Building Bridges to create Healthier Communities


Local Public Health Heroes 2025


Local Public Health Hero Award nomination form

Your (nominator's) information:


Phone

Nominee's information:

Phone
Nominee is a (an):*
Has the nominee ever received a Local Public Health Hero award?*

Purpose


The Minneapolis Health Department (MHD) recognizes the critical role community partners fulfill in making Minneapolis a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play. Celebrating and acknowledging Local Public Health Heroes is an opportunity to recognize some of the extraordinary work that has been done in the last year. The theme for National Public Week 2025 is Building Bridges to Create Healthier Communities.


Vision

Healthy lives, health equity, and healthy environments are the foundations of a vibrant Minneapolis now and into the future.


Process

•    Submit your nomination(s) for Local Public Health Hero awards by filling out this nomination form. Submissions are due Wednesday, March 19 by 5 p.m.; winners will be notified by Monday, March 31 by 5 p.m.


Outcomes

•    Awards will be presented at a celebration on Wednesday, April 9 in the Public Service Building, Room 100, 505 S. 4th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415. The celebration will begin with a Resource Fair at 11 a.m. and the award presentation at 12 p.m. A free light lunch is provided.

•    Local Public Health Heroes are selected by a review team based on alignment with Health Department’s goals; see goals noted below.


Eligibility and Guidelines

•    Nominate individuals, teams, collaborations, or organizations whose work on policy change, programs, services, or other efforts enhance or further public health in Minneapolis.

•    Nominations are evaluated on these criteria: (1) work aligns with a Health Department goal; (2) work advances or addresses health equity; (3) public health impact on population served; (4) innovation or sustainability of the program/initiative; (5) centering community voices in the program or initiative; and (6) organizational focus on creating and sustaining a diverse workforce.


Select one highlighted item based on the descriptions below:*

A Healthy Start to Life and Learning, Thriving Youth and Young Adults                

    Strengthen systems of care, policies, and partnerships that support pregnant and parenting families

    Strengthen systems for positive early childhood development

    Invest in activities that promote and improve the healthy development and well-being of youth

    Reduce unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among youth and young adults


A Resilient Urban Public Health Infrastructure

    Ensure residents who lack health insurance have access to health care services and assistance

    Increase emergency preparedness capacity on the neighborhood, community, or business level

    Improve population and environmental health through research and program evaluation, and policy development and implementation

    Strengthen and sustain a skilled, engaged, and diverse workforce


Substance Use and Opioid Response

    Create lasting change through immediate responses, long-term strategies, and policy change

    Increase understanding of the dangers of opioids, reduce harm, and actively tackle stigma

    Foster connections between individuals and communities and meet people where they are at

    Connect to culturally specific treatment programs and resources


Healthy Living and Healthy Food Systems

    Advocate for policy changes that reduce risk factors and support healthy lifestyles

    Create opportunities for everyone to have access to enough healthy food, be physically active, live commercial tobacco free, and access high quality health care

    Expand our community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat, and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown food


Safe Places to Eat, Swim, and Stay

    Engage the community and business owners to provide education, consultation, resources, and training

    Reduce the risk of disease and injury from food businesses, lodging, accommodations, pools, body art, tanning and laundry services


Sustainability, Healthy Homes, and Environment

    Community outreach and education on the connection between health and the environment

    Develop policies and organizational practices that support a clean, healthy, natural environment

    Monitor and reduce environmental hazards, nuisances, and pollution

    Prepare for and reduce the impacts of climate change focusing on environmental justice as a priority

    Reduce lead hazards, asthma triggers, and home safety hazards


Health Equity

    Build on our urban community’s cultural diversity, wisdom, strengths, and resilience; center the community’s voice; and connect people and resources

    Cultivate an understanding that health is influenced by social and environmental conditions and includes physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing

    Apply a health equity lens in all work, focusing resources and efforts so that all people can reach their full health potential


a)    Describe the individual, team, collaboration, or organization and their public health-related projects or activities.

b)    What is their relationship to the Minneapolis Health Department? Describe the history of that relationship. (Note: The award evaluation committee may not be familiar with the work of the nominee. Please be as specific and detailed as possible.)


a)    Describe the population served, the public health impact on this population by the individual/organization, and the ways the program is connected to the community.

b)    In what ways has the individual or organization exemplified the selected Health Department goal area?

c)    How has their work addressed health equity?

d)    Describe the innovation and/or sustainability of the program/initiative.

e)    Is there a focus on a diverse workforce particularly in leadership, (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQ+ owned/operated)?

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact the Minneapolis Health Department at 612-673-2301 or health@minneapolismn.gov.


People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000.


TTY users call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.


Para asistencia 612-673-2700


Rau kev pab 612-673-2800


Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500


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