Paul Thissen: Innovation in Action

Statement on Launch of White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

“This is an exciting day,” said State Rep. Paul Thissen.  ”In these challenging times, we need to move away from old, tired thinking and imagine new ways to work together to address social challenges in this country and in our state.  Social entrepreneurship and other ideas for driving innovation in our public agencies and non-profit partners will be essential if Minnesota is to live up to its promise as a place of fairness and opportunity.”

Rep. Thissen is the Chief Author of the Community Solutions Act in Minnesota (HF 1614).  The legislation creates a commission on innovation and social innovation fund designed to support and encourage our non-profit partners to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to social challenges. The fund will reward those programs that can take small, innovative ideas statewide and that have a plan to become self-sustaining without the need for continued government support.  In the 2009 session, Rep. Thissen successfully passed a small appropriation dedicated to establishing the innovation commission and social innovation fund.

“Minnesota is a state known for innovation — in the private sector and in public policy.  We know what works.  But I am often frustrated that ideas that work in small, targeted settings do not grow to help more people while some programs that have outlived their usefulness continue to be funded.  That needs to change and this legislation is designed to push us toward smarter, more effective ways of helping Minnesotans and building our communities.” said Rep. Thissen.