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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.
As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to
learn more about how to get involved.
2024 Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge
 I'd like to start off by thanking and congratulating our County Staff on their hard work! Hennepin County won the 2024 Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge by organizing the most well-attended cleanup event. In total, we had close to 600 people attend cleanup events which resulted in roughly 12,830 lbs of trash collected! Congratulations team and congratulations to all the residents who attended and made this possible! And thank you to Goodhue County, Minn. Commissioner Linda Flanders and County Administrator Scott Arneson for presenting this award.
Hennepin County Summer Interns
 A picture within government spaces you don’t see often! It was a joy to welcome Najma and Lisa as summer interns to our County Commissioners. During our farewell lunch with them, they shared that they didn’t know that the kind of make-up of our office existed in government. I’m grateful that they know it now. Government spaces and all spaces are meant for us to be present in! Can't wait to see all Najma and Lisa will go on to do.
August's Birth Justice Collaborative Meeting
 This month we met with the Birth Justice Collaborative, an effort that was created out of a $10 Million dollar Board Action Request (BAR) that I authored in 2022. The Collaborative is composed of Hennepin County Public Health staff, researchers, evaluators, and Black and Indigenous providers in the maternal health and child well-being space. The charge of the 2022 BAR was to target disparities in Black and Indigenous maternal health by addressing racist cultures and practices in hospital settings, advocating for quality maternal health experiences and child wellbeing at the legislature, and funding Black and Indigenous led organizations and birthing centers that have better outcomes for parents to be.
Our meeting this month was focused on providing updates about what the Collaborative has been able to do thus far and what we are looking forward to accomplishing as we continue to build upon what we’ve started with this initiative.
The Family Partnership- Hennepin as a Collaborator
 Hennepin County had the privilege of participating in The Family Partnership's Community Resource Fair. Hennepin County staff from Red Door, Public Health, Outreach and Community Supports, and more- in addition to 30+ other local organizations were present; and it was such an incredible opportunity to be active and bring direct service support to residents!
 The theme of the event focused on the joy that exists in communities that have been labeled as 'destroyed' in recent national news and this event proved that providing accessible, basic needs can shift people from a survival mindset to a healing mindset.
The Family Partnership has done and continues to do amazing work and we're glad to have joined in on this event. Learn more about The Family Partnership here: https://www.thefamilypartnership.org/about/
Reminder: Are you ready to vote in the Elections on November 5th?
 Get ready for the 2024 General Election
The General Election is on Tuesday November 5th, but you don't have to wait to cast your ballot. Early voting for the State General Election opens on September 20th and goes through November 4th at 5:00 pm.
Registering to Vote Is Easy
Minnesota makes it easy to check your voter registration status, register to vote and update your registration. Pre-registration for the state general election is open through October 15th, or you can register at the polling place when you vote.
Apply for an Absentee Ballot
If you want to vote early (absentee) by mail, make sure you fill out an application. Absentee ballot must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
In-Person Absentee Voting
You can also vote early in-person at your local elections office starting September 20th , check with your city clerk for location, Minneapolis early vote centers (Minneapolis residents only), or the Hennepin County Government Center (300 – 6th Street South Minneapolis, MN 55487). You can also vote early in-person at your local elections office starting September 20th –Nov 4th (check with your city clerk for location), Minneapolis early vote centers (Minneapolis residents only), or the Hennepin County Government Center (300 – 6th Street South Minneapolis, MN 55487).
 What's on your ballot?
Check your sample ballot before heading to the polls. This ensures you know what your ballot will look like and for whom and what you'll be voting.
Find your polling place
Polling places are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 5th for the General Election.
General Election date
- Tuesday November 5th, 2024
August is Black Business Month so the D4 office wanted to highlight a few businesses that are working hard and making a name within our community.
Soomaal House of Art (Soomaal) is a Minnesota-based Somali artists collective that works with students, emerging, and established artists find artistic community, mentorships, and opportunities.
Soomaal House of Art provides a platform for Somali visual artists who want to create and use art to shape and frame critical discourse around vexing local and global issues of our time.
As a radically inclusive co-working community, The Coven is uniquely positioned to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on positive, equitable workspaces. They see the future of work full of emergent possibilities that can only be unlocked by curiosity, community, and new conversations.
The Spokesman Recorder is one of the oldest Black owned newspapers in the country, and is the oldest, longest running Black owned business in Minnesota and Minneapolis.
This year marks 90 years of the Spokesman Recorder, congratulations on all the hard work they've done! Find an informative article on the Recorder here: Fox 9 News celebrates MSR's 90th Anniversary | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Fall Youth Activities Grants Open Now
The Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants (HCYAG) program is combining Facility and Playground grant opportunities into one application this fall. This combined grant opportunity will be called the Play Area grant.
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Play Area grants: awards up to $300,000
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Equipment grants: awards up to $10,000
Pre-Application Conference August 21, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Link and access information in the Request for Applications (RFA) on the Supplier portal.
Questions? Need technical assistance? Contact Sarah Breyette, Grant Coordinator, at youth.grants@hennepin.us or 612-348-8172.
17 Healthy Tree Canopy grants awarded
Hennepin County recently awarded 17 Healthy Tree Canopy grants totaling nearly $434,000. Grant projects will take place in eight cities, on two affordable housing properties, at three schools, and through five nonprofit organizations, including congregations and neighborhood associations.
Grant funding will be used for a variety of activities, including conducting tree inventories, expanding the capacity of city forestry teams, treating and replacing or replanting ash trees, and educating residents on the benefits of trees and engaging them in tree planting efforts. More than 920 trees will be planted or treated through the grant projects.
The grants will improve livability and reduce disparities by planting trees in areas experiencing disproportionate amounts of economic, environmental, and health inequities. The grants will also protect people and increase the county’s resilience to climate change by increasing the benefits that trees provide.
Vaccine awareness campaign and immunization clinics
Hennepin County Public Health is continuing to hold free childhood vaccination clinics for community members. These clinics have been on-going since this past spring and are scheduled until October. With the current measles outbreak, there may be more being added.
Find the up-to-date list of clinics at hennepin.us/immunizations.
We are also in the middle of a paid campaign promoting these clinics and the MMR vaccine which prevents measles. Our campaign consists of radio ads hosted by multi-lingual radio stations, web and social media advertisements, flyers and more. All of our advertisements are in English, Spanish and Somali. Attached are some of the graphics and flyers we have created for our Facebook, and promotion of our clinics.
Join the Zero Waste Challenge
Many of us intend to take action on issues we care about but struggle to figure out which changes or new habits fit into our busy lives. If you’ve ever wanted to reduce the amount of waste you create, the Zero Waste Challenge is a great opportunity to learn more and get personalized help.
Apply to join the challenge
Throughout the eight-month challenge, participating households develop a personalized waste reduction plan, receive one-on-one coaching and support, attend educational workshops, receive waste reduction tips, get access to supplies and educational materials, and connect with other households.
The upcoming Zero Waste Challenge will run from September 2024 through April 2025. You must be a Hennepin County resident to participate.
Complete the online application by Saturday, August 31.
Learn how to compost in your backyard
Start recycling your food scraps and yard waste into compost—right in your own backyard. About 25 percent what we throw away is organic materials like food, napkins and paper towels that could be put to better use as compost. Hennepin County offers free online webinars to help you get started.
Learn how to set up your compost pile, what materials you can compost, how to get the mix right, and more. There is no charge to sign up, but registration is required.
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Friday, September 13 from noon to 1 p.m. Virtual on Zoom. Register.
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Tuesday, September 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. Virtual on Zoom. Register.
Hennepin County in the news
Minneapolis and Hennepin County Office Hours:
 Excited to join my colleagues at the City and State at the Corcoran Neighborhood office for an evening office hour to meet, talk through ideas and get your questions answered. See you there!
Visioning Workshop #4 For George Floyd Square:
  Accessible Text:
Reminder: Visioning Workshop #4 for George Floyd Square:
The City and the engagement team (4RM+ULA and the Cultural Wellness Center) are holding the fourth "Visioning Workshop" for George Floyd Square on August 27th. Topics will focus on memorial locations, the Peoples Way site, and right-of-way design priorities. This event will continue the discussion to create a community-centered vision for the area.
Visioning Workshop on the future of George Floyd Square
When: Tuesday, August 27th, at 5:30-8 p.m.
Where: The Square at the Chicago Ave Shops, 3736 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407.
The final Visioning Workshop will be held in September.
Night Out at the Towers: Seward Tower East:
 When: August 28, 3 -6:00 pm
Where: Explorer Park
 When: August 28th, 9:00am
Where: Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Street, Minneapolis MN 55404
ALL are welcome to drop by for a summer series of biweekly Wednesday morning community coffee hours at Elliot Park, to enjoy coffee, treats & community with your neighbors.
At the coffee hour, you can learn more about the work of the neighborhood organizations who make up the Elliot Park Coalition, a new group of neighborhood organizations who have been meeting for the past six months to explore and implement new ways to strengthen positive connection and activity as a way to improve safety in the neighborhood.
Longfellow River Gorge Festival:
 When: September 8th, 12-4:00pm
Where: Meeting at the parking lot north of 36th St. and W River Parkway
The Longfellow River Gorge festival is one of Longfellow Community Center’s longest running annual events. Each fall they honor and celebrate the Mississippi River, its history, and its vital ongoing importance to humans and wildlife. The festival educates community about the River’s functions and ecology in a fun and approachable way focusing on restoration and conservation.
This is a free and family-friendly event with activities for all ages: canoe rides, geology tours, kids' activities, nature walks, live music, and more! Find event details and schedule here.
With Gratitude,
Contact us
Angela Conley
Commissioner, 4th District
Binta Kanteh
Policy Director
612-348-5204
Katelynn Ogunfolami
Director of District Engagement
612-348-3204
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