Greetings, members across the state,
I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who attended our District Dialogues this fall, and a special thank you to those who helped host the events. Because of your participation, we were able to bring elected officials into rooms with 30–50 constituents at a time to discuss the urgent issues facing disability services.
In total, more than 200 attendees connected with 14 legislators representing both parties and both chambers of the legislature. While we reaffirmed our partnerships with long-time legislative champions, we also built new relationships, helping several legislators better understand the issues and setting up follow-up visits to care sites to continue those conversations.
These events hold a special place in my heart. They create rare, bipartisan spaces for open discussion and problem-solving. From the Twin Cities to Moorhead to Duluth, our dialogues this year expanded our reach, deepened understanding, and helped us cultivate a few new champions along the way.
Across our five events, no two conversations were alike. One dialogue dug deeply into concerns about fraud and the tools to prevent it, while another focused on workforce shortages and the creative ways providers are adapting to ensure quality care. Each gathering reflected the unique challenges and insights of the people in the room and that’s what makes this effort so meaningful.
For those who attended, my ask is this: keep the conversation going. The best way to build understanding is through continued exposure. Invite your legislators to visit your programs, grab coffee, or meet your staff. These one-on-one connections are what help policymakers truly see the impact of your work, and why their support at the Capitol matters so deeply.
And for those who haven’t yet joined us, I encourage you to take the leap at our next event. Your voice matters, and your participation is critical to the success of our advocacy efforts.
Looking ahead, our grassroots momentum doesn’t stop with the 2025 District Dialogue series. We’ll continue building on this work through upcoming events, both online and in person, to keep the energy going. A webinar at the end of this year will help deepen our shared understanding of where disability policy stands today, followed by an in-person, Capitol-based training to get advocates comfortable in the space where the legislative work happens.
The time is now, we need all hands on deck to push for positive change and legislative wins in 2026 and beyond.
As always, if you’d like help scheduling a meeting or visit with your legislators, reach out to me at jtvedt@arrm.org. Let’s keep building this movement together.
Thank you again for everything you do,
Johnny