Dalton Erickson, executive director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, speaks at the Heritage Center on May 16, 2025, during the first People’s Session, which heard concerns from residents about the 2025 legislative session. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A coalition of advocacy groups hopes to inspire North Dakotans to become more civically active at its second annual all-day organizing event on April 25 in Bismarck.
The inaugural People’s Session took place last May. The event was born out of dissatisfaction with the 2025 North Dakota legislative session, organizers said at the time. Attendees hashed out their own list of legislative priorities to carry forward to the 2027 session. They settled around three main topics: strengthening schools, promoting economic security and protecting personal freedoms.
This year’s People’s Session will focus more on civic education, said Charlie Williamson, North Dakota program manager for Gender Justice, one of the groups leading the event.
“What we’re really trying to do is continue on with those priorities, but also give people sort of the skills-based workshops and trainings to be able to advocate for things that matter to them,” Williamson said.
The idea is to provide an entry point for people who want to get involved in government advocacy but don’t know where to start.
“We’re seeing even more of an influx of folks that have not historically engaged with local or state government,” Williamson said.
North Dakotans will be able to learn about things like the state legislative process, how to testify at public hearings, how to engage with state lawmakers and how citizen-initiated ballot measures work, they said. There will also be opportunities to talk with people who have experience with policy writing about ideas for future legislation.
People of all political backgrounds are welcome to attend. To register, visit the event’s website.
“It’s a nonpartisan gathering to talk about what priorities we want to see as individuals in North Dakota,” Williamson said.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 at the Heritage Center.
In addition to Gender Justice, event organizers include Prairie Action North Dakota, the North Dakota American Civil Liberties Union, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, the Eastern and Western North Dakota Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Interfaith Alliance of North Dakota.
While there aren’t firm plans for future events at this time, Williamson said the People’s Session could put together additional meetings or working groups before or during the 2027 legislative session if attendees are interested.
Around 50-60 North Dakotans from across the state attended last year’s event, they said.
Policy ideas discussed at the first People’s Session included raising the state minimum wage, introducing a student loan forgiveness program for North Dakota law school graduates, and expanding early childhood education across the state, the North Dakota Monitor reported previously.
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