Advocacy in Action

A statewide student conference (also known as the Fall General Assembly) that brings college students across the state together to build collective action, learn about advocacy and policy, and gain confidence in their professional skills.

Join us Friday, November 7th and Saturday, November 8th for our first ever Advocacy in Action Conference in collaboration with our friends at Students United and the Minnesota State Systems Office.

This conference is for the students of the 7 Minnesota State Universities, and students of the 26 Minnesota State Community and Technical Colleges.

Advocacy in Action provides opportunities for the MinnState Community to come together, build student power, and grow our collective voice!

Attendees will be able to talk through advocacy issues, learn critical professional development skills, and work with one another to identify issues impacting them for this upcoming legislative session. 

There will be panel discussions from Minnesota State legislators; workshops on storytelling, advocacy and organization; and a keynote address from State Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, who served on the Minnesota Higher Education Committee.  A full schedule is coming soon! 

Registration is open! Spots are limited, so register early.  University Students can register on Students United website. 

LeadMN has two hotel blocks reserved for students and advisors traveling to the event. Each hotel has 20 rooms available. All rooms are the same rate of $139/night. The deadline for the block registration rate is October 6, 2025.

  • Hampton Inn (This hotel has both double-bed rooms and single-bed rooms)
    9470 W Broadway, Brooklyn Park, MN
    Use this link to book: Lead MN – Hampton Inn

  • Home2 Suites (This hotel only has single-bed rooms available)
    9490 W Broadway, Brooklyn Park, MN
    Use this link to book: Lead MN – Home2 Suites

Register

Event Details

Date: November 7 -8, 2025
Time: 2pm to 6pm (Friday) and 9am to 4pm (Saturday)
Location: North Hennepin Community College, 7411 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Detailed Schedule (tentative) 

Friday, November 7th 

1- 2pm – Registration Opens | snacks and games 

2 – 2:25pm – Welcome

  • Paul Shepard and Chancellor Scott Olson, MinnState Systems Office
  • LeadMN & Students United Presidents 

2:30 – 3:25pm – Breakout session #1

  • Advocacy 101
  • Find Your Voice in Public Speaking
  • Overcoming Barriers to Change
  • The Art and Craft of Storytelling
  • Minnesota State College Faculty
  • Capitol Pathways
  • EdAllies
  • Homeline

3:30 – 4:35 – Keynote Speaker

4:30 – 6pm – Policy & Advocacy Presentation

6 – 8pm – Dinner

 

Saturday, November 8th

8 – 9am – Breakfast

9:15 – 10:10am – Breakout Session #2

  • LeadMN Regional Meetings
  • Friends of the Boundary Waters
  • Student Borrower Protection Center
  • COPAL 
  • College Possible

10:20 – 11:15am – Breakout Session #3

  • Advocacy 201: Storytelling in Legislative Outreach
  • Building Meaningful Connections through Mentorship
  • Foundations of Organizing on your Campus: Learn your Role
  • Become a Better Writer: Foundations of Writing & Editing
  • Common Cause
  • Land Stewardship Project
  • Second Harvest Heartland
  • Minnesota Youth Collective

11:15am – 12pm – Lunch

12- 4pm – Policy Platform building breakouts