Visiting Local LeadersEarlier this week, I visited with the Columbia Heights City Council, along with Sen. Mary Kunesh and Rep. Erin Representative Erin Koegel. I appreciate the great state-local partnership with local leaders in Columbia Heights! Thanks to the City Councilors in our community doing great work.  I also had the chance to meet with the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board, along with Sen. Mary Kunesh, to hear their priorities for the coming legislative session and share thoughts!  Reproductive Healthcare for AllThis week marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 51 years ago, Roe v. Wade changed reproductive freedoms in the US for millions of people. While legislatures across the country attack the right to an abortion and reproductive healthcare, in Minnesota we have not wavered from this truth: The ability to decide if, when, and how to become a parent is a fundamental human right.  Join Us for a Town Hall!Join me, Sen. Mary Kunesh, and Rep. Erin Koegel for an upcoming community town hall! This Town Hall will be in-person. We will be holding the town hall in House District 39B on January 29th for a conversation about the 2024 legislative session. All residents of Senate District 39 are welcome. For the location, please register below with a verifiable SD39 address and information. You can also follow the Facebook event for updates! RSVP  House Info InterviewLast week, I sat down with non-partisan staff for an informational interview with House Info! I really enjoyed this interview -- being in the Minnesota House truly is a commitment made by the entire family. I couldn’t do this work without their support! WATCH MY INTERVIEW Fighting for our NursesThis is excellent report by the Minnesota Nurses Association on the progress and the stakes when it comes to their legislative agenda to center PATIENTS in healthcare, rather than profits. It's an honor and a joy to be partnering with MNA to achieve this mission. This session, we’re going to fight for our nurses and get this across the finish line. Universal FAFSAI’m proud to be working with education advocates on a bill to expand "Universal FAFSA" to Minnesota, following in the footsteps of numerous red and blue states that have seen a significant increase in college enrollment as a result of weaving FAFSA completion into the high school curriculum. There are students in all corners of Minnesota who write off college due to inability to pay for it, not knowing what options are available. By requiring every high school senior to complete the FAFSA, we ensure they know their options, potentially opening doors that would have otherwise stayed unexplored. Here’s a great article about it from the Minnesota Reformer. Local Advocacy for Silverwood ParkOver the past few years, Silverwood Park has been the center of discussion for potential program de-funding, reducing services and activities in what was built to be an “oasis for the spirit.” For your enjoyment, here is one of my FAVORITE photos of my daughter at Silverwood Park, participating in a nature activity during the pandemic! Some of our neighbors have started a new outreach campaign with the hope that more voices talking about what they love about Silverwood programming will have a positive impact on the board. You can get involved by joining the local letter-writing campaign! Learn more below.  GET INVOLVED |