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JOIN YOUR REGIONAL NETWORK AND WORK WITH OTHERS AS DEDICATED AS YOU!
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Listening to what youth and community want and need
Spotlight on CornerStone Community and Youth Center
The lower level of the CornerStone Community and Youth Center in Frazee, MN, is a hive of activity. A 40-foot chalk wall, a pool table, ping pong, foosball, TV, and gaming offer artistic creativity and fun. In the Maker’s Space, youth can cook and eat in a full kitchen, with a pantry and cupboards full of ingredients for budding young chefs and cooks. They can learn to make t-shirts, woodworking, painting, sketching, and pottery. Youth can operate equipment like 3-D printers, laser engravers, Cricut Maker 3, and screen printers. Offered to youth from 4th to 12th grade as a free drop-in center, community members and families can join the Center and, with a membership, can take advantage of these opportunities outside of regular operating hours.
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“It's wonderful chaos. And when you walk in there, no one is on their phone." - Karen Pifher, Co-Owner of Creative Community Consulting.
Youth at CornerStone put together a puzzle. Photo courtesy of CornerStone Community and Youth Center.
CornerStone Community and Youth Center was founded and built on the voices of local youth with the goal of improving mental wellbeing in the community. In 2019, Essentia Health completed a community needs assessment, which showed that the top concern in the community was youth mental health.
Youth focus groups identified root causes: youth didn't feel cared for, had no safe place to gather with friends, eat together, or be involved in meaningful activities outside of school sports. Teens were asked to describe "the best place to be a kid" and illustrate their ideas through brainstorming and creating a community map. The process was repeated with adults. A steering committee of stakeholders from churches, schools, and community groups worked to develop a vision ever since.
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We must "water" and tend to our equity work, too
Message from Shor, Project Supervisor
As the heat of summer settles in many corners of the state, I am both humbled by and grateful for the rain. My garden thrives in this unusually wet season, and the lawn needs constant tending. I love this metaphor for health equity work. Like plants, this work requires attention, care, and nourishment; it does not just happen on its own and cannot be sustained alone.
At the Minnesota Health Equity Networks, we are charged with co-creating spaces across the state that support this nourishment. We do this through convenings and gatherings, training and capacity building, connecting people and organizations, and elevating the amazing work already happening in your communities. We are deep in planning and reimagining how to do this in new and innovative ways that will truly continue to transform the public health system.
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So, our questions for you are...
- How are you caring for yourself so you can stay in this work for the long haul?
- How will you weather the storm when there is (metaphorical) thunder?
- What types of support and programs can the Minnesota Health Equity Networks co-create to help you in the work?
Please share your answers to these questions with us on our Minnesota Health Equity Connections page, where you can add to the conversation by clicking on each question or clicking "quick reply" above the question. Remember to log in to join the conversations!
We love hearing from you and adapting our program to meet the ever-changing needs of Minnesota communities and the public health system.
Much care to you all,
shor
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Reflections and activity highlights from the regional coordinators.
Hola/Hello! I am Lil Piñero, Network Coordinator for the Metro Region. I have been at MDH since January 2022. So, why health equity? I was inspired to seek out a position promoting health equity after working on the COVID response. I witnessed how impactful inclusion and belonging can be and how relationship building can knock down barriers right before my eyes. It was a powerful experience and I wanted more of that in my world.
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During my time with the Networks, I have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people working to advance health equity efforts in their communities. One of those groups is the Dakota Child and Family Clinic. I was invited to visit the clinic and from the moment I walked in the door, I was in awe of how inclusive and welcoming the entrance was. I met a beautifully diverse staff who told me so many stories of how the communities and staff came together to help build the clinic into what it was. I learned about the ways they incorporated equity along every step of their care model. I remember thinking “this is what it is all about, this is health equity at its best in a community clinic.“ I have many organizations and local public health departments that share this passion to advance health equity where they work and where they live.
Change is not linear nor fast, but it is certainly possible. My hope is that, along with the many partners I have met, we support each other in the process of moving from occasionally viewing our work with an equity lens to a more permanent vision that includes health equity at every step.
If I haven’t met you yet, I hope to meet you. Please feel free to reach out to me. Fun fact: I LOVE Alpacas! - Lil Piñero, Metro Region Coordinator
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Regional gatherings
Regional gatherings are free and open to all. Participate in one region, or more than one! All regional gatherings below are virtual unless otherwise indicated.
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Central (virtual) Tuesday, July 9, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register: Central Regional Gathering
Northwest (Crookston, MN) Tuesday, July 9, 12 to 3 p.m. Register: Northwest Regional Gathering
Metro (virtual) Wednesday, July 17, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register: Metro Regional Gathering
Southeast (hybrid) Thursday, July 23, 12 to 2 p.m. In-person location: Rochester, MN Register: Southeast Regional Gathering
Southwest (virtual) Thursday, July 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register: Southwest Regional Gathering
Northeast (virtual) Tuesday, July 30, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register: Northeast Regional Gathering
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Request equity training and assistance
We are honored to help our network members*, local public health, Tribal public health, and other partners carry out the important work of health equity and community engagement. To request support, please complete this form: Minnesota Health Equity Networks - Training, TA, and Facilitation Request Form
- Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for our team to review and respond to your request.
- Once we review your request, our team will set up a short phone call to clarify needs, expectations, and next steps.
*Network member refers to any person or organization who has participated in Minnesota Health Equity Networks gatherings, trainings, or other opportunities. Contact the Minnesota Health Equity Networks at health.ophp@state.mn.us.
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