Community and economic development professionals from across the region gathered in Bemidji this winter to build confidence and sharpen their advocacy skills ahead of the 2025 legislative session.
Hosted at the Northwest Indian Community Development Center in December, the training was facilitated by Kari Johnson, director of state policy and field building with the Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD). The event was a collaborative effort between MCCD and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) to strengthen local capacity for policy engagement.
“Participation in the advocacy process is important to ensure that Greater Minnesota has their voices heard just as much as those in the metro area,” Johnson said. “As the Legislature provides more options for people to testify in hearings over Zoom, MCCD wanted to help our peers and partners feel just as connected to the process without having to physically be at the Capitol all the time.”
Nineteen participants learned how to craft clear elevator pitches, draft compelling testimony, and practice presenting their perspectives to lawmakers. They also heard firsthand from individuals who have testified at the Capitol, as well as from local legislators who underscored the powerful impact community voices can have.
“This work is important, particularly as people continue to wonder what they can do to drive change in their communities,” said Sarah Linda, senior program manager of the Community Revitalization program at NMF. “Every voice counts, but it can be very daunting and overwhelming to speak in front of a group, whether it’s a local city council or a state legislative committee. This training helped people summarize their concerns effectively, and learn how to prepare to present their concerns to a group of lawmakers.”
Held shortly before the legislative session began, the training was designed to be timely — offering tools and motivation that participants could apply in real time as policy conversations unfolded at the state level.
“Training participants are now better equipped, and more confident, to do advocacy work in their communities and to state legislators, which can drive change at local, regional, and state levels,” Linda said.
While it’s too early to measure the full impact, the training served as a meaningful step toward building long-term advocacy capacity in Northwest Minnesota — helping more people step into their power and speak up for their communities.
