Dear Neighbors,
I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the long days of summer daylight!
With summer in full swing, there are a lot of festivals, concerts, and events to enjoy around the metro! Last weekend Minneapolis was alive with festivals and activities commemorating the Juneteenth holiday. Juneteenth became a state holiday in 2023 and commemorates the end of slavery on the day -- June 19th, 1865 -- when the last 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Check out some of the great Juneteenth events around the region this Wednesday, June 19th where you can join in the celebration of Black culture and learn more about Juneteenth and African American history in Minnesota.
And thank you to everyone who attended our Town Hall last week! We discussed our priorities from this last session, specific pieces of legislation, and how we can make Minnesota the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
Minnesota Voting Rights Celebration
I had a wonderful time celebrating the passage of the Minnesota Voting Rights Act with my Senate partner in this work Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, the Inclusive Democracy Caucus, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Sec. of State Steve Simon, community leaders, We Choose Us, The Minnesota Legal Defense Fund and so many other voting rights champions. This is such a powerful movement for multi-racial multi-generational democracy!
While other states seek to dismantle voting rights, Minnesota has been a North Star to protect and strengthen the freedom to vote. The Minnesota Voting Rights Act will ensure that every Minnesota voter, regardless of their race or the language they speak, has an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy.
Connecting Communities to the Capitol
With the goal of deepening our understanding on key issues, over the last few years, I have taken the time we have during the summer and fall when we are not in session to dive deep into different areas of policy that impact our communities and our state. With session over, once a month, I’ll pick an interesting topic and talk to experts, my legislative colleagues, advocates, and members of our community to provide a richer understanding and perspective on an issue. These will be conversations and interviews, filmed and posted to Facebook, along with recommended articles, podcasts and books if you are interested in deepening your understanding on the topic.
I’m happy to announce the continuation of this project, and am excited to get out into our community to highlight the work being done in our neighborhoods and around the state to tackle the important issues impacting our communities!
Stay in Touch
Thank you for your time, energy, and all you do to make our community a great place for everyone. Please reach out to me with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email is rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.gov or you are always welcome to call me at the Capitol at 651-296-4200 and follow my Facebook page for updates and information.
It’s an honor and a privilege to be your State Representative and I look forward to working with you to create a stronger, brighter future for all Minnesotans!
Best,
Emma Greenman
State Representative