Minnesota Public Health Association

06/18/2026

Freedom Day is tomorrow, June 19th! This will mark its 5th anniversary. In preparation for the holiday, we have compiled a list of events taking place in the Twin Cities and online. We encourage you to take a look to find an event near you and be sure to bring someone with you to honor, reflect, and celebrate this Freedom Day!

06/10/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated a group of INCREDIBLE individuals and their contributions to public health in Minnesota. We are grateful for their work and beyond impressed by their passion and commitment to creating a healthier Minnesota. Join us in congratulating our 2026 MPHA Award Winners🥳🎉!

Kristin Moore, Albert Justus Chesley Award
Representative Robert Bierman, B. Robert Lewis Award
Tannie Eshenaur, Harvey G. Rogers Environmental Health Leadership Award
Sarah Brokenleg, Laura Waterman Wittstock Racial Justice & Health Equity Award
Jeanne Ayers, Paul and Sheila Wellstone Public Health Achievement Award
Alyssa Olson, Jasmine Koch, and Joey Dager, MPHA Student Achievement Award

For more information about the award recipients and categories, please refer to our full press release: https://mpha.net/about/media-resources/press-releases-LTE/13641438.

06/09/2026

Join the Minnesota Public Health Association on June 23, 2026 (12:00 - 1:00 PM) for our upcoming virtual webinar: From Community Engagement to Community Governance: Co-Design in Practice.

Learn how treating lived experience as a form of structural governance can reshape health equity. Our speakers will guide you through a real-world LGBTQIA+ healthcare access project in Olmsted County to show how authority can be equitably redistributed.

Featured Experts:
- Jess Roberts (ByDesign LLC)
- Holly Jones (Olmsted County Public Health)
- Atreya Madrone (RRC Polytech)

✨ Bonus Perk: Non-members who attend will receive a 20% discount on an MPHA membership after the event!

Secure your spot now: https://mpha.net/event-6704290.

06/04/2026

The MPHA Planetary Health Task Force invites you to our virtual Summer Open House on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM!

Whether you're a seasoned environmental advocate, a public health student, or simply curious about how climate change impacts community health here in Minnesota, this is the perfect space to plug in.

Come learn about our mission, explore our work, and discover how you can become an active part of our monthly initiatives!

Secure your spot and get the virtual meeting link today!
https://mpha.net/event-6716373.

06/02/2026

Join the MPHA Health Equity Committee on Thursday, June 18, at 5:30 PM for a vital virtual session titled "Food for Thought: Addressing Occupational Violence in Grocery Stores in the Saint Paul Metropolitan Area."

MPHA Intern Sunniva Berg will share impactful research conducted with UFCW 1189 on metro-area grocery workers' experiences with workplace violence. This project, completed alongside co-intern Victoria Valentina through the Occupational Health Internship Program, bridges the gap between student research and the immediate needs of workers in high-hazard roles.

Learn about the challenges facing these essential community members and how we can advocate for safer, more equitable workplaces.

Speaker: Sunniva Berg (Policy & Advocacy & Health Equity Intern).

Don't miss this important conversation!
Register today: https://mpha.net/event-6457934.

05/15/2026

Join our Health Equity Committee on May 21st at 5:30 PM for "Racial Health Equity Legal and Policy Cohort Opportunity and Successes - Network for Public Health Law".

We will also have interactive presentations on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) and American Indian Month in Minnesota, with participants sharing the names of AANHPI and American Indian public health champions. Following the presentations, there will be dedicated time for meaningful discussion, connection and networking, participant updates, and reports on committee and MPHA activities.

Register now: https://mpha.net/event-6457932.

05/12/2026

MPHA members & friends - see below for an advocacy opportunity from Protect Minnesota Wednesday, May 13 12 pm at the Capitol steps, and day of action on Thursday, May 14 10am.

Minnesota families shouldn’t have to turn grief into advocacy just to be heard. Every child deserves to come home safe — and every parent deserves peace of mind.

That’s why we’re showing up this week to demand action! Three ways for you to take action with us:

1️⃣ Resistance Sing In
Minnesota State Capitol Steps
Wednesday, May 13 at 12pm

2️⃣ Minnesota Day of Action
Minnesota State Capitol
Thursday, May 14 at 10am

*Wear red or orange and help fill the Capitol halls with a message lawmakers can’t ignore

3️⃣ Sign the Open Letter to House members
Link in bio 🔗

Because families shouldn’t have to make surviving gun violence part of their story. See you this week! 🧡🧡

04/28/2026

We are thrilled to officially launch the Immunize Minnesota website! Our coalition is dedicated to one goal: improving vaccine access and confidence for every community across our great state.

Through education, advocacy, and statewide partnerships, we’re building a future where immunity is equitable for all Minnesotans.

🔗 Explore our new home and join the movement: www.immunizemn.org

04/23/2026

✨You are invited to come celebrate with us at our 2026 Annual Business Meeting and MPHA Awards Ceremony✨!

We will highlight the organization's 2025-2026 accomplishments, meet the Governing Council, including newly elected officers, and look ahead at what's coming up in the next year. We will also celebrate the 2026 MPHA Award winners and thank their nominators🥳!

Register today: https://mpha.net/event-6669157.

04/21/2026

The Minnesota Public Health Association’s (MPHA) Leadership Committee announces the call for nominations for the MPHA Awards! This is an excellent opportunity to acknowledge the commitment and contributions of public health colleagues. We have many award categories to select from.

For detailed guidelines for each category, visit https://www.mpha.net/events/awards.

If you are nominating a colleague, please ask for their permission before submitting a nomination. The submission deadline is May 8, 2026.

Submit a nomination today: https://tinyurl.com/mpha2026-awards-nominations.