Charlie, a high school senior in Minnesota, and his grandmother, Colleen, are taking action to help their fellow Minnesotans in every way they can. Colleen has worked with The States Project since 2017 to build power for Minnesota lawmakers committed to improving lives. Charlie is delivering groceries to fellow students who can’t safely leave their homes right now.
They both know state legislatures are the key to creating a future where everyone is safe, healthy, and prosperous.
More on Charlie, Colleen, and how they advocate for their fellow Minnesotans through crisis (and how you can support their work!) below.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO START A GIVING CIRCLE WITH THE STATES PROJECT?
Colleen: I was a part of another Minnesota-focused Giving Circle with some friends in 2022, and that went very well. The first time we presented to a group, we had to spend two-thirds of the time explaining why state legislatures were so important. It just wasn’t on their radar. We were able to inform people about a very important part of government that they didn’t know about.
Charlie: What drew us to start our Giving Circle with The States Project was the trifecta in the Minnesota state legislature. We had majorities in the House and Senate and a Democratic governor. And in just one session alone, we got to see the work our state lawmakers did to enact policies like paid family medical leave and free school meals for students.
When 2024 came around, and all the State House seats were up for election, we started asking what we could do. One thing my grandma and I have in common is that we’re both very politically motivated.
My grandma was already a member of a Giving Circle, and she introduced me to The States Project’s work. We decided to start our own Giving Circle together and started expanding these conversations with family and friends.
Support Colleen and Charlie’s work in Minnesota by contributing to their Giving Circle!
WHY SHOULD YOUNG PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN A GIVING CIRCLE?
Charlie: I just got back home from school a little while ago, and we’ve got ICE staging a block away. If you’re a student at my high school and you weren’t politically motivated before, you sure as hell are now. We are. We’re all seeing what’s going on, and we know we have to do more than protest.
Colleen: I should have taken a picture of Charlie’s living room, which is nothing but bags and bags and bags of groceries right now.
Charlie: I’m one of the Presidents of my school’s Good Club, which is our service and volunteering club. All the clubs at our school have started their own food drives.
Now is the time to activate young people because they’re out there. They’re on the streets. They’re involved. They’re interested. And Giving Circles are a really great way to get involved, especially right now in this country, because making change is more than just doing a walkout. It’s about learning what issues are impacting Minnesotans most and showing up to build majorities for the state lawmakers who are fighting to improve lives. It’s about winning the governing power we need, learning about which key districts we can flip to make that happen, and how your $5 or $10 can make the biggest impact. That’s what Giving Circles do.
HOW DO WE BUILD A BETTER AND SAFER FUTURE FOR MINNESOTA?
Charlie: That’s where The States Project and Giving Circles make the difference, focusing on the state legislature and working to build decisive majorities so lawmakers can pass good policies.
Colleen: There are very thin margins in the Minnesota state legislature. That’s why we must work to build majorities in both chambers, so lawmakers can pass policies that can keep us safe and improve our lives.
Charlie: And in the meantime we’ll keep supporting our neighbors and communities any way we can.
Ready to start your own Giving Circle? We’ll help you get started.
