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Hennepin County > Get involved > Community engagement

Community engagement

Here to listen, engage and respond.

Hennepin County is committed to advancing community engagement to better serve our residents.

The strategy of the Outreach and Community Supports Department is to create and strengthen long-term, sustainable relationships built on trust. This strategy aligns with and supports the county's mission, vision and goals. 

If you would like us to attend your event, please email engagementservices@hennepin.us.

engagementservices@hennepin.us

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About Engagement Services

In relationships 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
  • Multijurisdictional partners including the State of Minnesota, other counties in the Twin Cities, and more than 40 cities and 20 school districts in Hennepin County

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 are here to listen, engage and respond.

Projects and initiatives

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 van

We have three vans that connect directly with residents at local events. They serve as a mobile engagement office, which helps us build relationships and engage with community. Our staff provides information about County resources and services available. We also listen to the needs and concerns of residents and bring this information back to our colleagues so that it can inform how we deliver our services to you. If you would like our staff and engagement van to attend your event, please email engagementservices@hennepin.us.

Census and redistricting

Thanks to Minnesota’s high census self-response rate of 75.1% (well above the national average of 67%), we kept all eight of our seats in Congress.

And thanks to folks in Hennepin County for being counted, our population grew by 11% from 2010 to 2020. This increase means Hennepin County will receive additional federal funds to benefit our community — funding for education, health care, housing, transportation and other vital services.

Mask distribution

Since April of 2020, the Engagement Services Division has distributed more than 1 million masks through monthly deliveries to more than 140 community organizations. Together, we worked to slow the spread of COVID-19.

If your organization needs masks, email engagementservices@hennepin.us.

Metro Blue Line Extension (BLRT) collaboration

Hennepin County is partnering with Metro Transit to develop the Blue Line Extension, which will run from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park. The extension is expected to have tens of thousands of riders. It will also encourage transit-oriented development that helps people access basic needs without depending on cars.

See project information and provide input.

Partnership activities

A pre-engagement process was designed to create a community-informed engagement framework for the Blue Line Extension in 2021 and beyond. To achieve this goal, we partnered with The Alliance/Blue Line Coalition, Harrison Neighborhood Association and Juxtaposition Arts with three short term contracts for these deliverables:

  • Update and refresh key community stakeholder list
  • Conduct 10 or more 1:1s with key community stakeholders
  • Host 3 community engagement sessions to educate engage, listen and respond
  • Conduct an online survey for community residents to undercover the issues, opportunities and recommendations for engagement
  • Completed by end of January 2021

Translations

Hennepin County is working to provide more information in Spanish, Somali, Hmong and other languages so that community members have access to our services and resources. To get Hennepin County materials in other languages, email engagementservices@hennepin.us.

Trusted Messengers program

The Trusted Messengers program launched in September 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hennepin County continues to work in partnership with trusted community members and organizations to expand the county’s capacity to listen, engage, and respond to county residents. As this program begins its fifth year, Hennepin County is building Trusted Messengers relationships into a more robust county-wide resource to enhance the county’s community engagement. 

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 organizations is focus 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:

1. 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.

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. 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.  

View the 2024 Trusted Messengers (PDF)

Flag lending library

American Indian flag lending library

Hennepin County has American Indian flags that staff and community partners can check out for events. There are different flags, each representing a different tribes, tribal governments, and American Indian communities.

Types of events and appropriate uses: 

  • Official public programming and ceremonies
  • Tribal events
  • Graduations 
  • To represent a tribal member and bring representation

Process

If you’re interested in checking out a flag or multiple flags, please fill out the form below.
 
We are working on building sustainable relationships with community members and tribal leaders, with a goal of adding additional flags to the lending library as those relationships develop.

Flag lending library form

Protocol

These flags are loaned with the expectation that they will be treated with the same respect as national and state flags, and should follow the protocol: 

  • The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. 
  • It should be displayed free flowing of any contact.
  • The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

Flags will be located at the Hennepin County Franklin Library, 1314 E. Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55404. 

Healing Circles and Wellness panel discussions

Overview

Outreach and Community Supports began hosting healing circles/wellness sessions in 2021 in support of Hennepin County’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis, and to address the hurt and trauma caused by the murder of George Floyd and the civil unrest that followed.

Healing circles and wellness panels are a cost-effective, critical strategy to connect with community and is one tangible action we can take in support of Hennepin County’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis. Our intention is to offer them on a regular basis for the health and wellbeing of our community, not only during crisis. Our team is committed to establishing ongoing relationships with experienced, individual healers who are embedded in the community and use their lived experiences, expertise, and training to provide a welcoming, brave space for participants to express themselves. We cannot overstate the impact these events have had on all of us, particularly our Black, Indigenous and communities of color.

Upcoming events

All planned events for 2023 have been completed. Stay tuned for more in 2024.

Past events

2023

  • Embracing Our Shadow, focused on the Latinx community
  • Collective Restoration Freedom Series, focused on Black Boys and Men
  • Cuerpx Estampa Workshop for young Latinas/o/x
  • Towards a Healing Journey through Sound Bath, focused on Asian American community
  • Energy Healing Workshop, Awaken*Restore*Ascend, focused on American Indian community
  • National Day of Racial Healing community event

  2022

  • Healing Circle for Our Community, In Celebration of Latino Heritage Month
  • Juneteenth Liberation Celebration: An intergenerational event for Black men of all ages
  • In Celebration of Asian American Heritage Month and Minnesota American Indian Month

Community healer biographies

Thomas "TC" Collins

TC is a community activist, social justice advocate, and wellness enthusiast with 10+ years of community engagement experience. He’s the owner of Mind, Body, Spirit Wholistic Fitness, LCC dedicated to providing alternative holistic healing methods to disenfranchised communities. Born in Oceanside, California he’s worked as a motivational speaker working across the country to shift the mental paradigms of adolescents of color. As a certified yoga and fitness instructor he uses wellness as a tool to uplift those who are oppressed by providing them with the resources they need to heal themselves and transform the world around them. TC works part time at YouthLink as a Youth Advocate, Mentor, and Community Coordinator. He’s a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he studied Psychology and became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. As a former collegiate athlete, TC is passionate about teaching mindfulness to young men and providing them with the tools to connect deeper to themselves in mind, body, and spirit.

Kendrick Walton

Kendrick is a Restorative Justice Specialist with Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc. Previously, he served as an educator in Minneapolis Public Schools and coached high school debate. Kendrick has a deep passion for restorative practices in education and a significant portion of his role is dedicated to cultivating a space that is healing-focused, anti-racist, and forward-thinking. Some of the services he offers include facilitation of restorative circles, conflict mediation, community building, and professional development.

Shelly Belgarde

Shelly Marie Belgarde ‘Hante Blaska Wiyan’- Flat Cedar Woman, an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes: Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara, a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Shelly is a Golden Ray Twin Flame, Wisdom Keeper, and Energy Healer. She has studied many ancient traditional healing modalities over the past decade. She is currently finishing up her Masters in Holistic Health Studies at St. Catherine’s University. Shelly has a passion for transmuting trauma and helping others find their healer within. She lives to shine loving light onto others. She awoke so others may awaken.

Nancy Rocha

Nancy Rocha (she/her/hers) is a descendent of the Mexica people. She is a seeker of knowledge, a student, teacher, leader and an apprentice. Nancy draws from the tradition of Curanderismo or Medicina Ancestral, which incorporates medicine from Mexica, European and African lineages.

Susana De León

Susana De León she/her/hers) is a Mexican, Indigenous, medicine cultural teacher and immigration attorney. She has been a cultural guide at the service of the Xican@, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities for over 25 years. In her practice, Susana teaches participants how to ground themselves in culture, combining body, mind and spirit for self and community healing.

Nancy Bourdeaux

Nancy Bordeaux is a Lakota from Rosebud South Dakota. Nancy has worked in the Minneapolis and St. Paul community for 20 years. Nancy is Executive Director of Tawacin Tanka Nonprofit. Nancy has 12 years of historical trauma and healing lifeways experience as a trainer. Nancy is a certified Focusing Oriented and Complex Trauma practitioner. Nancy’s work is based on the core values and time-honored traditions of self-healing and holistic healing modalities.

Renee Butters

Renee Butters ‘Awanishbaasinookwe’, owner and founder of She Heals Noojimo Noojimo’iwe, is an Indigenous Healing Practitioner, Teacher, and a skilled facilitator of community self-healing ceremonies and circles. She is descendant of the Ojibwe Snake Clan, and citizen of The White Earth Nation. She is certified in several different healing modalities and uses cultural, holistic, and hands on approaches to teach others how to reclaim their most powerful healer, the healer within. www.shehealsnoojimo.com

Julie Vang

Julie Vang is a spiritual healer, conscious business coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and the creator of Im Soul Ready LLC. She comes from a long ancestral lineage of shamans, healers, and entrepreneurs. After burning out from 10+ years of political and community organizing, Julie leaned into deep inner healing and spiritual work to rise beyond the oppressive systems. She's on a soul mission to help you grieve to embody New Earth leadership, wealth, pleasure, and impact.

Seng Xiong

Seng (they/she/he) currently serves as the Queer Justice Coordinator at Transforming Generations. They oversee the LGBTQ+ drop-in support group that has been going on since the height of the pandemic last year. As well, Seng has collaborated on various communal gatherings over the past couple of years that offer healing through storytelling, mindfulness, and holistic wellness.

Xay Yang

Xay Yang (she/her) currently serves as the Queer Justice Director and Mental Health therapist at Transforming Generations, a non-profit organization focused on ending gender-based violence with a focus on the Hmong community. Xay is a clinical social worker by trade and has been providing mental health support for over six years. She has also been organizing in communities and working with victims/survivors for 10 years. Xay has co-facilitated various circles locally and nationally focused on healing and storytelling for the last three years.

Land and Water Acknowledgement

Land and Water Acknowledgement

On November 1, 2022, at the Hennepin County Board Meeting, the commissioners read and adopted the Land and Water Acknowledgment for Hennepin County, historically marking the first Land and Water Acknowledgment read at a Hennepin County board meeting. The acknowledgment signifies a commitment to partnership along with actionable steps towards education, reconciliation, and stronger support of the American Indian community through county resources.

A toolkit with resource links, educational lessons and more information on how staff can use the Land and Water Acknowledgement will be coming soon.

  • Land and Water Acknowledgement (PDF, 1MB)
  • Land and Water Acknowledgement with phonetics (PDF, 1MB)
  • Board Resolution (PDF, 1MB)
  • Watch the event video (YouTube)
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