Accessibility at the Polls Survey Project Seeking Volunteers

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid's Disability Law Center in conjunction with the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office will be conducting a survey of polling locations across Minnesota evaluating physical accessibility and other accommodations. They are seeking volunteers to help with this effort. Volunteers must be available to attend an in-person training and commit to visiting a minimum of 3 polling locations between August 7 and August 14. At each polling location a 40-question survey must be completed by the volunteer. Following a site visit, volunteers are asked to upload the information to a website within 48 hours to allow for compilation and analysis of the results.

If you are interested, MMLA will be hosting training sessions in Minneapolis Friday, June 29, from 1 - 3 p.m. and Wednesday, July 18, from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. To sign up please use this form. You can find more information here and contact Pro Bono Director Kirsten Olson with questions at klolson@mylegalaid.org or 612-746-3705.

Upcoming Better Angels Workshops

Interested in working to unite those of different political viewpoints and depolarize America? Better Angels is an organization seeking to do just that and they have several workshops coming up later this summer and fall in Dakota County. Red/Blue Workshops bring together an equal number of conservative-leaning and progressive-leaning participants for moderated activities and discussions that clarify disagreements, reduce stereotyped thinking, and begin building the relationships needed to find common ground. Skills Workshops teach practical skills for having better conversations with friends and family members with whom you have strong political disagreements.

For more information, see their website. Membership is not required for any of the workshops listed below. To register please contact Heather Stephenson, Dakota County Library Adult Services Manager, at heather.stephenson@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-450-2965. Red/Blue Workshops: Aug. 4, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at Heritage Library (Lakeville) Sept. 15, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Inver Glen Library (Inver Grove Heights) Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at Farmington Library Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at Robert Trail Library (Rosemount) Skills Workshops: Aug. 14, 5:00 - 8:30 p.m., at Heritage Library (Lakeville) Sept. 11, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., at Inver Glen Library (Inver Grove Heights) Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at Farmington Library Nov. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., at Robert Trail Library (Rosemount)

Vacancies on Dakota County Citizen Advisory Committees

Dakota County is seeking to fill several vacancies on citizen advisory committees. A full list of current vacancies is available here. Members of each committee listed below receive a per diem of $35 per meeting. You can apply for any committee listed below here.

The Library Advisory Committee has a vacancy for the seat representing District 4, which includes most of Rosemount and parts of Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. The current term for that seat expires 12/31/2018. The committee generally meets bi-monthly on the 2nd Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at a Dakota County library. You can contact Library Director Margaret Stone with questions at margaret.stone@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-450-2930.

The U of M Extension Committee has a vacancy for the seat representing District 6 (Lakeville). The current term for that seat expires 12/31/2018. The committee generally meets bi-monthly on the 3rd Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Farmington. You can contact Central Region Director Tammy McCulloch with questions at tammym@umn.edu or 651-480-7745.

The Public Art Citizen Advisory Committee has vacancies for the seat representing District 5 (Burnsville) and an at-large seat. The terms for those seats expire 12/31/2018 and 12/31/2019, respectively. The committee generally meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Apple Valley. You can contact Jenelle Teppen with questions at jenelle.teppen@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-438-4247.