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As we look ahead to the DFL Business Conference in Edina, I want to share some of what I've heard from Organizing Unit Chairs across the state about how we can potentially strengthen our party's outreach and inclusion efforts. This campaign has never been just about my ideas—it's about what we can build together. Through these conversations, it's become clear there is an incredible depth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom within our party's grassroots activists and volunteers. There is also a deep hunger to do better when engaging new communities, supporting our local leaders, and ensuring our organizing efforts are as inclusive as they are effective. The ideas I'm sharing today are just three of many that OU Chairs and other SCC Delegates highlighted in our conversations:

 

• OU Youth Stipends – A Bridge to the Next Generation 

  • Many Organizing Units struggle to bring in young people, and now more than ever, there are unique challenges with Gen Z. One idea would be to create a grant program to provide stipends for young local organizers or activists to work hand-in-hand with Organizing Units—not just running social media but helping bridge the gap between young people in their communities and the local DFL. Investing in these young leaders would ensure that we aren't just speaking to young voters but actively bringing them into our party as partners, future organizers, and leaders. (Brought up by an Organizing Unit Chair in CD8.)
     

• Onboarding & Training for Outreach Officers – Setting Leaders Up for Success

  • Outreach Officers play a critical role in our party, but too often, they step in without a clear framework for success. A statewide onboarding program would ensure that Outreach Officers receive training on their responsibilities, the history of their role, and best practices for effective community engagement. This role is incredibly malleable and unique in every community—no two approaches to outreach should be the same. That's why this training wouldn't dictate a rigid approach but instead provide Outreach Officers with the knowledge and evidence-based tools to develop localized, culturally competent strategies that meet people where they are. (Brought up by an Organizing Unit Chair in CD1.)
     

• Cultural Competency & Honest Conversations – Meeting People Where They Are 

  • We must go beyond intention and focus on impact to build a party reflecting Minnesota's diversity. Organizing Unit Chairs has expressed the need for intentional spaces, whether that's one-to-one or in cohorts with other OU chairs, to discuss where we excel and where we need to improve in reaching underrepresented communities. Through facilitated discussions and meaningful cultural competency training, we can equip our party leaders with the tools to engage all Minnesotans more effectively and reach more voters. (Brought up by an Organizing Unit Chair in CD3.)

These three ideas have organically come up in conversations and demonstrate that the solutions to our challenges already exist within our party—we have the knowledge, the experience, and the people ready to do this work. These ideas show that all of us are willing to do the work to think creatively, challenge ourselves, and build a stronger, more inclusive DFL together. That's what real leadership looks like—not having all the answers but being willing to listen, learn, and take action.

As I continue my campaign for DFL Outreach and Inclusion Officer, I remain committed to lifting up innovative ideas and working alongside you to turn them into action. This is not work that belongs to one person—it belongs to all of us. And I believe that we can make the Minnesota DFL stronger, more inclusive, and more connected to the communities we seek to engage.