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Greetings! These newsletters will come out around the 4th Friday of the month, and we hope they will be a resource for staying updated on Hennepin County programs and Commissioner Lunde's work.
If you have a story from your city you'd like to share, please email staffer Anna at Anna.Schmiel@hennepin.us
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 Commissioner Lunde (left) and Jakarta Turner of Brooklyn Center Community Schools (right).
In light of the tragic shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer and the events that followed, Brooklyn Center High School stepped up in a big way and organized a drive to provide impacted community members with essential items. My team and I stopped by to volunteer, and were incredibly inspired by this solidarity in action.
 Picture of current METRO Blue Line Light Rail going past the US Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. Blue and yellow Blue Line Extension logo in the upper right hand corner.
In light of recent events, my office decided to reschedule the Facebook Live event on the Blue Line in partnership with CCX Media. The event will now be held on Wednesday, May 26th from 2pm – 3pm.
 The northbound light rail travels along Hiawatha towards downtown Minneapolis in May 2014. Credit: Caroline Yang | MPR News 2014
On March 18 of this year, the Governor released a shocking new budget proposal supported by the Metropolitan Council that put the future of the Blue Line in jeopardy. Instead of partnering to build out the transit system, the Governor and the Met Council would require counties to pay the operation and capital maintenance costs of the existing light rail lines and all future lines, even though we do not own, do not operate, and cannot make decisions about them. While Hennepin County is happy that Governor Walz's administration has reversed their position, the proposed language still exists in the Senate bill. We call on the Governor and the Met Council to ensure their proposed budget language is removed and does not become law.
Vaccination Clinics
Tis' the season to get your COVID-19 vaccine, and my office has been busy helping to organize clinics for individuals in under-vaccinated communities. Thanks to all our partners for their hard work putting these events together!
 Commissioner Lunde at the vaccine clinic's check-in area at Ebenezer Community Church.
Last month, our office partnered with Ebenezer Community Church in Brooklyn Park, The Liberian Nurses Association MN, other Hennepin County staff and Hennepin Healthcare on a vaccine clinic for the Liberian community. 157 people received vaccines!
 Organizers at The Lao Assistace Center of Minnesota's vaccine clinic. Commissioner Lunde is on the upper lefthand side and Policy Aide Vicky Soukaseum is in the center.
Our office also partnered with The Lao Assistance Center Of Minnesota, other Hennepin County staff, and Hennepin Healthcare on a vaccine clinic for the Asian and Pacific Islander community. 540 people received vaccines! We were also able to connect the community with additional county resources through conversation and community engagement bags (a HUGE hit) that were filled them with swag, masks, sanitizers, snacks, and additional information connecting them to services.
There have also been so many amazing community organized vaccine clinics in District 1! Pictured below is Commissioner Lunde visiting one organized by ACER and the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM). A big thanks to all the amazing organizations bringing vaccines to their communities. Your work is incredibly important to increase vaccine equity and help end this pandemic.
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 Northwest Metro; 526,560 population, 37% people of color, 14% born outside U.S. North Hennepin Community College; 9,100 students, 49% students of colors, 33% low income, 61% first generation. Supports Regional Economic Development & Creative Jobs; $1.8 billion economic impact, community survey responses reflect desire for the arts. 81,000 jobs (median hourly wage of $21.43).
Have you heard about the upcoming Center for Innovation and the Arts at North Hennepin Community College? This project will replace the existing North Hennepin Community College Fine Arts Center (FAC), and will provide many opportunities for the school and District 1. Additional partners include the City of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County, and ISD 279 - Osseo Area Schools.
It's no secret that small businesses have been deeply impacted by the pandemic. One way my office will be supporting small businesses is by highlighting one business in District 1 each month. These highlights will be published in our newsletter and on social media.
Have a business you'd like highlighted? Please email staffer Anna at Anna.Schmiel@hennepin.us
For Earth Day, the first business we're highlighting is The Sequel Shop in Brooklyn Park. This consignment store was started in November 2020 by longtime resident Patti Johnson. When she was laid off during the pandemic, she decided to open a store pairing her two passions; helping the environment and helping people.
Address: 9630 Colorado Ln N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 (Highway 610 & Zane Ave., near Caribou Coffee and Pancheros)
Current hours: Sunday 11am – 2pm, Monday Closed, Tuesday and Wednesday 10:30am – 6pm, Thursday 10:30am – 7pm, Friday 10:30am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm
Social media pages:
Phone number: (763) 425-4406
**The full highlight will be posted on my social media channels throughout this week.
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Happy belated Earth Day! Did you know that Hennepin County Drop-Off Facilities have a handy Green Disposal Guide? This guide will help you determine which objects you can recycle at the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station, as well as what to know before you visit, directions, and updated hours.
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Climate Action Plan
 Hennepin County's Climate Action Plan webpage screenshot.
Hennepin County has adopted its first Climate Action Plan that outlines how the county will act boldly on climate change. The Plan prioritizes disparity reduction and serves as a strong foundation for a coordinated approach to planning, policy development, and response to climate change. The plan includes strategies to:
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Prioritize disparity reduction
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Achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
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Adapt to a warmer and wetter climate
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Create a more equitable and resilient Hennepin County
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Learn more on the newly launched website.
 RentHelpMN webpage screenshot.
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What is RentHelpMN?: a program that allows renters to get caught up on overdue rent and utilities dating back to March 13, 2020.
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Who's eligible?: RentHelpMN is in Phase One, in which people with past due rent who meet eligibility requirements are invited to apply. Phase Two will allow all renters at risk of falling behind on rent to apply.
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Questions?:
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Call 211. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions Monday - Saturday from 8am - 8pm.
**Application and instructions available in 12 languages.
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What: reimburse those individuals who paid out-of-pocket funeral expenses for family members or other loved ones who passed from COVID-19.
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Who qualifies?: those whose loved ones died in the U.S., with the cause of death attributed to COVID-19. Expenses must be from after January 20, 2020.
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Important to note: while the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, the deceased person does NOT have to be.
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 SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund webpage screenshot.
SBA's Restaurant Revitalization Fund:
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Program page - English: Restaurant Revitalization Fund (sba.gov)
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Program page - Spanish: Restaurant Revitalization Fund (sba.gov)
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What: funding equal to pandemic-related revenue loss for food-related businesses.
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Amount: up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.
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Priority: small businesses that are 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are:
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Women, Veterans, or Socially and economically disadvantaged (see program pages).
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Fund terms: recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023
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Questions?:
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Call 1-844-279-8898 (Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ET)
Contact us
Jeffrey Lunde
Commissioner, 1st District
612-348-7881
Vicky Soukaseum
Policy Aide
612-348-5206
Anna Schmiel
Policy and Communications Aide
612-348-5202
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