9 Things the MN Legislature Should Do Now. Critical Time to Call Your Legislator

At the Legislature – the Trifecta leaders through the Conference Committees will decide on the final allocation of money to ALANA communities. Your voice is critically needed in the next few days, after which we will not be able to make much progress.

After engaging with Trifecta leaders for several months and analyzing proposed bills and strategies, the following 9 recommendations will help ensure that the $17 billion surplus will grow wealth in the ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) communities in Minnesota. The dominant strategy of the Trifecta is to allocate the surplus through departments – hence the importance to ensure that legislation passes includes language of inclusion of ALANA communities as offered in the recommendations below.

We strongly recommend that the Trifecta Conference Committees do the following:

We ask Trifecta leaders to provide evidence that at least 22 percent of the $17 billion-dollar surplus flows directly to the ALANA communities.

Rationale: ALANA communities make up 22 percent of the population and pay an estimated $5 billion in taxation. “No taxation without representation” is a founding principle of America. https://empoweringstrategies.org/ethniceconomy/
Since the money is already allocated in the various omnibus bills, carve out $500 million from the reserves into a special fund dedicated to ALANA wealth building that can operate like the Legacy Funds over a 5–10-year period. If for example, we are hit with a recession and a depletion of resources, the ALANA communities can have access to this pool for investing in wealth building efforts.

Rationale: There is very little dedicated funding directly for ALANA communities. ALANA communities experience sharp racial disparities in wealth and needs sustained investments in wealth building.
Include language in the Jobs and Economic Development Bill that specifies that ALANA communities have priority for at least 22 percent (current ALANA percentage of Minnesota’s populations) of the programs funded. Include language that requires reporting on ALANA outcomes by these broad categories – African American, Latino, Asian and Native American – at the minimum.

Rationale: In recent years when there is direct funding to ALANA communities or explicit language for inclusion there has been higher participation and ALANA outcomes. Very little direct funding to ALANA communities – according to a recent Legislative Auditor report.
Include language in the Jobs and Economic Development Bill that requires that DEED works with citizen panels with ALANA and small or micro businesses or organizations in translating legislative intent into program rules, protocols, and funding. Allow some flexibility in the interpretation of the rules (for example, if the program is not getting applicants from small or micro-ALANA organizations, allowing DEED to adjust the requirements).

Rationale: Develop small/micro business and organizational friendly programs while maintaining accountability and efficiency.
Include language in the bills that allow organizations who receive funding flexibility in the time they can use grant funds to complete their efforts – this will help grow capacity.

Rationale: Flexibility in grant utilization will allow an organization if needed and opportunity to grow capacity in a sustained way.
Include language in the Legacy Bill that at the minimum 22 percent of the funding should prioritize ALANA communities across the programs funded including the Minnesota Humanities Center, The Minnesota History Center, and the State Arts Board. Include language that the State Arts Board, the History Center and the Minnesota Humanities Centers works with artist/citizen panels in constructing grant program guidelines and processes.

Rationale: Recent reports document the underinvestment in ALANA cultural assets in Legacy Fund decisions.
Large amounts of money are flowing to institutions in e-12 and Higher Education. Include language in both omnibus bills calling for annual reporting of ALANA outcomes from these institutions. Increase funding that goes directly to students such as scholarships, the state grant program etc and educate students who receive these funds of their “portable” nature – namely it follows the student where they choose to attend. This will also shift power to the student and improve the attention given to them by institutions. Increase investments in recruiting ALANA teachers and continue multiple pathways to teacher licensure (there is an active intent to do away with these alternative licensing pathways which will roll back the progress on developing the ALANA teacher pipeline.

Rationale: Invest in ALANA students directly as this is an effective strategy.
Following the recommendations of the Office of the Legislative Auditor, include in transportation bills and other public spending/new programs (Cannabis, free school meals etc) that at the minimum a goal of 22 percent of total contracts for ALANA businesses, including investing in growing the capacity of these businesses, and ALANA workforce goals as specified in state statutes. Annual reports on ALANA outcomes should be presented to the Legislature.

Rationale: State Contracts is a powerful and low-cost tool to grow ALANA business and workforce talent. This is a recommendation from the Legislative Auditor’s recent report.
In Democracy related bills, include language of adequate ALANA representation and inclusion in both task forces as well as programs and funding.

Rationale: Preserve and grow adequate ALANA political representation and participation.