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image of Marcia Avner, Nonprofit Committee Chair

Marcia Avner is Chair on the nonprofit steering committee for the Nonprofit and Community Advocacy MAPL concentration. She also teaches MAPL 5308 The Impact of Art on Social Change, MAPL 5200 Nonprofits and Civic Engagement, and MAPL 5119 Techniques for Nonprofit Advocacy. She is the Public Policy Director with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), a statewide association of nonprofits with over 1400 member organizations. Her work includes training, education and lobbying on issues that are important to nonprofits and the people they serve. MCN is dedicated to building the capacity of the nonprofit sector and individual organizations to engage in strategic public policy work. Her efforts have involved national and international speaking and training. Avner is also an Assistant Professor at Hamline University and teaches management, fundraising and lobbying courses. Avner has authored The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations: Shaping Public Policy at the State and Local Level, published by Wilder Publications in January, 2002. Prior to her work with MCN, Avner served as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone and worked with Sheila Welstone on shaping a domestic violence prevention and intervention initiative. Avner was Deputy Mayor to St. Paul Mayor Jim Scheibel, Executive Director of The Minnesota Project, Assistant Commissioner of Energy for the State of Minnesota, and Legislative Director with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group. Avner has a BA from Carnegie Mellon University and a MA from the University of Arkansas.She serves on numerous community and nonprofit boards including Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest, Jewish Community Action, and Lifetrack Resources, Inc., and Wellstone Action!

Last modified on Monday, 29-Sep-2008 17:17:54 CDT