ST. PAUL – This week, the Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus met to discuss priorities and elect new leadership. Representative Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope) and Representative Liish Kozlowski (DFL- Duluth) were appointed to co-chairs of the caucus and Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-Saint Paul) was elected vice chair.
The new leadership team released the following statements:
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be named a Co-Chair of the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus,” Rep. Frazier. “The issues affecting POCI communities are integral to the fabric of Minnesota. As Co-Chair, I will continue to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, championing policies that promote equity and justice for all Minnesotans. Drawing on my lived experiences and unique perspective, I am committed to creating informed policies that support everyone, especially our most vulnerable communities. Together with my colleagues, I look forward to building upon the essential work of the caucus, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that every voice is heard in shaping the future of our great state.”
“I thank my colleagues for the trust to serve our communities as a Co-Chair, and extend gratitude to outgoing Co-Chair Representative Esther Agbaje, for leading us with strategy, grit, and grace,” Rep. Kozlowski said. “Our POCI caucus represents a powerful bloc of the House DFL bringing our voices of urban, suburban, and Greater Minnesota. We will work across the aisle, and our votes will continue driving visionary change and expanding the possible.”
“It is with great honor to have been appointed by my fellow colleagues and accept the Vice Chair position of the POCI Caucus in the Minnesota House of Representatives,” Rep. Pérez-Vega celebrated. “As a Boricua and Latina woman born on this Indigenous Land of Minnesota with a background in cultural education, arts, and organizing, the POCI Caucus has become more than just a space of policy engagement and conversations, but serves as a home and village at the Capitol to continue to influence, create and protect the historic legislation many of us and founders of the POCI caucus have been able to pass and lead for justice and pride in our communities.”
Throughout the 2023-2024 legislature, the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus has been steadfast in creating initiatives and policies to ensure Minnesotans from historically underrepresented and underserved communities have the resources, tools, and protections they need to thrive.
The House POCI Caucus further stated,
“We stand ready and unified to defend the rights and well-being of all Minnesotans ahead of the Trump Administration, especially our LGBTQIA2S+ community, which has been notoriously targeted throughout his campaign. We are deeply concerned about the potential impact of policies that may undermine hard-won progress in areas such as immigration, social programs, and civil rights. We will work tirelessly to counter any efforts that seek to erode these protections and will advocate for policies that uplift and empower all communities, with a particular focus on the most impacted and vulnerable in our state. We welcome the support and collaboration of our local officials, constituents, and partners at the federal level as we strive to create a more just and equitable future for Minnesota.”
Formed in 2017, the POCI Caucus prioritizes strengthening equity and inclusion in Minnesota while dismantling racism. You can read more on the accomplishments of the POCI Caucus last biennium here.
During the 2025-2026 biennium, the House POCI Caucus is comprised of; Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL-Minneapolis 62A), Rep. Anquam Mahamoud (DFL-Minneapolis 62B), Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul 66B), Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake 36B), Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope 43A), Rep. Curtis Johnson (DFL-Roseville 40B), Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Minneapolis 59B), Rep. Ethan Cha (DFL-Woodbury 47B), Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-Minneapolis 59A), Rep. Huldah Hiltsley-(DFL- Brooklyn Park 38A), Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL-St. Paul 67B), Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (DFL-St. Paul 64A), Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth 08B), Rep. Liz Lee (DFL-St. Paul 67A), Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (DFL-Inver Grove Heights 53A), Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-St. Paul 65B), Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Minneapolis 60B), Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-St. Paul 65A), Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis 63A), Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center 38B).