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Activities

Heartland Democracy is dedicated to winning over hearts and minds to just and sustainable goals. We do so through a variety of related activities: we identify our principles and values, we describe them in a coherent and comprehensive way, we bring together facts and analyses to reach our conclusions, and we deliver our communications to the public. We use a variety of strategies to reach folks who might be interested in a discussion of ideas, values, and actions. We approach existing groups wherever two or more are gathered to talk about their hopes, concerns, and ideas. We encourage folks to create new discussion groups or book clubs as well. Over time, we will continue to provide discussion guides, provocative questions, information, and writings to discuss. Finally, when you’re ready to move from discussion to action, we provide a range of options, from signing our Reforming Democracy Pledge to volunteering for Heartland Democracy to investigating what other likeminded groups are doing to advance legislation in the state capitals.

One strategy we use is to crystallize our values in an initiative that, if adopted, would fulfill our principles. Our plan is to run a public engagement campaign on the recommendations and values below. Always, throughout our work, we are focused on winning over hearts and minds to the goals of the just and sustainable communities we all desire. We invite you to review our first major project’s recommendations below.

Empowering U

Our public engagement programs use discussions on shared values and stories to “reach and connect with” our participants in meaningful ways.  We hold discussions at houses of worship, schools, forums, book clubs, lifelong learning classes, associations, and other gatherings.  The Minneapolis Foundation has provided a grant to our Empowering U program, helping people of color in the Minneapolis area become active, progressive citizens.  We kicked off the program with high school students in the fall of 2009.  We plan to reach more high schools and add colleges in 2010.  Invite a Heartland Democracy representative to your discussion or forum!

Blueprint for Governance

Progressive leaders have asked us to coordinate progressive strategic initiatives from top experts for the next governor, focused on critical initiatives and shared progressive values.  Once the Minnesota Blueprint is in good order, we will consider a similar project in Iowa and Wisconsin and consider common solutions across the region. 

Reforming Elections

Heartland Democracy issued its 21st Century Voter Registration report in February 2009; widely hailed, the report made the case for universal, automatic voter registration.  We testified several times before the Minnesota Legislature on a bill to make voter registration automatic.  The Legislature passed the bill and the Governor vetoed it, prompting our op-ed of May 23, 2009 in the Star Tribune, the most frequently read online commentary in the region that weekend.  We continue to advance that vital proposal.