Community engagement

In relationship with others, we engage with humility, listen intentionally and problem-solve together.

Our internal and external work centers around community through thoughtful, strategic engagement. We do this work with heart and intention with:

• Residents
• Clients
• Community organizations
• Faith groups
• Contracted providers
• Agency partners

Priority populations

Our engagement work is focused on the following priority populations:

• African American
• African immigrant
• Asian Pacific Islander/Hmong
• Latino/Latinx
• Native American
• People experiencing homelessness
• Youth
• Older adults
• Rural residents
• Disability community
• LGBTQIA community

We work with our community partners, school districts, Hennepin County cities and other government agencies to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives here.

Hennepin engagement vans

Our three mobile engagement vans bring County resources and services to residents at local cultural festivals and community events. We build relationships and foster engagement with the community by listening to residents’ needs and concerns. The insight we gather helps us refine and improve our services to better support the community.

If you would like our staff and engagement van to attend your event, please email engagementservices@hennepin.us. 

Opioid response

We support the county's work to reduce and eliminate opioid disparities in the American Indian and African American community. Our cultural liaisons assist in direct community engagement with residents. They organize, partner, and collaborate with 17 programs and metro hospitals who provide direct services to residents who are struggling with opioid abuse. Through community engagement, we believe disparities, barriers, and deaths among these community can be reduced and eliminated.

The Trusted Messengers program is a unique partnership built on trust and provides an opportunity for long-term sustainable relationships with community partners. Trusted Messengers represent the diverse cultural groups and geographic areas in Hennepin County that have experienced the starkest disparities. The most effective messengers are experts and trusted leaders in their communities. This program aligns with and supports the Hennepin County’s mission, vision, and core values, and prioritizes disparity reduction and climate action work. 

The Trusted Messengers are focused on prioritizing communities impacted by racial disparities and social determinants of health (personal, social, economic, and environmental factors). The aim is to address the root causes of racial and health disparities fostering more equitable conditions, improving mental well-being, and outcomes in communities affected by these issues. 

Trusted Messengers have four guiding principal roles:

Consultant

Participate in focus conversation meetings and other means of communication to provide feedback, address disparities, gaps, and serve as an advisory role or subject matter expert on Hennepin County departments project and initiatives.

Communicator (two-way communication)

One of the most important aspects of the Trusted Messengers program is that it has established two-way communication between the county and the community. 

Convener

Trusted Messengers build bridges between community and Hennepin County staff regarding programs, services, and solving problems. Trusted Messengers are positioned to break-down barriers, mistrust, and misinformation regarding county services. 

Connector

Trusted Messengers be the bridge and help community members connect to resources, for example, health care, employment, food, housing, childcare, and legal services etc.

2025 Trusted Messengers