St. Paul was the birthplace of the Green movement in the United States. In 1984 the founding conference of that movement was held at Macalester College.
Ten years later, in 1994, the Green Party of Minnesota was formed.
In 1998 some St. Paul members began to hold regular meetings in the basement of the Merriam Park library at Marshall and Fairview. Candidates for state and national offices were supported. Within a year St. Paul became officially a local chapter of the state party. It included Greens from all of Ramsey and Dakota counties until Dakota Greens formed their own chapter.
In 2000 Greens became a major party in Minnesota. and in March, 2002 caucuses were held in each state senatorial district. Many new people signed up, and with the temporary closing of the Merriam Park library, the St. Paul Greens moved their meeting place to the Cherokee Park United Church.
In the elections of 2002 four of the five statewide Green Party candidates were from the St. Paul area -- Rhoda Gilman, Dave Berger, Andrew Koebrick, and Ray Tricomo. The campaign of that year also saw a series of "issue forums," organized by Dave Shove of Roseville and held at Black Bear Crossings on Como Avenue. Topics included education, health care, and IRV.
In 2003 the Green Party of St. Paul endorsed and supported two local candidates -- Elizabeth Dickinson for City Council in Ward 2, and Richard Broderick for school board.
In 2004 it adopted bylaws and elected a steering committee and officers. The GPSP also endorsed and supported Jesse Mortenson in 2006 as a candidate for state representative in district 64A.
In 2007 the Green Party of St. Paul meets in the community room above Mississippi Market at Dale and Selby on the first Saturday of every month, 12:00 - 2:00pm. It has several active committees that work around issues like health care, housing, election reform, and support of small, locally owned business.
For more on the history and values of the Green Party in Minnesota, see About GPMN.
