Behind the Scenes: Meet the AmeriCorps Members Serving at the Minneapolis Health Department

Bri Kiehle: Maternal Child and Adolescent Health

Bri serves as an AmeriCorps Public Health Project Coordinator. She has supported key initiatives like the Child-Friendly Cities Initiatives, STI Testing Week and efforts to improve doula access and reimbursement. Bri was drawn to the opportunity to make a difference while gaining hands-on public health experience.

"I think the biggest thing for me is the number of people that I've met.... It's been really good to just get to know other Minnesotans that are in the same field and are interested in the same things as me."

During her service, Bri has built strong connections with professionals across the city and contributed to projects supporting youth, maternal health and community wellness. This experience has developed her passion for public service and helped her realize the importance of working directly with people in her future career.

Cordelia Anderson: Green Careers Exploration Program

Cordelia serves as an AmeriCorps Climate Impact Project Coordinator. Their work focuses on youth engagement, including introducing an urban agriculture class for the Girls in Engineering, Mathematics, and Science (GEMS), Guys in Science and Engineering (GISE), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Academy programs that expand green career exploration opportunities to Minneapolis public schools.

“Creating pathways into public health and public service are so important, and this role has allowed me to help others gain that experience.”

Cordelia has developed valuable professional skills, from collaborating with community partners to navigating office environments through their service in the program. This experience has reinforced their commitment to a career in sustainability, and they recommend AmeriCorps for anybody seeking valuable work experience.

Giselle Martinez-Izea: Workforce Management

Giselle serves as an AmeriCorps Public Health Project Coordinator. She helps implement the Public Health Pathways Program, an internship initiative for students and those new to public health. Giselle also supports research on health equity zones to improve community health access.

“Public health is in everything we do, and the more I work here, the more I see its impact.”

With a background in sociology and political science, Giselle saw AmeriCorps as a way to apply her skills while gaining hands-on experience. This role has helped her develop leadership skills, oversee program implementation, and build connections in public health. It has also deepened her understanding of public health’s broad impact, from policy to community engagement.

Katie Meenan: Green Careers Exploration Program

Katie has been supporting the Green Careers Exploration Program, which provides free, low-barrier training in climate-adaptive fields like tree planting and solar energy. With a focus on outreach and strengthening community partnerships, Katie has helped expand access to green career pathways while supporting community-led programs.

“One of the best parts of my service is being able to work with community partners and let them take the lead on putting together the things they want to see in their communities.”

Their background in environmental geography and passion for the intersection of public health and climate made AmeriCorps’ Climate Impact Corps a natural fit. Through this role, they’ve built lasting relationships with local organizers and gained a deeper understanding of the public service opportunities that exist in Minneapolis.

Mary Nystrom: Communications

Mary supports the department’s Communications team, where she creates health-related social media content, newsletters, and outreach materials, helping inform the community about important public health initiatives.

She also collaborates with different teams to develop clear, engaging messages to ensure residents have the information they need to make informed health decisions. She finds value in her work, noting that making public health communication accessible is key to reaching various audiences.

“This role has shown me that communication is one of the most important things in public health. Making information accessible to all is the first step in getting people the healthcare they need.”

Mary chose to serve with the Public Health Corps to get an introduction to the public health field before pursuing her Master of Public Health. Her experience at the Health Department has taught her about the public health workforce and how to make a positive impact on a diverse community. She has also loved connecting with and learning from the staff, crediting much of her new knowledge to their guidance and support.

Sadia Sheikh: Healthy Living

Sadia serves as a Public Health Coordinator, where she plays a key role in managing the Tap Water Ambassador program. She coordinates outreach, research, communications, and educational activities to increase awareness of the safety and quality of Minneapolis tap water. With a background in community health work and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), she is passionate about bridging public health and healthcare access. 

“Health education is really important to me because there’s a lot of misinformation and just educating people on simple things—like how to talk to their doctor and advocate for themselves—can make a big difference.”

Through her work, she has helped expand community health initiatives, including lactation resources for community clinics, and culturally relevant nutrition programs. She finds fulfillment in seeing the real impact of her efforts, from policy changes to community outreach that reaches thousands.

Simon Dugan-Seaver: Epidemiology

Simon supports the department’s Epidemiology Research and Evaluation team. He plays a key role in the Community Health Assessment, analyzing data on health indicators like asthma and opioid overdose rates. Simon also helps with community outreach by presenting the data and answering questions. Simon appreciates the hands-on experience in public health research, where he’s able to bridge the gap between complex data and real-world applications.

“I really enjoy explaining data to people and making it accessible. It’s rewarding to see how my work directly helps the community.”

Through his service, Simon has gained valuable skills, including presenting research to public health advisory committees, and deepened his passion for local public health work. His efforts have helped the team manage important projects while directly benefiting the community.