Keesha Gaskins Takes The Helm at Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus

June 19, 2007

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The Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus on Monday announced the hiring of Keesha Gaskins as its executive director. The formal announcemnt comes exactly a week before the Caucus holds its Founding Feminist Festival on June 25. The festival will honor among others, Nimco Ahmed, a Somali native, as a "Woman to Watch".

Gaskins has served on the Minnesota State Bar Association Board of Governors and the boards of the Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota State Conference for the NAACP, Minneapolis Branch of the NAACP, Minneapolis YWCA and Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis. Gaskins holds leadership positions at the state and local levels of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party and is a member of the African-American Leadership Council for the Democratic National Committee. Gaskins is also a former chair of the Human Rights Commission for the City of St. Cloud.

Announcing her hiring, the Caucus said Gaskins’ major focus during her first six months will be MWPC’s Diversity Outreach Project (DOP), funded by the Bremer Foundation and the Women’s Foundation.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus,” said Gaskins. “I believe passionately in its mission of supporting women in elected and appointed office, which is key to supporting change in Minnesota and nationwide. I embrace the challenge of continuing MWPC’s 36-year tradition and including women of every race, class, creed, religion, culture, sexual orientation, ability and political affiliation. I also look forward to partnering with other women’s organizations and community allies to institutionalize historic gains made by women and to support full participation of all women in the political process.”

MNWPC seeks to increase the number of women in elected and appointed office by identifying, recruiting, training and supporting pro-choice women candidates.

Gaskins, 36, is a native of Bloomington, Minnesota and graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, Mass., and St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Prior to being hired by MWPC, she practiced law in Minneapolis at Bowman and Brooke L.L.P.