Events

Cumulative Impacts & Public Health: Info Session & Social Hour

Register below for an evening of learning, advocacy, and connection!

When: Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 6:30–8:00 p.m. Central

Where: Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team Office Location | 624 E 1st St in Duluth, MN 55805 | Second floor | Room 201. 

Who: Duluth area community members, healthcare and public health professionals, environmental advocates, and anyone else interested in learning about cumulative impacts policy. Hosted by Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate with the Frontline Communities Protection Coalition and Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Venue graciously provided by the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team.

About the event:
How does environmental pollution impact your health — and what can health professionals and community members do about it? Explore Minnesota’s Cumulative Impacts Law, which requires the MN Pollution Control Agency to assess the cumulative effects of pollution in Environmental Justice communities when issuing air permits. 

You’ll learn about and be able to take action on:

• The links between air pollution and your health.
• How community members and health workers can engage in the cumulative impacts rulemaking process to push for stronger policies that safeguard community health.
• Community concerns — share the environmental justice issues you’re seeing in your neighborhood or in your healthcare or public health practice.

After the short presentation, engage with a network of community members and health workers. This is a great opportunity to make connections, discuss local environmental health challenges, and explore ways to take action.

Helpful to know: FREE nourishing food and beverages and a kid’s area with child-friendly activities will be provided. Transportation support is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Register here

Protecting public health from false climate solutions

Join Kathleen Schuler, MPH and the Tamarack Water Alliance for a conversation about how fossil fuel companies are promoting an array of technological and market-based solutions to the climate crisis. We can evaluate these “solutions” by asking: Who benefits? What is the amount of greenhouse gases reduced? Are there better alternatives? Is it part of our zero emissions future? And, are there external harms to air, water, land and human health? While there are many false solutions being proposed, this presentation will specifically cover: low carbon fuel standards, carbon capture and storage, bioenergy, waste incineration and mining as false climate solutions for Minnesota.

Health professionals at Zero Waste Lobby Day

Join HPHC and your fellow health professionals at the Minnesota Zero Waste Coalition’s Lobby Day & Rally at the Minnesota State Capitol. Help advocate for zero waste policies that protect health like a stronger electronics recycling program, single-use plastic bans, increased transparency about phthalates (plastic chemicals) in packaged foods, the removal of the state ban on local plastic bag bans, and more!

2024 Code Blue for Patient Earth Conference: Weathering uncertainty

Join Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate (HPHC), Advocates for Better Health (ABH), Minnesota Doctors for Health Equity (MDHEQ), the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, and community leaders for an immersive continuing education conference — Code Blue for Patient Earth focused on “weathering the uncertainty” of climate change together.

Code Blue 2024 will bring together more than 100 health professionals and frontline experts from environmental justice, mental health, nursing, pharmacy, physician, public health, social work, veterinary, and dentistry communities.

Climate Convo | Health voices heard: The health equity & cumulative impacts connection

In 2023, Minnesota passed a crucial environmental justice law, dubbed the ‘cumulative impacts law’ to shift decision-making power to communities instead of corporate polluters. Public health practitioners are well-versed in the social determinants of health, but less is known about ‘cumulative impacts’ in relation to health. Gather with us to change that!

Hear from environmental health and justice organizer, Sasha Lewis-Norelle, health equity policy advocate, Kathleen Schuler, and other health voices to learn about cumulative impacts. We’ll explore the connection to health equity and share ideas about bringing awareness to the current implementation of Minnesota’s cumulative impacts law. With 120 polluting facilities in communities across the state, cumulative impacts are being talked about here and now — and you can be a part of the conversation.

Climate Convo | Health professionals for healthy school buses: An electric school bus dialogue

Join nurse anesthetist and public health advocate, Joanne Hill, and retired geriatrician, Dan Trajano, as we explore local air quality conditions, health disparities linked to air pollution, and how electric school buses (ESBs) can be a tool for cleaner air, better health, and environmental justice progress. Bring your knowledge and questions, bring a friend or colleague, and let’s dive into an open-ended conversation from health professionals’ perspectives about ESBs — just in time for the back to school season.

Climate Convo | Temperature check: How are YOU weathering climate change?

Health professionals are on the frontlines of discovering and dealing with the emerging health impacts of climate change, and it’s challenging to navigate these threats without established best practices. It can be especially overwhelming if you feel like you are the only one with serious concerns about climate change. Join us for an open-ended conversation to share knowledge, observations, and experiences around how climate change is impacting Minnesotans — and what we can do about it.

'We're Not Happy About Climate Change' Happy Hour

Climate change doesn’t make us happy, but building a strong community of climate health advocates does!

That’s why HPHC’s annual ‘We’re Not Happy About Climate Change’ Happy Hour is back, and you’re invited.

When: Monday, June 10, at 6:00 p.m.

Where: Summit Brewing, 910 Montreal Circle in St. Paul

The details: You’re invited to an evening that’s one part happy hour, one part hearing from Minnesota climate legislators, and one part welcome event for HPHC community members, both new and familiar.

This is a great way to connect with HPHC and meet others with similar interests!

Join us for a cash bar with Summit Brewing’s beverage options, along with free vegetarian and vegan-friendly catered appetizers provided. Plus, enter to win door prizes.

Introduction to Electric School Buses

Join HPHC, MN350, and the Minnesotan Coalition for Clean Transportation as we explore zero-emission electric school buses, including the benefits to school aged-kids, health, finances, and our environment. You’ll learn about upcoming state and federal funding opportunities to help your community join a growing number of Minnesota school districts trying out electric school buses!

You’ll hear from physician and electric school bus advocate, Dr. Dan Trajano, MD, MBA, school board member Brooke Roper, M.Ed., and other school transportation leaders sharing their experiences with electric school buses in the Midwest.

Whether you’re a health professional, school board member, parent or caregiver, school staff member, or community member — this info session is for you!

Leading the Charge: Electric School Buses and You

You have the opportunity right now to get an electric school bus in your district!

The Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Rebate Program is open until January 31, 2024. The Coalition for Clean Transportation with Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate (HPHC), MN 350, and CURE are hosting this educational panel all about how electric school buses work, what it takes to get one in your district, and success stories from districts that already have them.

It’s not too late to start applying! Learn what you need to do to bring an Electric School Bus to your district!

Advocacy Training for Climate Clinicians

Jumpstart your climate health journey with a training focused on earned media strategies and advocacy skill-building!

You’ll receive an intro to earned media and policy advocacy from fellow health professionals and trainers, Kent Boyd, DNP-S, RN, PHN and Melissa Thone, DNP/MPH-S, RN, PHN. You’ll learn the art of effective op-ed writing & workshop your ideas with like-minded health professionals working to shift public narratives across Minnesota. All skill levels, climate equity and health interests, and health professions are welcome.

Registration for this event is now closed, but you can view upcoming events above.