Community Solutions Advisory Council seeks additional members
Application process has re-opened until spots are filled
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reopened the application process for the Community Solutions Advisory Council as it seeks an additional three members to meet statutory requirements. To ensure the council’s diversity, MDH seeks applicants who identify as American Indian, Latino, and/or African heritage.
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Guiding MDH in developing the request for proposals for Community Solutions for Healthy Child Development Grants while considering how the grants can build on communities’ capacities to promote child and family well-being.
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Reviewing applications for Community Solutions for Healthy Child Development Grants and making recommendations to MDH about which applicants should be funded.
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Collaborating with MDH to create a transparent and objective accountability and evaluation process focused on the outcomes of community solutions for healthy child development grantees are working to achieve.
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Advising MDH on ongoing oversight of the Community Solutions for Healthy Child Development Grant program.
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Supporting MDH on other racial equity and early childhood grant efforts, as appropriate.
MDH Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham recently appointed new members to the council. According to state statute, the council must consist of 13 members who provide representation from the following communities: Black Minnesotans of African heritage; Latino Minnesotans; Asian-Pacific Minnesotans; the American Indian community; parents of children under the age of eight years at the time of the appointment; and residents outside the seven-county metropolitan area. The council must also include at least one member with research or academic expertise in racial equity and healthy child development, as well as representation from organizations with expertise in advocacy on behalf of communities of color and Indigenous communities in areas related to the grant program. Current members include:
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Betty Emarita represents African heritage communities and is the founder and president of Development and Training Resources
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Gevonee Ford represents African heritage communities and is the founder and executive director of Network for the Development of Children of African Descent
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Jennifer Greenleaf represents American Indian communities and is a program lead at the Northwest Indian Community Development Center
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Lora Horgen represents American Indian communities and parents of children under the age of 8 years and is the director of communications for the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota
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May Losloso represents Asian-Pacific communities and parents of children under the age of 8 years and is the community engagement director for Children’s Defense Fund – Minnesota
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Aida Mejia-Fergen represents parents of children under the age of 8 years, has research or academic expertise in racial equity and healthy child development, and is a senior development officer for Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)
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Kalthoum Mohamed represents African heritage communities and is a community health worker for Nicollet County Health and Human Services
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Dr. Ruby Nguyen represents Asian-Pacific communities and is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health
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Alexandra Rodriguez represents Latino communities and parents of children under the age of 8 years and is a family responder at Nexus Family Healing
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Sai Thao represents Asian-Pacific communities and supports the Hmong Early Childhood Coalition
These appointments are effective through July 1, 2027.
Applying for council membership is a two-step process. To assure consideration, interested applicants should first complete an electronic application through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s (MNSOS) Boards and Commissions Open Positions portal.
For more information, please contact Ibrahim Dirie, policy and systems change planner in the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division, at Ibrahim.dirie@state.mn.us.
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