2025 Advocacy for Children Day

For over 20 years, hundreds of young children, parents, early childhood professionals and advocates from across the state have come together to ask legislators to prioritize Minnesota’s youngest children. We're excited to return to the Capitol with you and your family to urge policymakers to go "All In For Our Kids"!

Date: Thursday, February 20th, 2025

Time: 9:30 – 10:30 AM

Location: Minnesota State Capitol Building, 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, St Paul, MN 55155

Over 35,000 children in the state of Minnesota don’t have access to affordable quality early care, education, and other supports. This day is an opportunity to speak up, for and with our children, to make sure their care and education are prioritized in policy discussions and legislation this session.

Your voice matters, and legislators want to hear from you!

Let’s create a buzz! Use #GreatStartMN #AllInForOurKids and #ACD2025 to share why early childhood is important through photos, quotes or artwork!

For questions or issues with registration, please reach out to Jackson Gunvalson at [email protected]

Recommendations for Attendance

We recommend arriving early, around 9:15 AM before the event begins at 9:30 AM to make sure you can properly situate yourself at the event.

We recommend that parents, childcare providers and other attendees prepare the children they are bringing with them for loud noises in the rotunda. There will likely be shouting, chanting and loud noises. If you have any noise-canceling/reducing headphones for your kids, we recommend bringing them.

Please do not bring food, drinks, stickers, tape or anything else into the rotunda that could potentially spill or make a mess. Refer to this document for more specific rules of conduct at the capitol.

Before attending we also encourage you to set up your own meeting with your legislators to talk with them about the importance of early childhood care and education. Here are some tips on meeting with them. Even if you cannot meet your legislators consider sending them an email or writing a letter to know you care about children's education and care. You can find who represents you here.

Capitol Visits

If you're interested in doing a tour after Advocacy for Children Day, there are free guided tours starting at the top of the hour. Reservations are also available for groups larger than 15 people. For more information visit this link.

*If you are attending the event with a minor child or children, please note number of attendees you are bringing in the survey.

Maps

State Capitol Complex and Visitor Parking Map (PDF) - Full map of all buildings and parking and transportation options, including disability parking spaces.

State Capitol Building Floor Map (PDF) - Map of the Capitol building including restrooms, elevators, and water fountains.

Parking Options

1. FREE PARKING is available in the Sears parking lot at 425 Rice St, St. Paul, MN 55103
2. Ramp F - enter off Rice Street
3. Lot Q - northeast corner of Cedar St and Sherburne Ave, enter from Sherburne Ave
4. Street Parking

Visit the Department of Admin's Public Parking page for information about street parking, disability parking, bicycle racks, EV charging stations, and more.

Public transportation

Several Metro Transit bus stops and Green Line light rail stops will bring you within a block of the Capitol Complex.

Accessible Parking & Drop-off

20 disability parking spots are located in the Senate Office Building for no cost. Coming from Rice Street on Sherburne Ave., take a right onto Capitol Blvd. and then another right into the parking garage. The door will automatically open when you approach it. Take the elevator to access the tunnel system and follow signs to the capitol.

Use the bus cut-out on Cedar Ave. for drop-off. Drop off and pick up on Cedar Street (east of Capitol) and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The ground floor entrance (under front steps) is wheelchair accessible.

Accessibility Statement

The State Capitol welcomes all visitors. We recognize the diverse needs of our audience and strive to offer accessible programming to enable all visitors to explore this historic site.

However, accessibility for guests with limited mobility can be challenging at our historic sites due to historic and natural features. With advance notice, we will make every effort to respond to access needs.

Our goal is to provide as much information as possible to guests before their visit to any of our sites and museums.

If you have additional questions about accessibility or other needs, please contact the Minnesota State Capitol at 651-259-3292 or .

For general questions regarding access initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society, please contact the Museum Access Specialist at 651-259-3480 or .

Media Release:

By registering for this event, I hereby authorize Greater Twin Cities United Way permission to use the voice, name and/or photographic likenesses of myself or the minor child/children I’ve registered for any and all media, worldwide in perpetuity such as but not limited to use in stories, photographs and video, including the editing, reproduction or reproduction of parts thereof for publication of said stories, photographs and film, in social media, online video, television, website and printed promotional materials distributed or published for or on behalf of Greater Twin Cities United Way. I waive any right to inspect and approve the finished product or copy that may be used or the use to which it may be applied. I waive all claims for any compensation or damages for myself or the minor child/children for such use of said stories, photographs and video explicitly. I expressly agree that this Release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of Minnesota and that this Release shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota. I agree that in the event that any clause or provision of this Release is deemed invalid, the enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

Host or Publisher Greater Twin Cities United Way