Envision Minnesota

Envision Minnesota is the program area encompassing the statewide education and policy efforts of 1000 Friends of Minnesota. Through Envision Minnesota, we raise the level of discussion around the state on issues of rapid growth and development, sustainable economic vitality, genuine prosperity for all, protection of natural areas, environmental quality and preservation of community character. Our goal is a more informed voting public and policy makers that see the systemic linkages between a variety of complex issues. We use communications tools, civic engagement opportunities and large messaging strategies to assert a vision for long-term prosperity in which Minnesota and its communities develop in ways that retain our character and sustain the health of our citizens.

Goals for Envision Minnesota:
• Develop and lead a coalition of stakeholders in a multifaceted educational campaign on how Minnesota can continue to grow in population and maintain a vital economy without sacrificing our environmental assets and the cultural character of our communities.

• Challenge Minnesota’s elected leadership to embrace an agenda of a healthy and just economy, healthy people and healthy communities in Minnesota.

• Engage a diverse and inclusive cross-section of Minnesota leaders and citizens to participate in community conversations about the future they envision for their communities and our state.

• Help Minnesota’s leaders think long-term, develop a positive shared vision for the future and a broad action plan.

• Develop the Leadership Circle: We will engage prominent individuals from a variety of industries and communities of interest to share the leadership in the Envision Minnesota mission to raise the level of discussion in the state on issues of growth and prosperity.

• Listen to Minnesotans: We will develop a process in which we invite Minnesota citizens to share their perspectives on growth and its impacts on their communities in a series of forums in all corners of the state. We will also seek information from previous listening sessions such as the efforts of Minnesota Planning in recent years.

• Publish a policy report: We will work with Minnesota organizations and state agencies to compile and analyze data on population projections, housing starts and land consumption rates to develop a policy report on the state of Minnesota and how we our communities are growing. We will draft a policy agenda that addresses the issues heard at the statewide listening sessions and guides our organization’s work in future years. The report will be distributed widely to elected officials, candidates and voters at a statewide summit that features the report issues and engages the 2010 gubernatorial candidates.

• Compile Legacy Letters: We will invite Minnesotans to write letters to the next generation, expressing what they value most about Minnesota and want to ensure remains in place in the future. We will include the most apt letters in the policy report and on our web site. The letters will complement the hard data by making a personal appeal for sustainable growth that maintains the best Minnesota has to offer.