Before she was elected to the City Council, she stood up for women’s reproductive rights as the executive director of Minnesota NARAL. Confronted by threats to women’s rights and advancement by obstructionists at every level nearly every day, Lisa did her part to defend the women who were counting on her. When she led the pro-choice election effort in 1996, the MN Senate achieved a pro-choice majority for the first time in Minnesota history. Lisa worked for Paul Wellstone as his director of fundraising during his successful bid for Senate in 1990, and consistently stood up for progressive values in the face of almost impossible odds.
Lisa currently serves on the boards of Jewish Family Children Services, Meet Minneapolis, Midwest Health Center Foundation, and the Family Housing Fund. For many years Lisa taught a class titled ‘Community and Economic Development’ at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs Graduate Program.
Throughout her years of service to the community, she has been a constant presence on numerous other boards and commissions. She has been active in organizations focused on protection and treatment of animals. She was appointed by the Governor to the Minnesota Racing Commission, has served on the board of the Animal Humane Society, and founded a nonprofit, Dog Grounds, which built and maintains three dog parks downtown.
In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, antiquing, and spending time at her farmhouse in rural Minnesota with her Goldendoodle, Sadie. Lisa Goodman is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in political science and labor relations.