FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fw: KEY MOMENT for YMF Action!

[Carol Koepp (carolkoepp]

This is about the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act that we have been supporting 
on the TAKE % table.  The time is now, according to this message.  Thanks
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kirsten Anderson-Stembridge 
To: Kirsten Anderson-Stembridge ; mregan6264 [at] aol.com ; kuoppala [at] 
yahoo.com 
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:01 AM
Subject: KEY MOMENT for YMF Action!


Greetings Youth Moving Forward Supporters,


The moment we've been waiting for has arrived! The Senate and House Health and 
Human Service budget bills - both including key provisions to support youth in 
transition - will begin to negotiate the differences between their bills in a 
conference committee that will begin meeting today at 4 p.m. The conferees have 
been named (posted below) and need to hear from the public the top priorities 
for inclusion in the final 2009 Health and Human Service budget bill.

 

  1.. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY 
  2.. Come advocate at the Capitol today, May 5, or join in a planned community 
event 
 

1. URGENT ACTION

Please contact the conferees with whom you or your organization has had the 
most interactions (EXTRA CREDIT: contact all conferees) and ask them to 
continue to prioritize the needs of youth in transition. [this is a key time to 
engage the youth you work with in advocacy - consider encouraging this action 
with the youth you work with]

 

Draft Talking Points:

  a.. My name is _______ and I am calling from __________. 
  b.. Thank you for your support for youth this session. 
  c.. As you work on the HHS conference committee, I would ask that you 
continue to prioritize youth in transition by supporting: 
    a.. House funding of $238,000 and Senate language prioritizing federal 
funds for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
    b.. Automatic coverage for youth who age out of foster care in Minnesota 
Care 
  d.. Thank you - your hard work is very appreciated and I know these important 
steps will make an important difference for youth in transition like (consider 
including a brief anecdote about a youth you have encountered in your work or 
advocacy). 
 

House Conferees

Representative Tom Huntley - Co-Chair (Duluth)

651-296-2228 rep.thomas.huntley [at] house.mn

Representative Paul Thissen (Mpls)

651-296-5375 rep.paul.thissen [at] house.mn.us 

Representative Larry Hosch (St Joseph/St Cloud)

651-296-4373 or 800-947-8264 rep.larry.hosch [at] house.mn 

Representative Jim Abeler (Anoka)

651-296-1729 rep.jim.abeler [at] house.mn

Representative Karen Clark (S Mpls)

651-296-0294 rep.karen.clark [at] house.mn

 

Senate Conferees

Senator Linda Berglin - Co-Chair (S Mpls)

(651) 296-4261 www.senate.mn/senatorberglinemail

Senator Tony Lourey (Kerrick - NE MN)

(651) 296.0293 sen.tony.lourey [at] senate.mn

Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon (Duluth)

(651) 296-4188 sen.yvonne.prettner.solon [at] senate.mn

Senator Kathy Sheran (Mankato)

(651) 296-6153 sen.kathy.sheran [at] senate.mn

Senator Julie Rosen (Fairmont - SW MN)

(651) 296-5713 sen.julie.rosen [at] senate.mn 

 

2. ADVOCATE AT THE CAPITOL OR WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

 

CREATING A PRESENCE AT THE CAPITOL:

  a.. TODAY, April 30 at 1 p.m. - Come to the Capitol to engage your 
legislators - it's easy, effective, and fun! We will meet in the State Office 
Building Cafeteria (very bottom floor of the building across the street from 
the Capitol - go to www.leg.mn for more info on how to get there), to share 
some basic tools and send folks on their way to find and engage legislators. 
Bring a friend or a small group - finding your legislator and sharing your 
insights is always more fun with a friend! 
  b.. May 5 at 10:30 a.m. - Meet again in the State Office Building Cafeteria 
(bottom floor) to get the tools you need and then we'll send all out to find 
and engage legislators at the Capitol. This is a crucial date as it is around 
this time that the Governor will receive the first round of bills from the 
legislature - and then the really hairy negotiation begins. 
 

EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY:

  a.. YMF at the May Day Festival - We will have a YMF table at the May Day 
Festival in Powderhorn Park, and will staff it from 1-5 p.m. This is a 
fantastic community event and will provide an opportunity for us to capture 
additional community support for YMF! Please contact Dina Chou at dina.chou 
[at] gmail.com if you would like to volunteer at the table (a fun time 
guaranteed!) 
  b.. Homeless Youth: Finding Home to be shown at MCTC Wed. April 22 at 11 a.m. 
  c.. May 4 - CASA MN Hosting the Forgotten Children Exhibit and holding a 
rally at the Capitol 
  d.. May 8 - Box City Vigil hosted by Bloomington Kennedy High School on the 
Capitol Grounds 
 

Thank you!

 

Warmly,

Kirsten

 

Kirsten Anderson-Stembridge

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

kanderso [at] lssmn.org 

651.969.2354 

651.308.7765 - cell

 


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