Minnesota Agencies

The Young Women’s Cabinet, comprised of up to 25 young women and youth leaders (ages 16-24) from eight communities across Minnesota and appointed by Governor Dayton, is charged with ensuring that the work of the Young Women's Initiative Minnesota Council stays grounded in the lived experiences of the young women and youth from each community and the community-specific challenges and solutions they identified. The YWCA St. Paul works with the Young Women’s Cabinet to provide leadership development.

In October 2016, Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith announced a new effort to improve opportunity for young women in Minnesota: the Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN), a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment to achieve equity in opportunities and to improve the lives of young women of color, American Indian young women, young women from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ youth, and young women with disabilities.

The YWI MN is a public-private partnership between the State of Minnesota and the Women's Foundation of Minnesota with two primary arms: The Young Women's Cabinet, comprised of 24 young women and youth leaders (ages 16-24) from the eight designated communities appointed by Governor Dayton; and the Young Women's Initiative Minnesota Council, comprised of 30-40 cross-sector leaders from elected office, the business community, philanthropy, and the community. Three young women from the Cabinet will also sit on the Council.

According to the Governor's office, this is "the first statewide initiative of its kind in the nation."

Governor Dayton appointed 25 young women to serve on the cabinet, effective November 23, 2016.