Three years ago, Zumbro Valley Medical Society (ZVMS) started a Street Medicine program. This program brings together physicians, medical students, community partners, and individuals with lived experience to identify and create effective ways to improve health care for people experiencing homelessness in Olmsted County.

"We need to adapt to people and their circumstances rather than expect people to adapt to us.” – Beth Kangas, Executive Director, ZVMS

During “street rounds,” a physician and medical student join a county social worker to visit people living in encampments, under bridges, and on street corners to identify the medical and social services they need.

It's almost summer, and we are busy over here! We have so much coming up for folks to jump into, including a training session on the Minnesota Statewide Health Assessment in May, another with the state demographer in early June, and a third called "Why DEIB?" later in June. Check out our website to learn more and register now: Minnesota Health Equity Networks - MN Dept. of Health

I'm sure many folks have heard all the acronyms for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and might even ask what all those words mean. How do we know which ones to use? Is this another fad? These are all really important questions! We are excited to welcome our colleagues from the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to facilitate this conversation. 

Our work with the Minnesota Health Equity Networks is based upon the deep belief that health equity is about honoring the humanity of all people and that we are all responsible for making our organizations and the world a better place. The workshop about DEIB is a way for us to explore rehumanizing the conversation about organizational change and systems change in a way that moves us toward being organizations that heal rather than harm.

We are excited to continue this work with you all. If you have requests or ideas for workshops, training, or programming, please feel free to drop them here on our Minnesota Health Equity Connections page: Future Training Requests | Minnesota Health Equity Networks Connections.

Happy almost summer,
Shor

Hello, I’m the Northeast Regional Network Coordinator, and I am honored to have been working with the incredible Networks team for the past two years. I have learned about the extraordinary work being done throughout my region and the state, and it seems that every day, I hear about another health equity effort going on around us. The folks doing the work often don’t think of it as equity-focused, but it certainly is. They consider it simply a matter of making things better for their communities and region, which is what health equity is all about. 

One of the ways I’ve been able to learn about this impressive work is through writing the monthly newsletter spotlight article. Organizations from all regions of the state have been highlighted, and each story emphasizes how strongly Minnesotans believe in ensuring that everyone has the right to a healthy life, no matter who they are or where they live. Recently, we spotlighted an organization in the Northeast region, the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging. Their Changemakers cohort is committed to reframing how people talk, think, feel, and act about aging. Learning more about their successes and future plans has been a privilege.
I look forward to more opportunities to learn about what’s happening in the Northeast region and throughout Minnesota and continue to celebrate the progress and the humanity shown by the people who do this important work. - Colleen McKinney, Northeast Coordinator