We’re inspired and enthused after drawing about 80 community leaders this week to our roundtable event themed “Getting It Done," reinforcing our drive to achieve a 75 percent higher education attainment rate in Minnesota by 2020.  We presented our Smart Investments in Minnesota’s Students framework and the divided into five breakout groups for roundtable discussions. Collaborative energy was in plentiful supply and we picked up new ideas, leads to new research and constructive feedback about our proposal and strategy.  Legislators and legislative candidates representing Minnesota's top four political parties (DFL, Republican, Independence and Green) accounted for about a fourth of the attendees.

A Smart Investment Agenda for Minnesota's next decade

In a press conference at the state Capitol we officially unveiled for the public and the news media A Smart Investment Agenda for Minnesota's Next Decade. This document articulates a comprehensive and succinct framework for voters and candidates for expanding prosperity and fairness in our state. The Smart Investment Agenda offers a vision, measurable goals, and specific strategies for investments in education, infrastructure and transportation, public health and a cleaner economy. We’ve shared this agenda with all candidates for governor in all political parties, and in St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report commentary, we make the case that while candidates understandably are focused on the details of yet another budget crisis, they also need to articulate a long-term vision, set concrete goals, and outline plausible strategies for achieving those ends.