Kari Dziedzic may have followed in the footsteps of a politically engaged family but she also carved her own path within the established scene of Northeast politics. She was well known for having compassion and seeking resolutions despite differences in opinion and in supporting the arts in word and action. In 2022 she was the chief author of two bills that impacted the Minneapolis Arts District. One on January 31, 2022 for funds to improve the Northrup King building and another on April 4, 2022 to allocate funds to a Public Functionary community arts center.
This support for art and creators expanded beyond legislation, and showcased the human connections at the heart of any truly supported arts community. This important “showing up” was noted by Mohamed Barre in a Facebook post sending condolences to the family and friends of Kari: “She attended all my yearly NE Minneapolis photo exhibitions. A project intended for our NE Minneapolis art-loving neighbors. Kari Dziedzic and Diane Loeffler (RIP) consistently gave me the motivation and moral support required without ever claiming any credit for their support of the project.”
In times where polarization and sensationalism seem to be rampant, Kari Dziedzic seemed to support looking at the big picture and listening to individual people as a way to move forward and make life better for more Minnesotans. Her drive to make sure the voices of youth were heard and encouraged was noted by Aurin Chowdhury in another Facebook condolence message: “I admired how in the weeds she would get with her work, the commitment to responding to her constituents personally, and as very young person back then— it was incredibly affirming to see the way that her youth constituency was never an afterthought. It was empowering, many students and young people like me left interactions with her feeling heard and powerful.”
This determination to listen, to engage with people created a baseline from which Kari was able to get to know not only her constituents but Minnesotans in general. And That ability to start and maintain personal relationships seemed to be central to how she operated in the world. She even referred to her own experience with ovarian cancer in a relational way and encouraged people to make sure to have make it to their routine doctors appointments and get tested, despite the busy-ness of life, in an interview for PBS Almanac at the Capitol: “I, again, just encourage everybody, because you don’t know, go out there, get tested. And then I’ve also been telling people… you don’t know what struggles people… are having and the challenges they are facing.”
As the MN senate moves forward after her loss, split evenly at 33 members each for the DFL and GOP, Kari’s legacy of human connection, creative problem solving and the bravery needed to show up for each other, will live on. It will be a legacy of putting service to Minnesotans first and seeking on the ground solutions over camera ready conflicts.