 Dear Neighbors, It was a busy week in the district, meeting with constituents, advocates, and community organizations that are doing great work for our residents of House District 46B. I have also been meeting with legislative members and staff to work on legislation as well as education organizations this week. Here’s an update from the Minnesota House: Tuesday, January 21st marked one week since a court ruled that Rep. Brad Tabke duly won his election and we’ve finished the week with no reassurance from GOP leadership that they wouldn’t overturn that free and fair election results. In fact, one of their legislators actually publicly stated that the first course of action in the House should be to kick out Representative Tabke. When an election result is upheld on election night, in a public recount, and in a court ruling, it’s time for the losing side to concede. That is how our democracy works. It is imperative that we have assurances from GOP leadership that Rep. Brad Tabke will be duly seated. House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman held a press conference on Tuesday this week urging House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth to return to the negotiating table so we can do the work the people of Minnesota elected us to do. I’ve been ready to do so; Minnesotans expect their state government to function, and they deserve to have a robust and collaborative legislative session that delivers results for our communities. Our work as legislators extends beyond the State Capitol building itself; some of the best work and ideas about how to keep Minnesotans moving forward are formed in the communities we were elected to represent and find solutions for. Here’s a look at who I connected with this week: On Monday, we honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This summer, My husband Jacques and I had a chance to visit Washington D.C. and tour the monuments. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stands strong, looking at the horizon towards a hopeful future. We’ve made progress on his dream, but there is still much to do.  A huge thank you to Captain Scott Vadnais for allowing me to ride along with a crew of Edina Fire Fighter/Paramedics Monday evening! It’s clear your team has knowledge, compassion, and dedication to the community and the region. Of course, I forgot to take a picture with the whole crew when we had dinner together. But, here is a picture taken with Captain Scott Vadnais & Fire Fighter/Paramedic John Meyer 15 hours into their 24 hour shift when I got to leave and go home to sleep. Thank you for your service!  Tuesday, I had great conversation with constituent David Homan from Citizen Climate Lobby. I met with folks from the Education Partnership Coalition regarding their legislative platform and providing more access across the state. I also had a discussion regarding Full-Service Community Schools grants with the Minnesota Department of Education. And I finished the day with a conversation with Matt Shaver from Ed Allies about what they are focusing on this year for students across our state.  Wednesday, I finished a long day of meetings centered on teachers and education funding at Hopkins Vail Place listening to inspirational stories shared by clubhouse members. Members from the two other Vail Place sites in Minneapolis and Ramsey joined us as well. The http://vailcommunities.org model empowers mental wellness through community, purpose, and opportunity. Vail Place's staff helps their members find jobs, housing, and mental health support. Members run the clubhouse through an advisory council and board that hosts social activities, cooks meals together, provides peer to peer support, and much more. Members and staff are breaking the stigma around mental health every day. I am a proud author of a bill to help them expand across the state. A huge thank you to the members for sharing their stories and for your advocacy!  On Thursday, I shadowed Hopkins High School Principal Crystal Ballard. I visited the new CNA classroom where students can get training and hands on experience as a certified nurses aid so that when they turn 18 they can take the test to become licensed. I also attended a weekly district budget meeting with Principal Ballard. Then back to the high school to meet with an amazing group of students that shared their thoughts about their senior year experience. We finished in Mrs. Heimlich's AVID class where students had a chance to hear from two Hopkins graduates about their college experience. Thank you Principal Ballad, for the opportunity to get just a glimpse of the work you are doing at Hopkins High School and to the students for sharing their thoughts!  Thank you House Capital Investment Co-Chair Fue Lee for taking a tour of St. Louis Park’s two bonding projects with Rep. Larry Kraft and me. City staff, Mayor Mohamed, and Council-members Dumalag and Brausen did a great job highlighting the environmental and safety needs the projects will address.  Friday morning, I started my day at the Edina School Legislative Action Coalition breakfast. A huge thank you for an informative meeting and the very thoughtful questions for Rep. Greene, Sen. Mann, and me, especially from the engaged students who are advocating for their peers and their schools. The rest of the day was filled with meetings with education chairs in the House and Senate, non-partisan staff, as well as a meeting with Beacon Interfaith Outreach on affordable housing and organization called Stride to discussion some education proposals they have.  A friendly reminder I'll be hosting a community conversation tomorrow, January 25th at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Ln, St. Louis Park, MN). Everyone from our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors are welcome to attend. I'll be hosting more of these in the other cities (Hopkins and Edina) that encompass District 46B. I also have one Tuesday, January 28 at the Edina Library from 6:30-8:00 pm.  Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime with questions, or if I can help clarify any misinformation about what’s happening in St. Paul. I can be reached at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Have a good weekend,  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |