Our Approach

The future of Minnesota’s economic growth and competitiveness relies upon the willingness of policymakers to enact and invest in anti-racist policies and solutions.

To support policy makers in building an equitable, just, and prosperous economy, the Center for Economic Inclusion will:

  • Advocate and lobby for anti-racist local, state, and federal public policies in four domains.

  • Partner with racial and economic justice organizations, policy makers, employers, workers, and communities to address the conditions of systems change, including policies, practices, resources, power, relationships, and mental models.

  • Advocate and lobby for specific solutions and policies developed in coalition with the Postsecondary Readiness and Attainment Policy Committee, Racial Equity & Joy Coalition, and Racial Equity Impact Notes Coalition.

Policy Priorities

Create Good Jobs & Invest in Inclusive Workplaces

Minnesota needs more jobs paying family sustaining wages and benefits, in workplaces committed to values of racial equity, inclusion and belonging. The Center will advocate for solutions to grow the economy through investments that accelerate inclusive job growth, work to limit investments and incentives for businesses unwilling to contribute to inclusive economic growth, and lobby.

Equitable, Inclusive & Transparent Government

Minnesotans depend on policy makers to make data informed decision making in the best interest of all communities. The Center advocates for and offers tools for evaluating proposed policies and solutions for their impact on closing or widening stagnant racial disparities that threaten the states’ economic competitiveness and growth.

Policy Goals - Equitable Investments & Accountability

Accelerate Regional Inclusive Economic Growth & Investment / Budget & Tax Reforms to Close Racial Wealth Gaps

  • Rigorous, racially responsive and inclusive investments to accelerate economic growth and close racial wealth gaps; Application of a meaningful system to drive shared accountability between policy makers, government agencies and Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian Minnesotans

  • Racially relevant and responsive appropriation of $7.5 billion American Rescue Plan funds to close racial income gaps

  • Racially relevant and responsive investment of more than $8 billion in federal infrastructure funding and state matching funding

  • Measurable Anti-Racist Goals in 2050 MSP Thrive Plan & 8+ Local Comprehensive Plans

  • Racially inclusive, equitable, and responsive approaches to pursuing federal funds from the EDA and other agencies to accelerate inclusive economic growth

Equitable Postsecondary Readiness & Attainment

  • Increase persistence and graduation rates, particularly for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian, first-generation, English Language Learners, low-income, and students with special needs

Postsecondary Persistence and Pathway to Family-Sustaining Career

  • Increase capacity of navigation system

  • Scale-up successful Adult Basic Education and MN State partnership models for assessing and preparing adult learner readiness for college readiness and postsecondary credential attainment

  • Build capacity and develop these models and partnerships across the state

  • Developmental Education Reforms:

    • Require co-requisite remediation

Budget & Tax Reforms to Close Racial Wealth Gaps

  • Budget, tax and economic policies which catalyze shared prosperity, close racial employment, income and wealth gaps, and stimulate inclusive economic growth

Build Wealth in Black, Indigenous, Latine, & Asian Communities

  • Equitable home ownership

  • Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Asian-owned business development and acceleration

  • Address housing, childcare, Medicaid, and healthcare policies to incentivize work, equitable and inclusive employer practices and wage policies, and mitigate the benefits cliff