Access To Democracy

Colleen Moriarty, Executive Director of Hunger Solutions MN, joins Access to Democracy host Steve Francisco for an informative discussion about hunger and food insecurity in Minnesota. Inspired by her father and grandfather to a lifelong commitment to activism fighting poverty, Colleen has led Hunger Solutions MN since 2004 and has become a trusted leader and advocate for effective public policies to fight hunger in our community. She talks about why the Minnesota Legislature should pass Governor Tim Walz’s proposal for universal free school lunches and why some in Congress are wrong to call for cuts to nutrition programs such as SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) and WIC (Women, Infants & Children). Colleen also talks about the severe impacts of the pandemic and inflation on low-income working families.

Starting THAT Important Conversation

Amy Miller, founder of “Our Family Encounter”, in her second guest appearance on Access to Democracy with host Bill Raker, offers further insights on which issues families should consider and decisions they need to make when planning for future outcomes for survivors. She explains “THAT Important Conversation” and emphasizes the importance and benefits of having it among family members and professional advisors before disrupting or devastating events occur.

She suggests situations and methods conducive to initiating and facilitating those conversations. Solo seniors really need to have THAT conversation; it’s even more important and harder to do, as they may not realize or care about their legacy when they are alive or when their estates are closed out. Amy introduces viewers to “Last Life Lesson: A Guide for Aging Adults and Their Families” – a do-it-yourself workbook that is a helpful tool for identifying, collecting, and organizing essential documents and information for survivors and care givers. A main take-away from the interview is why and how to document one’s wishes for what the survivors and care-givers are to do before and after one’s passing.

  (Amy is not related to Access to Democracy program founder Alan Miller.)

Today’s guest is one of Minnesota’s most esteemed jurists, retired Hon. Justice Alan C. Page. Justice Page is interviewed by his former colleague on the Minnesota Supreme Court, retired Hon. Justice Paul H. Anderson.

During the interview, that resembles a conversation between two old friends, they talk about what it was like to serve together on the Court, they explore who the persons were and the events that shaped Page’s career, how it came to be that he played football, why he became a lawyer and why he wanted to be an appellate judge.

They also talk about the profound influence Page’s late wife, Diane, had on his life and the creation and impact of the Page Foundation. The interview provides many insights into the life of this truly remarkable person.

Thomson Reuters
Dr. Charles Crutchfield
Trustone Financial
45th Parallel Liquors
The Minnesota Twins

It is a special honor for us to have these organizations sponsor our program!
 
Thank you!

New Hope City Council Member John Elder joins host Josh Weber for a scintillating conversation on this episode of “Access to Democracy”. John Elder has a multi-faceted career engaging with the public of New Hope as a scout leader, police officer, founding member of the New Hope Community Farmers Market, in addition to also serving on the board of the Basset Creek Watershed Management Commission.

Elder talks about the changing concerns of New Hope citizens since he first started as a council member, the major redevelopment projects the city has recently completed, and goals for procuring unused land as locations for future commercial developments. With rising interest rates and drops in home sales, New Hope plans to bounce back as the market starts to stabilize and sellers recognize lowering the price will help in maintain strong growth in the area and encourage new home buyers to live in New Hope. Elder also talks at length about his tumultuous period as the Director of Public Information for the Minneapolis Department around the time of the murder of George Floyd.

He details the blowback MPD faced following their statement on the nature of Floyd’s death, the ensuing investigation carried out by the FBI, And the efforts from the likes of himself and former MPD Chief Medaria Arradondo in responding to the social unrest in Minneapolis.