It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of former Green Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner Annie Young.

Annie had always been a pioneering and visionary activist in all the fields she endeavored to enter. Politics was certainly no exception. Annie was one of the very first Green Party elected officials in the state of Minnesota. She had recently retired as one of the longest-serving Green Party elected officials in the entire country.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

St. Paul, Minnesota (December 7, 2017) - We find Minnesota in an embarrassing national spotlight due to the egregious and inappropriate behavior of one of our highest office elected public servants, Senator Al Franken. We fully accept, and approve of, his resignation today as it signals his admission that he has broken our public trust and the ability to represent us Minnesotans.

In a night which saw progressive gains across the country, Minneapolis Greens returned Cam Gordon to the City Council in Minneapolis for his fourth term, and maintained a presence on the Minneapolis Park Board as well, where LaTrisha Vetaw won a seat at-large, and will replace retiring Green Annie Young on that body.

Green Party Candidate for Minneapolis Park Board District 1 on KMOJ 89.9!

Frederick Melo Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: November 1, 2017 at 7:00 am | UPDATED: November 1, 2017 at 1:25 pm

Elizabeth Dickinson was putting the finishing touches on two employee management books about self-coaching and coaching others when representatives of a progressive women’s group approached her.

With no other viable female candidates in the race, how would she feel about running for St. Paul mayor?

Dickinson, 57, has been an actress, a psychologist, a state lobbyist and personal life coach. But mayor?

Her prior campaigns — 2003 for city council and 2005 for mayor — both ended in busy political primaries, eliminating her from contention well before election day. And that was a dozen years ago, when she was still active with the West Side Community Organization and Clean Energy Now, the advocacy coalition she co-founded.

But this time around, there is no primary election to pare down the candidates. On Nov. 7, the Green Party-endorsed Dickinson will appear on the ballot, though the 10-person field remains as crowded as ever.

“They said there’s a hole in the race and we think you should fill it,” said Dickinson, recalling the conversation that got her back into politics shortly after Christmas Day, a relatively late start for serious contenders. “There wasn’t anybody carrying an environmental agenda and energy agenda. There wasn’t a woman. And there wasn’t a person that I saw with the leadership skills that I’ve developed over the past 20 years.”

By Eric Roper Star Tribune

St. Paul mayoral candidate Elizabeth Dickinson, left, chats with Stuart Schmitz outside his home. “I’m the only Green. … What makes me the most different … is emphasizing energy and the environment,” she says. Elizabeth Dickinson.

By KELLY BUSCHE of the Minnesota Daily

Cam Gordon has used cross-party collaboration to accomplish Green Party priorities in his time on the Minneapolis City Council.

Gordon, a council member representing the city’s second ward, which covers University neighborhoods Stadium Village, Prospect Park and Southeast Como, has led many movements in his 11 years on the job. Still, Gordon says there’s more work to be done — including addressing public health, anti-immigrant attitudes and environmental issues.

As a current Minneapolis City Council member running unopposed for re-election, Gordon said he continues to look for ways to impact the neighborhoods he serves.

Welcome to the June/July 2017 issue of the Sunflower Seed! In this issue you will find updates on our 2017 Green campaigns, hear about a giant success in Minneapolis, meet a potential Green statewide candidate for 2018, find out how you can join GPMN in supporting a new Black-led Credit Union and other ways you can get involved! Enjoy!

Volunteers urgently needed for the state fair

The Minnesota State Fair is less than a week away, and the Green Party of Minnesota needs your help to ensure we continue our long tradition of Green Politics at the fair! 

As of this sending of this newsletter, we still need volunteers to fill the shifts below. Volunteers get a ticket into the fair for each day you volunteer. It's easy, fun, and a great way to help support and grow the Greens!

Sunday (8/27) 1pm-5pm
Monday (8/28) 5pm-9pm (2 spots)
Tuesday (8/29) 5pm-9pm (2 spots)
Friday (9/1) 5pm-9pm (2 spots)
Saturday (9/2) 9am-1pm
Sunday (9/3) 1pm-5pm

To sign up, go to www.mngreens.org/green_fair_2017