On Saturday, December 11, TakeAction Minnesota hosted the 2021 People’s Celebration, our annual gathering of progressive champions, activists, and community leaders from across Minnesota. We celebrated our 15th birthday in style, with dozens of VIPs, hot-ticket musical performances, and powerful remarks from our honorees. Thank you to everyone who attended and our members who power this work.
Fifteen years ago, leaders from across Minnesota came together to ask: how can we make more politically possible? This year, we’re honored and grateful to be celebrating the progress we’ve made together.
The one-hour virtual program was jam-packed with appearances from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, State Senators Erin Murphy and Mary Kunesh, and State Representative Cedrick Frazier – just to name a few.
Local singer-songwriter Jeremy Messersmith sang Happy Birthday to us, and Nur-D rocked the balloon palace with a rousing three-song set alongside DJ Hayes.
We honored the fierce dedication of Nancy Beaulieu, Sasha Beaulieu, Dawn Goodwin, Tara Houska, Winona LaDuke, and Taysha Martineau in the fight to #StopLine3.
And, we shared our gratitude to the movement leaders and organizations, including Black Visions, Reclaim the Block, Faith in Minnesota, SEIU Local 26 and the Minnesota Youth Collective who made up the Black-led, multiracial Yes 4 Minneapolis coalition. Together, we collected 22,000 signatures to put City Question 2 on the ballot, and over 66,000 residents voted YES to transform & expand public safety.
TakeAction leaders, members and supporters made the night unforgettable – showing off their #PeoplesParty21 ‘fits on social media, hosting watch parties at home, and celebrating with us in real-time in the virtual event chat.
(Checkout the goodie boxes from Minnesota Black Box, a collective centered on Black economics whose mission is to support Minnesota Black-owned businesses through a monthly subscription box. Thomasina’s Cashew Brittle was a major hit. TakeAction Bingo made the event interactive, and the kiddos loved getting creative with an adorable art kit from Paintings with Mo.)
Together, we raised a total of $92,789 to fuel grassroots organizing. We’re so grateful to all who celebrated with us and made the 2021 People’s Celebration so special. Missed it? Relive the People’s Party on Facebook. Together, we’re building a state – and a world – where each and every person is free to live the joyful, abundant life we all deserve.
Let’s keep the celebration – and the movement – going strong. Make an end-of-year gift to grow and strengthen our work to build a Minnesota where everyone can thrive, no exceptions. Become a TakeAction member to fuel our work today, and for what’s next.
The 2021 People’s Celebration was also made possible with the support of our major sponsors. We’re grateful for the support of our partners:
Visionary Sponsor: Minnesota Nurses Association
Changemaker Sponsor: Minuteman Press Uptown; Education Minnesota
Warrior Sponsor: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar; SEIU Minnesota State Council; Land Stewardship Project
Champion Sponsor: O’Connell Consulting, LLC; Laura Flynn
Steward Sponsor: Bremer Bank; Faith in Minnesota; Carpenter, Evert & Associates; Lathrop GPM, LLP
Collaborator Sponsor: 100% Campaign; Rep. Aisha Gomez; re:Power; Voqal; Working Families Party; Honor the Earth; Dan & Theresa McGrath; Unidos Minnesota; Rep. Frank Hornstein, Rep. Jamie Long & Sen. Scott Dibble; Rep. Esther Agbaje, Rep. Liz Bolden, Rep. Sandra Feist, Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Rep. Kaoly Her, Rep. Athena Hollins, Rep. Rena Moran, Rep. Dave Pinto & Rep. Liz Reyer; Secretary of State Steve Simon; MN 350 Action
Grassroots Sponsor: Commissioner Angela Conley; Commissioner Marion Greene; RISE; Sen. Mary Kunesh; CTUL; People’s Action Institute; COPAL; Black Visions; Ann Tobin & David Booth; Rep. Liz Olson; Caring Across Generations; Mai Chong for County Commissioner; Mayor Melvin Carter; Sen. Lindsey Port; Sen. Erin Murphy; Sierra Club; Cummins & Cummins; Jewish Community Action; Awood Center & Asian American Organizing Project; Triangle Park Creative; St. Paul School Board Members Halla Henderson & Uriah Ward; SPFE Local 28
