Jen Schultz has served in the Minnesota State Legislature for eight years. She Chairs the Human Services Finance Committee and serves on Taxes, Ways & Means, Health Finance, Redistricting, and Tax Expenditures. She also serves as a Great Lakes Commissioner. She has championed affordable health care, fair taxation, and the protection of vulnerable adults. She is a health care economist and professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Erika is currently in her fourteenth year as the first Sustainability Director at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota. She was also appointed the Coordinator of the People and the Environment academic program in 2016 and teaches one class per semester. She works in the Ganawendakamigaawigamig (Office of Earth-Caretaking or Sustainability Office). She completed her BA in Biology from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1998 and her Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from BSU in 2006. Her background is in science teaching, and Erika and her husband taught for two years in Mexico and three years in Kuwait before returning home to Northern Minnesota. In 2014, Erika was named one of the top 40 under 40 business professionals in the region by Prairie Business Magazine, and in 2015 as one of the top 40 under 40 professionals in the Midwest working to accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy by Midwest Energy News. She speaks at regional and national conferences on BSU’s unique sustainability model which includes a wellness component and an emphasis on integrating Indigenous voices. She served on Governor Dayton’s Committee on Pollinator Protection from 2016 to 2018. Erika is currently on the board for Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River and the alumni board for the University of Minnesota, Morris. She is a founding member of the City of Bemidji Sustainability Committee, and for the past three years has been the Director of the Niizhoo-gwayakochigewin project to integrate an Indigenous lens into campus sustainability work and academic programs and the Co-PI of Endazhi-manidoowaadak to work on race relations in her community. Her first book project was recently published and is a bilingual Ojibwe/English children’s book to connect children to the Ojibwe language and Mother Earth. Erika is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe.
Caitlin Cahill is a dedicated community leader, whose public service spans more than a decade. Caitlin is currently serving her second term as a city council member in Maple Plain, and previously served nine years on the Hennepin County library board. After working in Minnesota public schools as an instructional technology specialist, Caitlin founded her small business developing custom technology solutions for businesses and schools. Caitlin values the collaborative and non-partisan nature of municipal government, and will bring this solution-focused approach to the legislature.
Brion resides in Vadnais Heights, MN with her wife and pets. She is service-minded and desires to make real, impactful changes in the community. Brion has spent the last 20 years in the nonprofit health and human services industry. She continually advocates for people with disabilities and disability service providers. With education and experience in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Brion is passionate about reimagining ways to safely serve the community while building trust. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Brion will champion inclusivity and equity in legislation. Brion is a strong believer in each individual’s right to make choices about their own body and fully supports access to safe reproductive and gender inclusive resources. She is dedicated to being a voice for society’s marginalized and most vulnerable residents.
Pat (Patricia) Driscoll was grew up in St. Paul, MN. She is married to Patrick Driscoll and they have 3 grown daughters, three granddaughters and one grandson. Pat earned her BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She earned her MS and Education Specialist degrees from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Pat was a special education teacher for 21 years and a school administrator for 18 years. She is currently serving her second term on the South Washington County School Board.
Alicia Kozlowski is running to represent District 8B in the Minnesota House of Representatives, the community Alicia was born and raised in by a single-mother and grandmother. Alicia is a first-generation college graduate who then earned an MBA and immediately went to work building, creating, and amplifying community.
As a proud descendant of an Indigenous-Ojibwe mother and Mexican father, Alicia believes we are all better when we show up in the fullness of who we are, with hearts forward and head high.
As an endurance runner, former business developer, grassroots organizer, and current Community Relations Officer with the City of Duluth, Alicia has the experience, stamina and vision to be effective for Duluth as someone who is already leading in alignment with community to improve health and well-being, rebuilding generational wealth, advancing an inclusive economy, and cultivating the community we all deserve.
Susie Strom is a proud mother, attorney, U.S. Army veteran, and a Korean-American adoptee. She grew up in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and now lives in North Oaks, Minnesota. She is running for MN State House of Representatives in 36A. She is committed to serving the communities of district 36A with compassion and thoughtfulness.