The hardest part of the work Women’s Foundation is doing, Perez adds, is “changing the hearts and minds of people who do not see the barriers up close. Unless we change hearts and minds, actions won’t follow.”
Our February Changemakers Alliance (CALL) conversations were with dozens of advocates and members who represent priorities in housing, mental health, and restorative ecosystems of people and land.
“People need jobs, equality, education. We still need to organize to learn how the economics and politics drive everything
in life. Can’t stop now.”
—Nellie Stone Johnson, at the age of 90 in 1995
Equity and environmental justice have been a focal point for Janiece Watts for more than a decade. She is now at Fresh Energy, a nonprofit focused on transitioning Minnesota to a clean energy economy.
Minnesota’s policymakers had an opportunity during this legislative session to take action to gain a portion of that $6.6 billion of annual GDP, and they failed. Instead, efforts to close racial equity gaps fell victim to polarized and antiquated views of economic growth and competitiveness.