Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 16
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we celebrate a man who continues to inspire us to build a just and equitable society. We must continue to build the world Dr. King envisioned – one where all kids can grow up with opportunity and equality. Here in Minnesota, groups from Minneapolis to Duluth, are celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here are just some of the events.
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Drone Resources brown bag
Are you interested in using drones in your work? Are you curious about analytical applications of the drone data? Please join members of the Drone Resource Team as they discuss the current (and potential!) MPCA drone fleet, capabilities, and applications to agency work. Members of the team will be available to answer any of your drone related question.The Drone Resource Team will be soon accepting project proposals for 2023.
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Reminder: W2s and net pay changes are now available
You can now access your W2s and information on net pay changes for 2023 in the self-service portal under employee announcements.
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Intercultural Competency Professional Development Program
As part of MPCA's Intercultural Competency Professional Development Program, all agency employees will need to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). The IDI is a cross-culturally valid tool that measures how an individual experiences cultural differences and similarities. Results, which will be kept confidential, are primarily useful as they relate to intercultural encounters — a measure of how you currently experience cultural difference and how you can increase your capacity to experience cultural difference from a more complex perspective. Read more on the Lorax.
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IDI group debrief
All supervisors, managers, & senior leaders who have completed their Intercultural Development Inventory assessment are *required to attend an IDI Group Debrief session prior to meeting with an IDI qualified administrator and receiving their results. The group debrief is designed to walk you through what the IDI is, why we use it, and what cultural competency and the IDI Continuum are all about. The group debrief will ultimately prepare you for receiving your individual debrief with an MPCA qualified administrator.
IDI group debrief session #1, Wednesday, January 25, 1-2:30 p.m. Join Teams meeting.
*Important: For those of you who have taken the IDI and had an individual debrief with a QA within the past year, you are welcome to but not required to take the IDI assessment. You must email your IDI results and Individual Development Plan to DEI Consultant, Riley Spielman, if you are not taking the IDI this round. Please put "Confidential” in the email subject line.
Innovation Week opens next week: January 17-20
This year, Innovation Week will be packed with exciting events right from the opening curtain! The events of Innovation Week spotlight the ideas that have been selected in the past and the resulting successes. The show stars staff, from across the agency, joining us to talk about their experiences with the innovation process. This year the Innovation 101 “playbill” will be offered three times and is a great place to explore the definitions of Innovation at the MPCA. Make sure to add all of the exciting events to your calendar.
2023 Innovation will focus on an open campaign, where all ideas a welcome! To share your great ideas and participate in the 2023 Innovative Campaign, register your state email address or log in to our IdeaScale platform. Check out the schedule on the Lorax.
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MPCA seeks applicants for its environmental justice advisory group
MPCA is encouraging members from diverse and underrepresented communities to apply for the agency’s environmental justice advisory group, a cohort of individuals from across Minnesota who advise the agency on matters related to environmental justice.
The MPCA has been working for over a decade to advance these principles and develop strategies to reduce pollution and health disparities in communities most at-risk, including Black, Indigenous, low-income, and communities of color. Application information is available on the MPCA’s environmental justice webpage. The deadline to apply is Monday, Feb. 13.
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January’s Equity Experience events
Equity Experience events offer a variety of ways to “experience” equity, so we can hold ourselves accountable to learning, growing, and engaging with this important work and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In order to receive an IDEA credit for attending an Equity Experience event, you will be required to report what you learned, thought, experienced, etc. to your team, so that there will be accountability and shared learning. Check out the event list on The Lorax.
Water Issues Seminar: Roadsides as habitat for pollinators: a great opportunity or salty death traps?
Thursday, January 12, 9-10 a.m.
Roadsides are increasingly being targeted for restoration with native prairie vegetation to benefit declining pollinators. However, road runoff contains salts and heavy metals which can be toxic to insects feeding on roadside plants. Emily Snell-Rood of the University of Minnesota will talk about research that shows such environments look promising for pollinators and suggest that only the most traffic dense roads, and plants next to the roadside, are toxic for pollinators.
Join Teams meeting.
Courageous Conversation: Celebrating the REAL MLK Day
Thursday, January 12, 1-2 p.m.
In 2018, Still Processing recorded Podcast episode commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death: "While MLK’s birthday is celebrated on a national level, we spend time processing why his death holds a significant importance as well. We examine the months leading up to MLK Jr.’s death, including his iconic speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” and discuss the ways in which his ideals shifted after his “I Had A Dream” speech. MLK day is a celebration of King’s birthday, and we suggest that maybe what we should really be marking is the day of his assassination." Join your colleagues via Teams in a Courageous Conversation to discuss the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. More information on the Lorax.
Join Teams meeting.
As long as grass grows: The Indigenous fight for environmental justice, from colonization to Standing Rock
Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The Equity Committee is inviting all staff to participate in an important discussion featuring the book, As long as grassgrows: The Indigenous fight for environmental justice, from colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker. If you need assistance finding the book, please contact leslie.hunter-larson@state.mn.us. This event is eligible for one IDEA credit. MPCA-sponsored event. No registration required. Anyone interested should read the book before we meet to discuss!
Join Teams meeting
Discover what you do best
Thursday, January 19, 2023: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Did you know that people who have the opportunity to do what they do best every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general? Research has shown that working more from your innate strengths increases not only productivity and effectiveness for the organization, but personal job satisfaction as well. This Webex session will use the VIA Character Strengths Survey along with other tools to help you identify what you do best. There is a little pre-work for this session to get the most out of it, so please RSVP as soon as possible and be ready for a fascinating session. If you have questions, please reach out to Rachel Parlin.
Join Webex meeting.
8 Hour HAZWOPER Refresher classes
This course is required for staff who respond to hazardous substances released in the environment. The course satisfies the OSHA requirements for uncontrolled hazardous waste operations, response, and management. The course will cover the levels of PPE, toxicology, chemical safety, and managing an incident. Sign up through ELM. A minimum of eight attendees is required to hold each class. Below are upcoming classes.
R32PCASAF002-091 In-person – St. Paul February 9, 2023
R32PCASAF002-092 In-person – St. Paul March 15, 2023
R32PCASAF002-093 In-person – St. Paul April 6, 2023
R32PCASAF002-090V Virtual May 31, 2023
Join the IDEA Credit Book Club!
Tuesday, February 28, 2-3:30 p.m. first discussion
Join Carolyn Kammeyer (she/her), recruitment & retention consultant, and Riley Spielman (they/them), diversity consultant, throughout 2023 for the IDEA Credit Book Club! We will read four books throughout the year. Our first book to kick things off is a non fiction work by Sabrina Strings, Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. The first discussion will take place Tuesday, February 28, 2-3:30 p.m. Find out more on the Lorax calendar.
Air quality warning issued for central and northwestern Minnesota
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for central and northwestern Minnesota, which includes the Twin Cities metro area. The warning went into effect at 10 a.m. Monday, January 9 and will expire at 12 p.m. Tuesday, January 10. — localtoday.news
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Last week in social media at the MPCA!
Haze in January?!  Our meteorologist Matt Taraldsen weighed in.
"This is the first time we have ever seen winter stagnation conditions, which causes red AQI. Stagnation happens when light winds extend upwards into the atmosphere for several thousand feet. These light winds prevent pollution dispersion. This stagnation episode has been exasperated by the recent, very heavy snow."
The air quality alert has been extended through tomorrow (Wednesday) until 6 pm for the metro and NW portions of the state. Some areas are now red, a level considered unhealthy for everyone. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3X0rveh
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