A rare cougar was spotted by a trail cam in Voyageurs National Park. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3YOglwx
From tools to medical equipment to shoe covers, the University of Minnesota is turning to an online auction to find new homes for unneeded items. READ: https://fluence-media.co/40tTRlK
Happy 40th to TPT’s “Almanac.”
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Have a great weekend.
Blois
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Flint Hills Resources makes fuels and other products people need and use every day, products that help keep Minnesota moving. The company does this while prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship and contributing meaningfully to the community. STEWARDSHIP WITH A PURPOSE: Four pillars of stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
HALLOWEEN: From Becky Z. Dernbach via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “As students filed into Annie Connor’s third-hour class at Andersen United Middle School, she offered them directions in Spanish: ‘Encuentra tu calabaza!’ Find your pumpkin! The sixth- to eighth-grade students, all of whom have been in the country for less than a year, had spent their first seven weeks in Connor’s class learning the basics of American middle school. Now, they were beginning their first project. Each student would paint a pumpkin, and deliver it, with a card of appreciation to a school staffer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hsRTYO
HISTORY: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “A nonprofit organization that currently owns the nearly 130-year-old home of Prince Honeycutt, the first Black resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, says an anonymous donor has stepped up to pay a city assessment that put the home in jeopardy. Freed slave Prince Honeycutt built the home, located on East Summit Avenue in Fergus Falls, in 1885 after becoming the first African American to live in the town. In addition to opening a barbershop, Honeycutt is also believed to be the first Black baseball player in Minnesota, and the first Black mayoral candidate in the state.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40ovKVv
HOUSING: From Emily Haugen via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, a nonprofit in Plymouth, hosted its ‘Community Connect Day’ to educate neighbors about housing instability. David Hewitt, Hennepin County’s housing stability director, spoke to a roomful of people about how the county addresses the issue — a problem he said not every county takes on.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3NL5sFr
REFUGEES: Via Park Bugle, VERBATIM: “Spurred by volunteers seeking more opportunities to welcome refugees to the Twin Cities, the International Institute of Minnesota’s Immigration and Refugee Services last May launched a pilot mentoring program. The initiative began with a refugee family of seven. Now, the nonprofit Institute is gearing up to dramatically increase the pilot program called Side by Side. At a breakfast meeting on Oct. 4, institute officials unveiled plans to beef up their volunteer corps by tapping into community and faith-based groups to expand the Step by Step program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48vfeF0
MEDIA BRIDGE: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “Media Bridge today announced that it is leading a comprehensive rebranding effort for Minneapolis-based nonprofit People Serving People. This is the first project under the agency’s new ‘Create It Forward’ initiative, which gives local nonprofits pro bono access to high-end creative services. The rebrand will include a new vision and mission and updated visual and verbal branding, plus a comprehensive design system and brand style guide. The organization’s name will remain the same.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AnqiYa
FUNDING: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Applications are open for Iron Range nonprofits whose missions align with the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota. That United Way chapter serves the Iron Range, as well as Koochiching and Lake of the Woods Counties.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3AjS5ZG
BUCKTHORN: From Conservation Minnesota via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Great job to the volunteers who helped pull Buckthorn in Rockville County Park near St. Cloud this past weekend. Thanks to Community Steward Jackson, who helped coordinate with the Stearns County Parks Department. Harvesting buckthorn will allow native species, like the prickly pear cactus to thrive.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Aouffd
SUSTAINABILITY: From Kate O’Neil via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is known as one of the most eco-friendly states nationwide—from having one of the highest recycling rates to boasting one of the most bike and pedestrian-friendly cities, Minnesota is a haven for the environmentally cautious. Whether traveling in or to the state or looking to incorporate more green practices into your daily routine, you’re sure to find a plethora of activities, eateries, and programs that prioritize a sustainable future for our great state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48sdInh
ECOLAB: From St. Paul-based Ecolab via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Ecolab Inc., a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life, today announced that its climate targets have been approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the gold standard for climate target verification. The validation encompasses Ecolab’s near- and long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets and bolsters the company’s track record in its journey to achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e8bElt
DAYTON: From Allison Kaplan via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Eric Dayton, retail and restaurant founder and environmental champion of the ‘Keep the North Cold’ movement, has been unusually quiet since closing his James Beard award-winning restaurant Bachelor Farmer and Marvel Bar in 2020 and slowly sunsetting winter outerwear company Askov Finlayson. Now he’s ready to talk about his next career chapter. Today, Dayton officially steps out in his new role as tech founder to announce that his sustainability management platform, Cold, has raised $2.65 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by York IE of New Hampshire with participation from Oakland-based Better Ventures and several high-profile business leaders including Doug Baker, former Ecolab CEO; Archie Black, former CEO of SPS Commerce; and Target’s former chief marketing officer Michael Francis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YJsO4y
HUNGER: Via General Mills, VERBATIM: “We believe every individual, family and community should be food secure and free from hunger. Together, with our nonprofit partners, we’re at work every day to ensure those in need have reliable and equitable access to food. In Minnesota, one of our longest-standing partners, Second Harvest Heartland, is helping to advance this mission. General Mills’ support of Second Harvest Heartland dates back to 1984 when the company donated 100,000 pounds of food to the St. Paul Food Bank. The St. Paul Food Bank and the Minneapolis Food Bank later merged in 2001 to become Second Harvest Heartland as it is today. Nearly 40 years later, General Mills continues to be one of the organization’s top corporate giving partners.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YsXh5t
FMSC: From Coon Rapids-based FMSC via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is pleased to announce the selection of Jonathan (J.J.) Slag as its next executive director and CEO. J.J. will officially assume the role January 6, 2025. He will succeed longtime CEO Mark Crea, who will retire in April after 21 years of transformative leadership.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UAsIcT
HALLOWEEN: From Delane Cleveland via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Halloween came early for a group of students at Champlin Park High School this week. It was a gathering that was all about inclusion.” QUOTE: “I think that this event is great for all of our students, whether they have a disability or whether they don’t,” said Maia Miller, Champlin Park’s Unified advisor. “It’s a really great way for us to come together over something that they all love, which is candy and trick or treating.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ftiDX8
DELUXE: From Minneapolis-based Deluxe via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Data company, announced today that nine nonprofit organizations nationwide have been awarded grants from the Deluxe Corporation Foundation, following the company’s first-ever ERG-led grant selection process. Each nonprofit, aligned with the mission of one of the Deluxe Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), will receive a $25,000 grant to advance initiatives that address critical needs within their communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f8WQo0