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Dear District 6 neighbors,
I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer! The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind as I’ve been learning more about the County Board and the important issues facing our district.
Meet the D6 Team!
Meet the District 6 Team: Dan Dodge (Sr. Policy Aide), Cole Roepke (Policy Aide and Scheduler) and our Summer Intern Anushka Narielwala!
Meetings with District 6 Mayors and Cities
The last few weeks I’ve been criss-crossing the district meeting with Mayors and City Managers– so far I’ve met with officials from Hopkins, Greenwood, Long Lake, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, and Edina. We’re planning on meeting with officials from the remaining 10 cities in the district over the course of the summer. These meetings will help me and my office get to know the issues facing our district and how the county can help support our cities. They will also help inform 2025 budget negotiations, which will begin in earnest in September.
 Greenwood Mayor Tom Fletcher and City Council Member Kristi Conrad
 Edina Mayor Jim Hovland and City Manager Scott Neal
 Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon
Hennepin County Employee Award Ceremony
It was an honor to attend the Hennepin County Awards Ceremony this week to honor the many outstanding employees doing impressive work! One that stood out as pretty cute and original was Barrett the therapy dog from the Hennepin County Attorney's office that is a dedicated public servant to victims and staff!
Pride Month
June is Pride Month, where we celebrate our LGTBQIA+ community. Hennepin County is committed to being an inclusive and equitable place for all employees to work and residents to live. This weekend (June 29th & 30th), is the Twin Cities Pride Festival. Many County departments and organizations will be at Pride, including Red Door Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare, Hennepin County Foster Care, and Hennepin County Library. The Lowry Avenue bridge will also be lit up in rainbow colors this Friday, June 28 to kick off Pride weekend. We wish everyone a happy and safe Pride celebration!
Juneteenth Celebrations
Last week Wednesday, June 19 was Juneteenth. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. This year marks three years since Juneteenth was declared a national holiday.
This year, we had many different teams from Hennepin attend Juneteenth celebrations across the county. Teams from Hennepin Health, Environment and Energy, Outreach and Community Supports, Public Health, Maternal & Child Health, and Human Services attended the Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove and Juneteenth Minnesota celebrations. Our staff were out sharing resources and information about county services as well as doing outreach for county projects – like getting community feedback on the Blue Line Extension project. Hennepin County Libraries also hosted a screen printing workshop, where participants got to make their own Juneteenth T-shirts.
Thanks to all of our staff who attended a Juneteenth event on behalf of the county. These events are great opportunities to connect with our residents and community members.
We hope everyone had a joyful and meaningful Juneteenth.
Community-based immunization clinics
Childhood immunizations protect kids from serious diseases. Many children, and teens have fallen behind on immunizations. Now is a good time to get caught up for school, sports, daycare, and more.
Hennepin County Public Health is hosting free immunization clinics for children ages 0-18 years old throughout the summer and fall. Upcoming clinic dates and locations are:
- Saturday, June 22 at Brookdale Library
- Saturday, August 24 at Hosmer Library
- Saturday, September 28 at Brookdale Library
- Saturday, October 26 at Hosmer Library
No pre-registration necessary: all immunizations are walk-in. Find more information at hennepin.us/immunizations
Create meals, not waste: Take the Stop Food Waste Challenge
We love food, which leaves us wondering: why do we let so much of it go to waste? In the U.S., about 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain, and much of that food waste happens at home.
Most of the food we throw in the trash is leftovers or unspoiled food that could have been eaten, according to a recent waste study in Minneapolis. All that wasted food adds up to wasted money. The average family of four spends more than $2,500 on food that goes to waste every year.
Take the Stop Food Waste Challenge to learn better strategies for buying food you’ll eat and eating the food you buy.
Improve your food-waste-fighting skills
The Stop Food Waste Challenge is a month-long effort starting August 1 to help you notice when you are wasting food, commit to actions that will have the greatest impact in your household, connect you with helpful resources, and provide support and motivation along the way. Businesses, organizations, and community groups can also join the challenge as Stop Food Waste Challenge partners.
The challenge runs during the month of August 2024. Sign up opens on July 1. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.
Request for proposals: forestry workforce development programming
Proposals due by 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8
Hennepin County is soliciting proposals for forestry workforce development programming, which includes adult arborist apprenticeship programming, adult and youth introductory tree maintenance programming, and wraparound services to support both programs.
Programming will be financially supported through funds awarded to Hennepin County by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry Grant. A total of $1.9 million has been allocated to fund this forestry workforce development programming.
Contracts awarded are anticipated to span a two-year duration, and pilot program contracts are anticipated to span one year.
Additional details and how to apply.
Hennepin County is an equal opportunity provider. Funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service.
Apply to Serve on Xcel Energy’s Environmental Justice Accountability Board
Xcel Energy is convening a new Environmental Justice Accountability Board (EJAB) under Minnesota Public Utilities Commission docket E002/M-22-266. EJAB will continue the Company’s work since 2022 with their Equity Stakeholder Advisory Group, which sought to develop new strategies to reduce energy burden for low-income customers, promote equitable access to energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, and diversify the energy workforce.
Xcel Energy aims to create a board that reflects the diverse racial/cultural/ethnic backgrounds and Tribal affiliations of communities they serve, including both urban and rural parts of its service territory, and includes members with a demonstrated commitment to equity and environmental justice. Experience with energy programs is not required, but they hope to have some members with such experience, especially in programs designed to serve low-income customers. The primary purpose of EJAB is to help Xcel Energy better understand and serve their low-income and BIPOC customers, so they want the EJAB to reflect those voices.
Xcel Energy is accepting applications through July 31, 2024 to serve on the EJAB. For more information and to receive an application form, please email ejab@xcelenergy.com.
In any elected job, the best part is hearing from the people you represent. I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions or feedback you’d like to share at heather.edelson@hennepin.us or 612-248-6885. You can also follow me on my official Facebook page for updates.
Sincerely,
Heather Edelson
County Commissioner - District 6
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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Heather Edelson
Commissioner
6th District
Daniel Dodge
Sr. Policy Aide
612-348-3168
Cole Roepke
Jr. Policy Aide & Scheduler
612-248-6885
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