TakeAction Minnesota’s 2025 Impact Report
Building Power, Together
Organizing with TakeAction has made me feel so much more connected and empowered to make a difference in my community.
Power Numbers
CAMPAIGN
Duluth Tenants
Duluth Tenants is building power for tenants. In less than a year, we won our first campaign and passed the Right to Repair policy, giving tenants a crucial tool
in the toolbox to access safe and stable housing. The Right to Repair is a commonsense policy allowing renters to make repairs to their homes and deduct the cost from their rent, without requiring city inspections, waiting months for their landlords to respond, or going to court. Here is how we built our base and set the Duluth Right to Repair campaign up for a landslide victory:
We officially launched the Duluth Right to Repair campaign this spring. The campaign began by trying to pass the Right to Repair policy through the Duluth City Council, but it quickly became clear that status quo forces were blocking the ordinance from passing. So, we quickly shifted gears to follow a secondary campaign strategy – gathering signatures to get the Right to Repair policy on the ballot as a question to voters. We collected nearly 6,000 signatures with an all-volunteer crew of 54 people in just 49 days to get it on the ballot.
Next, we put in the work to make sure this policy would pass, knocking 22,377 doors, and holding 7,248 conversations with voters in Duluth making sure people knew about the policy, how it would benefit their neighbors, and to make sure they voted. The result was a landslide victory earning 69% of the total vote and winning every single one of the city’s 34 precincts. Next, we will focus on supporting renters when using the Right to Repair policy, continuing to grow our base, and developing the next campaign to build even more power for tenants.
CAMPAIGN
Minneapolis Families for Public Schools
Minneapolis Families for Public Schools (MFPS) launched in January 2025. Since then, we have grown to be a team of over 450 families from 22 Minneapolis public schools who believe our schools can be the best option for families in our city when district leadership prioritizes what students and educators need to learn and teach.
In the spring, we surveyed nearly 1,000 families from more than 60 schools. Smaller class sizes and increased resources for special education emerged as top priorities for all families across the district. We decided that the best opportunity to make progress on these priorities this year was to work alongside the Minneapolis Federation of Educators (MFE) as they negotiated their contract with the district. Our role was to organize families to put pressure on school board members to step into their governance role and wield the power they have in the negotiation process in support of MFPS’ priorities of smaller, enforceable class sizes and caseloads.
After a summer of organizing, meeting with school board members, and inviting other families to join the campaign, the district hadn’t budged on any of our demands. So, when MFE voted to authorize a strike, it was a strategic time to escalate our own campaign. To add pressure, MFPS mobilized 1,500 families to contact district leadership to urge them to settle a strong contract and then mobilized 400 families to the Davis Center as district leadership and educators negotiated in the building – and it worked! Just a few hours after the rally, we got news that a tentative agreement had been reached, and smaller and more enforceable class sizes and special education caseloads were won in MFE’s contract.
CAMPAIGN
Minnesota United Parents
Minnesota United Parents (MNUP) is building the power of parents and caregivers in our state to push our elected leaders to put our families before billionaires and prioritize an agenda that makes sure families can afford their lives.
In the spring, Republicans and Democrats alike tried to weaken the Earned Sick & Safe Time (ESST) policies that we won in 2023. MNUP mobilized to canvass folks across the state to help protect this critical policy. In total, we held 2,802 conversations and sent 1,670 contacts to legislators, and it worked – we protected ESST!
On Labor Day, we joined the national “Workers Over Billionaires” protests but added our own spin on it by naming it Families Over Billionaires. In St. Cloud, Mankato, St. Louis Park, and Minneapolis – we had over 350 attendees between the four locations. This event focused on calling out the ways the billionaire agenda is harming families and how we can turn our efforts to canvassing in 2026 to ensure Minnesota continues to move forward. Next, we are focused on building a team of 330 members that will canvass in targeted districts with a goal of flipping seats to win a pro-family majority in the house and senate.
Organizing with MNUP has made me feel less alone and more hopeful in the face of some pretty major political hopelessness this year. The mainstream media is telling us that we’re more divided than ever, and while it certainly does feel that way at times, when I reach out and actually talk to folks and listen to their family’s hopes, struggles, and fears- I realize many of us have more in common than we realize. Being able to show folks, who have never really been part of political action before, how they can make a real difference by joining MNUP and organizing collectively in their community has been very rewarding. Everyone has the power to make a positive impact, and that power is multiplied when we are organized and able to work together. I’m proud to be part of something larger than myself.
CAMPAIGN
Twin Cities United Performers
We launched our first campaign on December 14, 2024, with 200 people at the Green Room, a well-known music venue in Minneapolis. In the months following, we completed the first phase of our campaign, getting 500 performers to sign on to a pledge to advance their shows, meaning they would get key details about pay, transparency, and job standards in writing before booking a show with a venue.
This spring, we dove deeper, organizing these performers into acting on the pledge and advancing their shows, overcoming fear, anxiety and apathy that workers can feel when demanding fair labor standards. TCUP members delivered the pledge to venues across the Metro to show solidarity. If all performers use this pledge, it will make a meaningful difference in the culture of communication and treatment of performers across the Twin Cities.
Throughout these campaign steps, we have been growing our base, inviting new members to join, training them, and developing them into organizing pods to provide support and encouragement when using the advance. In 2026, we will explore possibilities for our next campaign.
I have been able to deal with the chaos and rapid, scary change in the world by organizing, meeting my neighbors, and working with a broad variety of folks towards a common goal. There’s not much I can do to influence things at the national or international level, but I can make a difference here.
PROGRAM
Minnesota Democracy Defense Table
The Minnesota Democracy Defense Table (MNDD) is a statewide coalition housed at TakeAction of more than 80 pro-democracy labor, community, advocacy and grassroots mobilizing organizations working together to protect democracy, resist authoritarianism, and strengthen civil society through coordination, communication, and collective action. The table seeks to build a broad, united front to meet the existential threat before us — destructive actions by the federal government that undermine our democracy and crucial public services. MNDD is directed by a Core Team of eight organizations and advances its work organized via four spokes: mobilization, elected officials, organizational strengthening, and election protection. The table also delivers robust in-demand trainings. To date, nearly 1,000 people have participated in scenario planning and skills trainings.
PROGRAM
Minneapolis Politics and Elections
This spring, we trained 106 people how to canvass their neighborhoods, attend their local caucuses, and become delegates to the Minneapolis DFL city convention. In July, 53 of our members made it as delegates and alternates to the Minneapolis DFL city convention. Our team was well trained and was a significant force on the convention floor persuading neighbors to support Omar Fateh for the Minneapolis Mayor. Senator Fateh earned the DFL endorsement at the convention, but the state DFL party later undermined the will of the delegates and revoked his endorsement in August. The action was unfair and grounded in fear of change, and it inspired Take Action members to double-down for Fateh.
More than 100 volunteers organized together to raise $21,633, knock 16,374 doors, and lead trainings for new canvassers for Fateh and our slate of endorsed candidates. Ten out of the 14 candidates we endorsed for the Minneapolis City Council and Parks Board won their elections this year. Omar Fateh ultimately lost his mayoral campaign but despite his loss, our members stepped up to lead in impressive ways, and we will continue to build the leadership of our members to be able to support people-centered candidates in the future.
PROGRAM
Prescription Drug Affordability Board
The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) was passed in the 2023 legislative session – a huge win for the people against corporate interests and ensuring Minnesota has a tool to make medicine affordable. Since it passed, we have been organizing to make sure the Board is set up strong and uses its full power to stop price gouging and ensure prescription drugs are affordable for us all. This year, we brought seven members to testify before the Board on their affordability struggle and have an additional 186 people ready to share their own in-depth stories. We also maintained our powerful coalition of labor unions, community partners, and elected officials committed to a strong PDAB. Big Pharma brought lobbyists to these forums, but the voices of real people struggling to afford their medicine have been much louder. Next up – capping the price of life saving drugs so those who need the medicine can afford it!
Organizing with MNUP is a balm to the hopelessness of this moment in history. Every time I come together with other people and consolidate our power behind a shared goal, I feel powerful and less afraid of what the future in our country will be.
News Corner
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Landslide victory for controversial Duluth rental repair law
The new right-to-repair rule will allow renters to initiate small fixes without involving city inspectors, and with an assurance that landlords pay.
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400 MPS parents and students fill Davis Center to urge district leadership to settle a strong contract
Families pressure district leadership settle a contract with MFE that includes priorities shared by families and educators.
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New deal between Minneapolis teachers and school district raises pay, lowers class sizes
The two sides reached a late-night agreement just three days before a planned strike on Tuesday.
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Tolkkinen: Renters are getting restless and more powerful
Duluth renters won a key vote on Election Day. Tenants across the country are also pushing for more.
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Minneapolis educators reach 11th hour tentative agreement averting strike
Minneapolis, MN – On the evening of Saturday, November 8, the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59 (MFE59) announced that they had reached a tentative agreement between MFE59 and Minneapolis Public Schools.
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Minneapolis parents are objecting to proposed cuts to special education in the city's school district
"Parents are ready to fight back against these cuts," says parent Amanda Otero.
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Duluth tenants push petition for ‘right to repair’ rules
A group of renters is voicing frustration over delayed fixes, while landlords warn that a proposed new ordinance could have unintended consequences.
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‘Right to Repair’ petition gaining traction for renters in Duluth
Several renters in Duluth are dealing with home improvement problems that haven’t been fixed. Some of these range from clogged drains, broken bathroom fans, or leaks from the ceiling.
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You deserve sick time no matter the size of your employer
A handful of Senate Democrats and all but one Republican turned their backs on workers this week.
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Minneapolis demonstrators join nationwide ‘Workers Over Billionaires’ movement
Minneapolis demonstrators held a Labor Day “Workers Over Billionaires” rally, a nationwide movement protesting the Trump administration’s cuts to education, health care and civil rights.
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Reader's View: Laws in place not enough for Duluth renters
With a tool like a right-to-repair ordinance in Duluth, renters wouldn’t have to compromise on safety and could invest in maintaining our homes when a landlord like mine refuses.
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Duluth tenants' right-to-repair campaign garners labor support
Advocates say local tenants need a better way to get issues resolved.
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Organizing with TakeAction has provided me and hundreds of families across Minneapolis with a political home where we can come together to transform our local institutions. This is especially crucial at this moment in our country, where we’re confronting the erosion of major institutions, the trampling of basic rights, and an all-out assault on working people. Minneapolis Families for Public Schools stands as a bulwark against the despair that so easily flows from these challenges, instead empowering everyday people to get involved in shaping our public institutions to serve the needs of all.