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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county news and services. Our newsletter comes out the first Monday of each month.
We are always looking for resident feedback on ways to improve Hennepin County's service offerings. If you have an idea, please don't hesitate to reach out. As an elected official, I answer to you.
Productive Day Program
 Tour group in front of the house in North Minneapolis that is being remodeled by the Construction Pathways Program.
My policy aide Anna Schmiel and intern Nicole Bosire visited a tax-forfeited house in North Minneapolis that is under construction as part of the Productive Day Program. This is a career pathways program through the Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR), which provides paid, on-the-job training for clients ages 18–34 who are under the department’s supervision.
There are two programs currently in operation:
1. Construction Pathways Program, which my team went to visit, provides union approved training to clients under Hennepin DOCCR's supervision. This is a win-win for everyone involved; the high demand, higher paying jobs (starting at $19/hr in Hennepin County) fill the growing need for labor in this industry.
2. Youth Forestry Pathways Program, which started as a pilot this year, trains young people on juvenile probation to be foresters through a 9-week national certification led by the Tree Trust and Hennepin Technical College. It will be expanded to include adults soon.
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Best Buy's Teen Tech Center
 Mentor Coordinator Henry DeGrand at the screen printing station.
As Chair of Public Safety, I feel strongly that providing opportunities and "third places" for youth is one of the most effective violence prevention strategies.
Since it reopened in August 2021, the Best Buy Teen Tech Center has connected more than 300 people to creative technologies and supportive mentors. When I visited last month I spoke with the Mentor Coordinator, Henry DeGrand (pictured) who discussed how strong mentor relationships can build both creative skills as well as safe and supportive communities.
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Location: 2nd floor of the Minneapolis Central Library
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Hours: Monday – Thursday from 3pm – 8pm
 The following Youth Environmental Education grants were funded in District 1: Minnesota African Women’s Association (Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, Osseo): The African Girls Environmental Education Project will engage 150 Pan African youth ages 14-18 in intensive curriculum and environmental action programming
 Reuse Minnesota (Brooklyn Park): The Youth learning: Reuse for the future project will engage 50 high schoolers on ways to repair, resuse, and rent as a waste reduction strategy Climate Generation (Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park): The Metro Youth Climate Convergence will bring together 200 high schoolers to identify local climate justice issues and climate solutions
Hmong Community Explore Your Parks
 Commissioner Lunde (left) at the Hmong Community Explore Your Parks event.
I had a great time last month at the Hmong Community Explore Your Parks event. I love events like this that make the great outdoors more inclusive, and the many community organizations and event partners tabling and providing resources made it informative as well as fun!
Hennepin County's Asian Connections ERG (employee resource group) was there in full force, including my policy aide Vicky Soukaseum.
Safety Trainings & Camps
The Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale Community Police Academy is a FREE 7 week class, starting in mid-September.
- Open to all adults living in these communities who want to learn about their local police department.
- Space is limited and participants must commit to attend all seven classes.
**APPLY HERE by September 13th at 3pm.
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Brooklyn Park Police Department's Safety Camp teaches a variety of safety topics including personal, fire, bicycle, and water safety.
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When: Thursday, August 18th from 7:30am - 4:30pm OR Friday, August 19th from 7:30am - 3pm
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Where: Brooklyn Park's Community Activity Center (5600 85th Ave. N)
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Fee: $25 ($30 non-resident)
**REGISTER HERE
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Summer Interns
The District 1 team is a bit mightier this summer! We have 2 awesome interns from BrookLynk.
Nicole Bosire
A Kenyan native and activist at heart; Nicole and her family immigrated to the states in 2013. Nicole came here with the hopes of helping as many people as she could. This led to her activism within Minnesota. Nicole and her group of peers led a statewide walkout protesting racial injustices in Minnesota. This activism led her and her peers to create Champlin Park Highschool’s first Black Student Union. For her internship, she is focusing on bettering mental health in youth through the Mental Health Pathways Program. She is also focusing on working and learning from the African American Employee Resource Group (ERG), in order to better her own BSU as a founding member and president.
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Debra Owens
A rising college freshman at Yale University with a passion for invention, Debra Owens is interested in the intersection of government, math, and science. While in high school, she was a member of many extracurriculars showcasing her love of learning, including the Academic Decathlon, Debate Club, Math Club and Women in STEM. For her internship, she is focusing on removing unnecessary car requirements for some Hennepin County jobs. She is also exploring how to make the No Wrong Door program for sexually exploited youth more accessible.
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Anti-Displacement Work Group
 Public anti-displacement meetings: Monday, August 15th from 5-7 PM at the Crystal Community Center (4800 Douglas Dr.), Tuesday, August 16th from 5:30-7:30 PM at UROC – (2001 Plymouth Ave. N)
Anti-Displacement Work Group facilitator CURA is hosting two public meetings for community members to learn more about the Blue Line Extension Anti-Displacement Work Group workshop held in June on "Lessons Learned from Light Rail Transit." Get your questions answered and share your ideas to help build on actionable displacement mitigation recommendations.
LIBA's Light Rail Tour
In June, LIBA organized a tour of the recommended BLRT route and the Green Line along University Ave. LIBA members were able to see all the small businesses thriving along the University Ave. corridor. Before stopping for dinner at Fasika, they were able to walk around "Little Africa," an area with a high number of African Immigrant-owned businesses. LIBA members expressed interest in utilizing light rail traffic to create a similar area in the Northwest suburbs.
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Statement of Sheriff Hutchinson
 I am writing to address the news that came out regarding Sheriff Hutchinson's inappropriate behavior. On Monday, Fox 9 broke the story that Sheriff Hutchinson has been accused of creating a hostile work environment, including sending racist and homophobic texts. It was also reported that he has been misusing taxpayer money, spending over $17,000 in 4 months on trips and meals. This is quite simply unacceptable. No Hennepin County employee, elected or otherwise, should be able to act in such a disrespectful way. This continued misuse of power has only reaffirmed the position I took on January 5th calling for his resignation. He should not continue to misuse the county's medical leave policy to avoid accountability.
I would also like to commend the vital work of his staff despite the harassment they have faced internally and the bad press their office has been associated with due to decisions their boss made. They have continued to serve residents of the county throughout the pandemic by:
• Partnering with community leaders to foster stronger relationships and rebuild trust
• Providing support for the MPD and suburban agencies amid staffing challenges
• Working to remove illegal guns throughout the county as part of an initiative to reduce gun violence
• Apprehending violent offenders in partnership with other agencies through the Violent Offenders Task Force
• Tackling the opioids epidemic and the many ways it has wreaked havoc on communities
Sheriff Hutchinson's continued presence in the department has distracted from these accomplishments and increased distrust in our public safety officials. He should resign immediately.
Opioid Crisis
 Graphic on how to use Naloxone.
A major public health crisis that sadly lives in the shadows is the opioid crisis. Opioid-related deaths have increased nearly 6 times from 1999 to 2017. The crisis only got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are treatments available, including for overdoses. However, many people don't know how to access them. This is where KnowTheDangers.com comes in. This website provides the following:
- FREE information, including social media graphics, handouts, and posters, for public health organizations to utilize.
- Information on accessing treatment, from in-patient care to getting trained to administer Naloxone (the drug that stops overdoses).
HAM Radio
 My son (left) learning about HAM radio from a member of the Maple Grove Radio Club.
Last month, my son and I attended the HAM Radio Field Day, which is a national HAM radio contest/preparedness exercise. The local Maple Grove Radio Club, which operates out of the Chester Bird American Legion in Golden Valley, helped put on the event.
Why is it important?:
- Access to secure communication is an important part of public safety. During natural disasters and other emergencies, cell phone signals are often cut off, leaving people unable to access critical information. HAM radios are a way of communicating with these signals.
Why is it important?:
- Access to secure communication is an important part of public safety. During natural disasters and other emergencies, cell phone signals are often cut off, leaving people unable to access critical information. HAM radios are a way of communicating with these signals.
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Contact us
Jeffrey Lunde
Commissioner, 1st District
612-414-3302
Vicky Soukaseum
Policy Aide
612-414-4747
Anna Schmiel
Policy and Communications Aide
612-348-5202
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