The Minnesota Legislative Commission to End Poverty was spurred by a broad consensus among people in faith communities that the existence of poverty, and our acceptance of it, counters the most basic values of justice. The “Common Foundation” document that inspired the legislation creating the Commission asserts that “all people are [to be] provided those things that protect human dignity and make for healthy life: adequate food and shelter, meaningful work, safe communities, health care, and education.”  A Minnesota Without Poverty - Become a Signer is part of the Minnesota Council of Churches' website.

In January 2009, the findings and recommendations of the Commission were published in a Legislative Report: Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020.  Sections in the report include:

- Exploring the Issues: Conducting Research on Poverty
      The Roots of Poverty: Defining Our Terms
      How We Measure Poverty in Minnesota
      Special Feature: Urban Institute
      Asking the Experts
      Special Feature: Race, Gender, and Poverty

- The Commission’s Recommendations
      I. Restore work as a means out of poverty
      II. Refocus public assistance to streamline services and support everyone’s capacity and potential
      III. Help Minnesotans build and maintain financial assets
      IV. Revitalize our communities through infrastructure and person-to-person support
      V. Modernize our system of education to build the best workforce in the nation
      VI. Develop an ongoing structure to monitor Minnesota’s efforts to end poverty

- Next Steps
      Benchmarks for Reaching the Commission’s Goals
      Conclusion

Additional information on the work of the Commission is contained in an Interim Report issued in June 2008.  Various methods were used to capture the stories of poverty in Minnesota including:

Local Community Action Agencies and partner organizations worked with college students to record the stories of low-income individuals, families and couples to create "An Anthology of Poverty Across Minnesota." They captured the stories of their lives, experiences with the systems that are working to lift them out of poverty, and what they believe can happen through the Commission to End Poverty. Students also interviewed legislators on and off the Commission about their experiences with poverty and their hopes for the Commission.

Listening tours to help Commission members better understand the people behind the statistics and the heartbreaking situations they face - see sample listening tour schedule.

A slide show created by first-year photography students at Central Lakes College. The students presented images of poverty from their home communities to Commissioners during the North Central Listening Tour.

A Bibliography with Recommended Reading is included as an Appendix in the Legislative Report.