WINONA, Minn. – A $1.1 milion federal grant has been awarded to Winona State University to establish a center to promote civic dialogue and ethical leadership. Political scientist Elissa Alzate, who proposed the center, said the new entity will provide hands-on experience for government officials on collaborating to solve public problems. The grant, from the U.S. Defense Department, covers two years of operation. Students will have ongoing opportunities to interact with government officials and agencies, Alzate said. Training topics, as she foresees them, include ways to incorporate the community better into government policy-making. There will be skill-centered training around budgets, public meeting procedures, and campaign finance rules, she said.
Verbatim
Alzate: “Winona State is in a good position to establish this Civic Center, as we already do some of the work on a smaller scale. This project will expand our capacity to serve local governments in the region as well as our students. The relationships developed through the Center’s programming will be reciprocal and mutually beneficial.”