Topic: Policing in Minnesota: What the Future Could Look Like

Join State Senator Melisa Franzen of Edina, member of the POCI caucus, for an informative webinar on the state of policing in Minnesota and the legislative changes proposed by the POCI caucus. The webinar will discuss officer training, discipline, investigation of officer conduct, and other issues related to improving community-police relationships throughout the State, including proposed legislative changes. Attendees will have ample opportunity to ask questions and discuss the pros and cons of the existing law and proposed changes with Senator Franzen, and will leave understanding more about the needs of our BIPOC communities and the legislative process.

Speaker: Melisa Franzen, State Senator, District 49

Senator Melisa Franzen is currently serving her second term in the Minnesota State Senate after her election in 2012, and subsequently in 2016. She represents Senate District 49 which includes the communities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Minnetonka. Senator Franzen currently serves on the Taxes, Health and Human Services Finance and Policy, and the Transportation and Public Safety Finance Committees. She is also a member of the Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research. She has previously served on the Education Policy Committee and was a member of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board.

Senator Franzen is a small business owner and is the Co-Founder and President of NewPublica, a public relations and strategic communications firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Senator Franzen was previously an attorney at Target Corporation for eight years where she held various positions in Government Affairs and Community Relations. She earned her Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Economic and Community Development from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and her J.D. at Hamline University School of Law.

Senator Franzen is part of the HOPE Binational Fellowship Program, an executive leadership program for outstanding Latina professionals. She was selected nationwide to join the Class of 2018 Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership amongst 24 national leaders.

She has been a lifelong volunteer in her community growing up in Puerto Rico where she was active in Girl Scouts and 4H. Senator Franzen is also the former President of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association and Regional Vice President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, and formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys as well as the Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES).

Remote attendance is available.

Please RSVP by July 8th

• Member Cost: Free
• Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.