calling your county election office which can be found here

If you decide to vote by absentee, make sure you leave enough time to receive your ballot and to return it on or before Election Day. If you are not already registered to vote, you can register online or use paper forms from the Secretary of State's website.

• Vote Early in Person

In Minnesota, you can vote early in person with an absentee ballot at your local election office. Go to your county election office during normal business hours starting on September 18.

If you are not registered to vote, you can fill out the registration form in person. You do need to show proof of residence to register in person. Some local jurisdictions may have extra absentee voting days or hours beyond the days and times set by law.

• Vote in Person on Election Day

If you want to go to the polls on Election Day, you have that option. Before you go, make sure that your polling place is still open. You can check that on the Secretary of State's site or contact your county election office. Be ready for the possibility of longer-than-normal lines, remember to social distance and consider wearing a mask. There should be other safety measures in place like plexiglass protection for workers and hand sanitizer dispensers.

Despite COVID-19-related voting changes, people with disabilities still have the voting rights mandated by HAVA and Minnesota law noted above. Residential providers can assist their residents in the registration process, secure a mail-in ballot, and/or get to the polls, and MDLC is here to support you. Thank you for all you have done and will do to support those you serve in the voting process!

Voting Absentee

Hello there, Grassroots Organizer Madeleine Lerner here with all you need to know about voting in 2020! Each month, from May until November, I will be writing about a different aspect of voting. To read last month's blog, click here. If you have further inquiries, please reach out to me via email or visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

 

Graphic from MN Secretary of State

 

Absentee Ballot 101

What is an absentee ballot?

• Under normal circumstances, an absentee ballot is a vote cast by an individual who is unable to or cannot visit their polling place in person. This allows a voter to mail in their ballot prior to Election Day.

What if I'm not registered to vote yet?

• You can register now in under 5 minutes! Click here to register on the Secretary of State's website.
• After you submit your registration, you can apply for your absentee ballot.

Do I need a witness?

• If you are submitting your voter registration forms WITH your absentee ballot, you DO need a witness.
• If you are already a registered voter, you DO NOT need a witness.

How does COVID-19 change things?

• COVID-19 has had an impact on Election Day planning but all eligible voters have the right to vote by absentee!

Important Dates

Although any eligible voter can submit an absentee ballot, there are some crucial dates to remember.

• Minnesota Primary Election: August 11
• Vote by Mail/In-person for the General Election: September 18 - November 2
• General Election: November 3

*Your absentee ballot for the Minnesota Primary MUST be postmarked ON or BEFORE August 11
*Your absentee ballot for the General Election MUST be postmarked ON or BEFORE November 3

Voting Reminders

Organizations such as Vote.org and Rock the Vote use technology to make voting more streamline. Both organizations also offer useful tools to voters such as election reminders. You simply fill in your information and prior to any upcoming elections in your area, you will be sent a reminder.

To sign up for election reminders with Vote.org, click here. To sign up for election reminders with Rock the Vote, click here.

Getting Your Ballot

Before requesting your absentee ballot, remember to read all instructions and be prepared to mail your ballot directly after filling it out.

For step 1 of requesting a ballot, you will be asked:

• What county do you live in?
• What is your city, state, and zip code?
• What election(s) are you requesting a ballot for?

For step 2 of requesting a ballot, you must fill out your:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Identification number
• Minnesota address
• Mailing address
• Email address

To request your ballot, visit the Secretary of State's site.

Agent Delivery

As referenced in the last election blog, you may also have the option to participate in agent delivery. If you are eligible for this service, you can select an individual in your life over the age of 18 to pick-up and drop-off your absentee ballot.

In order to request this service, you must:

• Live in a nursing home, treatment center, or group home
• Be hospitalized
• Be unable to visit your polling place

For the full outline of specifications, click here.

You can request agent delivery by filling out this form.

 

Now, request your absentee ballot today!

Voter Registration and Assistance

Hello there, Grassroots Organizer Madeleine Lerner here with all you need to know about voting in 2020! Each month, from May until November, I will be writing about a different aspect of voting. To read last month's blog, click here. If you have further inquiries, please reach out to me via email or visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

 

Registration graphic from City Limits

 

Registering to Vote

When can I register to vote?

• You can register to vote right now! You will need to register in order to participate in the Primary Election on August 11, 2020 AND the General Election on November 3, 2020.

How do I register online?

• To register online, visit this page on the Secretary of State's website.
• Online registration requires your Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota identification card number. You can use the last four digits of your Social Security Number if you are not in possession of an ID card.

How do I register on paper?

• To register on paper, download the application here. Once you've filled out the application, you can send it to your county election office OR to the Secretary of State's Office.
• Registration forms are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer, Amharic, and S'gaw Karen. You can also request a form in Braille.

How do I register on Election Day?

• When you go to your polling place, you must bring a valid ID: Minnesota driver's license or permit, Minnesota identification card, or Tribal ID.
• When you go to your polling place, you must bring an approved document: Bill or statement within the last 30 days, lease agreement, or student fee statement.
• Once you register you can go ahead and vote! For more information, click here.

Can I find my registration status?

• Check your registration status! On this site, fill out your full name, date of birth, and zip code to find out if you're already registered to vote in Minnesota.

I Live in a Residential Facility

What qualifies as a residential facility?

• Assisted living, group homes, treatment programs, residential facilities for individuals with disabilities, etc.

Can I still register if I live in a residential facility?

• Absolutely! You can register online or on paper. You can even register on Election Day and bring a staff member along to confirm your address.

Do I have other voting options?

• You can vote via absentee ballot. You can request an absentee ballot here or fill out this paper form.
• You can also participate in agent delivery. Someone in your life, over the age of 18, can pick up your absentee ballot and drop it off. You just need to fill out this form to request an agent!

I Live Under Guardianship

You still have the right to register and vote! You can be under guardianship and still vote. It is your right and the decision cannot be made for you.

If you have more questions about voting and guardianship, visit this website.

Assistance

You have the right to vote and you have the right to do so in private, but you can still receive assistance. This may include polling place accessibility and assistance from friends, family, or staff. Receiving assistance doesn't mean your vote will be influenced, but instead helps you to communicate who you want to vote for. Read more about the different types of voter assistance on this one-pager.

The Minnesota Disability Law Center has released new information about voting during COVID-19. Individuals with disabilities still have the same rights when it comes to voting in person. You still have the right to accessibility, voter privacy, voting assistance, and curbside voting.

Now, go register!

Voting: Importance and Knowing Your Rights

Hello there, Grassroots Organizer Madeleine Lerner here with all you need to know about voting in 2020! Each month from now until November, I will be writing about a different aspect of voting. If you have further inquiries please reach out to me via email or visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

Election 101

What do I need to know about voting and elections?

Dates of Interest:

• Primary Election: August 11, 2020
• General Election: November 3, 2020

Who can vote?

• Citizens of the United States over the age of 18
• Those who have been Minnesota residents for 20+ days
• Those who have completed their felony sentence
• Those under guardianship

Where can I register?

• Online at the Secretary of State's website
• On Paper; download and print your application
• At you Polling Place; view this handout for more information

Registration/Voting During COVID-19

• View the statement on COVID-19 Voting Precautions
• Vote early by absentee ballot
• Election Day curbside voting
• If you have more questions, contact the Secretary of State's office

Why is Voting Important?

Being able to participate and vote in elections is a privilege. Citizens of the United States have this right and the state of Minnesota is working to ensure you have every opportunity to get to the polls. If eligible, taking part in this process is your civic duty.

At ARRM we always talk about making your voice heard. Voting gives you the opportunity to make your voice heard on a local and national level. Your vote makes a difference by:

• Electing officials into State and Federal offices
• Leading to the adaptation and implementation of new laws
• Leading to changes in infrastructure
• Impacting overall society

Vote graphic from Forbes Magazine

 

When One Vote Makes a Difference

EVERY vote matters! And in quite a few cases, very few or just one vote decided an election.

In 2018, NPR's Domenico Montanaro wrote the piece, "Why Every Vote Matters -- The Elections Decided By A Single Vote (Or A Little More)". Montanaro made note of over twenty elections that were decided by a slim margin from the 19th Century to 2018. In 1847, George G. Dunn of the Whig Party won the Indiana District 6 seat by one vote. In 2008, Al Franken won the U.S. Senate race for Minnesota by 312 votes.

This article truly details not only the importance of voting, but the impact one vote can have on an election. Your voice deserves to be heard and you can make that happen by voting in 2020!

Know Your Rights!

You have the right to vote but what other rights do you have?

• Register on Election Day
• Get time off work to vote
• Sign in orally
• Bring your children
• Ask for assistance
• Vote in private, without assistance
• Bring a sample ballot or the Voter's Bill of Rights

What are my rights concerning accessibility?

According to the U.S. Government, polling places must have:

• Wheelchair-accessible entrances and voting booths
• Voting equipment for the visually impaired
• Accessible voting machines

You can also:

• Participate in curbside voting
• Seek transportation to the polls
• Vote by mail or absentee ballot

Vote graphic from the Polling Place Photo Project

 

There are many more rights on the list! Minnesota is working hard to ensure that every eligible voter can come to the polls and feel comfortable while participating in the election. If you have more questions about accessibility and voter assistance, take a look at this one-pager.

Want to get more involved? Take a look at this New York Times article and learn more about voting, lobbying, donating, and running for office!

Strong Minnesota representation at ANCOR DC Summit

By Sara Grafstrom, Director of State and Federal Policy

In mid-October, I, along with other ARRM members, had the opportunity to attend our national trade association ANCOR’s Public Policy Conference in Washington DC. Engaging on the Federal level is critical in the work that ARRM is doing to advance the priorities of our membership.

Along with a day full of important updates and information sharing between states, our Minnesota contingent was able to meet with all ten of the offices of our Congressional Delegation, share our priorities and let them know how they can be supporting Home and Community-Based Service providers back home.

ARRM and Minnesota provider representatives met with Sen. Tina Smith to discuss key issues.

Conference re-cap

The one-day conference session included speakers from CMS, Capitol Hill staffers and Medicaid experts, some of the timely information shared included:

• HCBS transition plans: CMS provided important updates, sharing that 18 states have had final approval of their plans with only 5 more states needing initial approval before all 50 states will have accomplished that milestone.

• Electronic Visit Verification (EVV): CMS also shared updates on the implementation EVV, letting attendees know that 20 states have submitted a good faith extension request with 12 being approved so far. They shared that they expect the majority of states to request an extension, but highlighted the fact that they have no authority to grant an extension beyond the one year. [Read the most recent news on Minnesota's EVV implementation on the members-only blog]

The keynote address featured Josh Trent from Leavitt Partners sharing what he considers to be the seven emerging trends in Medicaid, those include:

• Value-Based Payment trends continuing
• Increased Medicaid Coverage including states looking at Medicaid Expansion that had not participated in the past
• A lull in state innovation; many states looking at how to execute what is already in the pipeline
• External factors impacting Medicaid
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Health information technology
  • Increased scrutiny in private equity
• Focus on social determents of health
• Focus on high-cost populations
• Growth in MCO; both in growth and pressures put on them

There was also important information shared around the politics of getting things done in an election year and important strategies in engaging in the upcoming election. I will be taking this information back to ARRM to make sure that our strategies for 2020 are aligning in the most effective way forward.

Important issues to track

ANCOR is pursing three major pieces of legislation this coming year to provide support to Home and Community-Based Services. Those include;

• HCBS Workforce and Infrastructure Act: This grant program would allow states to choose three of the following areas to make improvements in: workforce stability, transportation, employment supports, no wrong door- single entry system and implementation of the HCBS Settings Rule. States would be required to solicit stakeholder input and submit plans to CMS with measurable objectives and annual milestones in the chosen areas. This legislation is focused on helping states update outdated HCBS systems and grow community services.

• SOCs for DSPs: States rely heavily on Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) data, including out state of Minnesota, when setting our rates through DWRS. Currently, there is no separate SOC for DSPs at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This information is critical not only in rate setting, but in recognizing the DSP as a profession and helping collect accurate data on the workforce needs. While typically it falls to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to establish to SOC, that only happens every ten years. This legislation will encourage the BLS to consider a SOC for DSPs.

• Hospital Coverage for DSPs: Currently, Medicaid does not allow state waiver programs to pay for DSP supports while the person they support is in the hospital. For individuals that rely on their staff for communication, or may be experiencing mental health or anxiety symptoms, having their trusted support staff by their side can be the difference in a prolonged hospital stay. Legislation will simply allow all waivers to permit states to reimburse for DSP coverage in hospitals. This legislation will have no additional federal cost.

You never know where you'll catch members of Congress!

Congressional meetings

I, along with 13 other ARRM member representatives, were able to divide and conquer and meet with the offices of all ten members of our Congressional Delegation, including meeting in person with Senator Tina Smith and Congressman Pete Stauber (08), along with running into Congresswoman Angie Craig (02) at the elevator!

Rep. Pete Stauber met with constituents from Congressional District 8.

We educated staffers about Home and Community-Based Services and what is happening in Minnesota, with specific focus on the workforce crisis, as well as provided information on how they can support us, both at the state level and with the policies that ANCOR is championing.

The meetings provided us a great opportunity to further strengthen our relationships with our federal legislators, as well as hear directly from their offices about their priorities and how we can be better resources.

 

Don't forget to register for the Fall Business & Finance Forum, November 13, where Sara will cover these federal issues in greater detail, along with the full Legislative Agenda and additional timely topics for Minnesota Home and Community-Based Service providers.

What Didn't Make It In the 2019 HHS Omnibus Bill, Wins and Setbacks

Equally important as the policy items that were included in the final Health and Human Service (HHS) Omnibus bill, are policy items that were not included. ARRM counts both wins and setbacks in this category this year.

WINS

ARRM put many resources into fighting against several damaging provisions proposed during the 2019 Legislative Session which would have both harmed providers’ abilities to operate, but more importantly restricted access to the supports and services sought by Minnesotans with disabilities.

Adult Foster Care Bed Closure Proposal

Early on in session, a bill was introduced by Human Services Reform and Finance Committee Chair, Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka). This proposal would automatically decrease adult foster care bed capacity by one for every two beds left vacant for longer than six months.

ARRM had serious concerns about potential un-intended consequences to this proposal and testified in opposition to bill two separate times during the Human Services Reform and Finance Committee. Our testimony highlighted:

• The destabilization of adult foster care this proposal would cause
• The lack of consideration of regional variables or provider specific services
• The lack of cost savings this proposal would bring

Despite our opposition, this proposal did end up in the Senate HHS Omnibus bill.

As soon as the final HHS Conference Committee was announced we were able to activate our members in House Conferee’s districts. Thanks to member outreach, House members spoke against this proposal during Conference Committee and the language was NOT included in the HHS Omnibus Bill.

DD and CADI Waiver Caps

Similarly to the Adult Foster Care Bed Closure proposal, a proposal to cap the number of DD and CADI waivers at June 30, 2019 levels was also included in the Senate HHS Omnibus bill.

Many advocacy groups testified against this proposal during the Human Services Reform and Finance Committee, including ARRM. Thanks to the strong outpouring of opposition, this proposal was also NOT included in the HHS Omnibus Bill.

HCBS Licensing Fee Increase

As we have seen in past years, the Department of Human Services presented, and Governor Walz included in his initial budget, a proposal to increase licensing fees for Home and Community-Based Services providers. This proposal would have raised fees for providers based on revenue with increases ranging from 20 percent all the way up to 300 percent. One of the primary purposes of this new revenue is to support additional inspectors for the Office of the Inspector General.

While ARRM supports a strong and effective investigation process, the association raised strong concerns with generating new revenue from an unfunded mandate on providers already struggling to maintain wages and operations budgets. The association proposed alternative language which would have increased DWRS rates by an amount equal to the fee increases, keeping the proposal cost neutral. This was included in the Senate Health and Human Services Omnibus bill, while the House included language similar to the Governor’s proposal. Ultimately, neither were included in the final HHS Omnibus bill.

In the end, thanks to strong advocacy against these fees from our members, and strong advocacy on our behalf from key Senators, the increase to Home and Community-Based Services licensing fees was NOT included in the final HHS Omnibus bill.

SETBACK

ICF Variable Rate and Services During the Day Legislation

One of ARRM’s top legislative priorities this session was legislation that would allow all ICFs to request a variable rate and change the Services During the Day rate from 75 percent of the DT&H rate to 100 percent of the rate.

This legislation got off to an early start, with an early hearing in the Senate. Unfortunately the bill was not able to get a hearing in the House prior to the mandated committee deadlines.

Going into the end of the legislative session, the language was included in the Senate HHS Omnibus bill and there was momentum in the House, mainly driven by members of the minority party, to do something this session to address rates for ICF providers.

Unfortunately, due to a low final conference committee target, the ICF proposal was not included in the HHS Omnibus bill. This is a disappointment for ICF providers and in the coming months the ARRM ICF Taskforce will focus on re-capping what worked and didn’t work this legislative session and begin discussing ARRM’s priorities for the 2020 legislative session.

Thank you to Members

As indicated above, many of the provisions that we were successful in defending against were due to our member’s strong advocacy voice. Thank you to members who were able to contact their legislators in opposition to these harmful proposals!

--Sara Grafstrom, Director of State and Federal Policy

Connect With Your Officials! - Rep. Morrison Visits Hammer

Last week, State Representative Kelly Morrison of District 33B paid a visit to Hammer’s Holdridge home in Wayzata. On this visit, Rep. Morrison was able to meet with individuals who reside at Holdridge, some of which have family and support staff who live in her district.

This year marks Morrison’s first term as a Minnesota Representative. However, Rep. Morrison’s background as a physician makes her familiar with community-based disability services. She is also knowledgeable about Medicaid and service payments. When she was in high school, Rep. Morrison even volunteered for Hammer!

State Representative Kelly Morrison with Hammer Board Member, Kevan, and his son, Travis, a Holdridge resident.

In a conversation with Hammer’s CEO John Estrem, Rep. Morrison stated her awareness of the 7 percent cut to disability waiver rates and expressed that there should be a priority to fix it. She also asked what things legislators could do to save money without compromising the quality of care. She displayed an understanding of the cost of 24/7 care and posed additional questions with regard to staffing. It is evident that Rep. Morrison cares about the disability service community.

Arrange Your Own Site Visits

Providing tours of facilities for new legislators is a great way to introduce them to the direct support professionals’ workforce and home and community-based services as a whole. Your staff members deserve attention and so do your residents! The opportunity to interact with all Senators and Representatives is a great way for you to highlight your services and discuss issues that concern your communities.

 

Are you interested in organizing a site visit for a legislator? For assistance, contact Madeleine Lerner, ARRM’s Grassroots Organizer, at [email protected].

New Gov. Administration on Listening Tour

Governor-Elect Walz and Lt. Governor-Elect Flanagan will be spending the next five days on a statewide “One Minnesota Listening Tour”. The purpose of the tour is to hear from folks across the state about their priorities for the incoming administration as well as characteristics they hope to see in their commissioners and Administration.

ARRM is encouraging any member that is located in the tour stops to attend these events and speak up on behalf of the disability community. With this new administration come new opportunities to forge strong relationships and develop champions on our behalf. It’s important that we share the challenges that we are facing and our vision and opportunities that we see for services for people with disabilities moving forward.

Please contact Sara Grafstrom at [email protected] with any questions or request for additional resources or view the Governor-Elect’s website for more information. Tour dates and stops include:

Thursday, November 29^th

Governor-elect Walz

• 9:30am MANKATO*

South Central College - Heritage Hall, 1920 Lee Blvd, North Mankato, MN 56003

• 2:45pm LUVERNE

Rock Co. Courthouse - County Commissioners Chambers, 213 East Luverne Street, Luverne, MN 56156

• 7:30pm LA CRESCENT

La Crescent Sports Hub, 25 N Walnut St, La Crescent, MN 55947

 

Lieutenant Governor-elect Flanagan

• 9:30am MANKATO*

South Central College - Heritage Hall, 1920 Lee Blvd, North Mankato, MN 56003

• 12:30pm MARSHALL

Marshall Lyon County Library - Community Room, 201 C Street, Marshall, MN 56258

• 2:30pm GRANITE FALLS

Upper Sioux Community Center - Multi-Purpose Room, 5722 Travers Ln, Granite Falls, MN 56241

 

Friday, November 30^th

Governor-elect Walz

• 10:00am ROCHESTER

Olmstead County Gov't Center, 151 4th St SE Rochester, MN 55904

• 1:30pm MINNEAPOLIS*

University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411

• 6:00pm FERGUS FALLS

City Hall, Council Chambers, 112 W Washington Ave. Fergus Falls, MN 56537

 

Lieutenant Governor-elect Flanagan

• 10:00am ST. PAUL

Location to be announced

 

• 1:30pm MINNEAPOLIS*

University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411

 

Saturday, December 1^st

Governor-elect Walz

• 8:30am MOORHEAD

Fryn’ Pan, 2920 US-10 Moorhead, MN 56560

• 11:30am CROOKSTON

Cofe, 1504 University Ave., Crookston, MN 56716

• 2:00pm HALLOCK

Far North Spirits, 2045 220th Ave. Hallock, MN 56728

 

Lieutenant Governor-elect Flanagan

• 10:30am PRAIRIE ISLAND

5636 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch, MN 55089

• 1:30pm WINONA

Winona State University, Kryzsko Commons, Purple Rooms, W 9th St, Winona, MN 55987

 

Sunday, December 2^nd

Governor-elect Walz

• 11:00am RED LAKE

Red Lake Tribal College, 15480 Migizi Dr, Red Lake, MN 56671

• 1:30pm BEMIDJI

Mayflower Building, 102 1st Street W Bemidji, MN 56601

• 5:00pm HIBBING

Little Theater- Hibbing Memorial Building, 400 E 23rd St, Hibbing, MN 55746

 

Lieutenant Governor-elect Flanagan

• 12:30pm ST. CLOUD

Location to be announced

• 2:30pm FOLEY

Mighty Axe Hops, 8505 95th St NE, Foley, MN 56329

 

Monday, December 3^rd

Governor-elect Walz

• 8:00am SILVER BAY

Silver Bay Veterans Home, 56 Outer Dr, Silver Bay, MN 55614

• 11:00am GRAND PORTAGE

Grand Portage Community Center, 73 Upper Rd, Grand Portage, MN 55605

• 3:00pm DULUTH*

Mayor’s Reception Room, Duluth City Hall 411 W 1st St, Duluth, MN 55802

 

Lieutenant Governor-elect Flanagan

• 3:00pm DULUTH*

Mayor’s Reception Room, Duluth City Hall 411 W 1st St, Duluth, MN 55802

 

*Indicates a joint event with both the Governor-elect and Lieutenant Governor-elect participating.