Local Action
Global Goals

Uniting to drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, forge partnerships, and build communities of practice.

event info

June 12, 2024

17 Rooms – West Central Minnesota

University of Minnesota Morris Campus

event Partners

A glimpse into our 17 Rooms event

This video offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into our event-planning process and showcases key moments as the event unfolded.

View the Report

In this report, you’ll explore the comprehensive action agendas developed by each of the 17 Rooms. The report highlights the practical actions proposed by each Room and the key challenges and opportunities identified in their discussions. From poverty alleviation and food security to clean energy and community health, each Room has crafted tailored strategies to address regional issues and drive progress over the next 12 to 18 months.

what

About 17 Rooms

17 Rooms is a process to help communities advance practical next steps toward local priorities for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Developed by the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings and The Rockefeller Foundation, 17 Rooms processes are defined by three key principles:

All SDGs get a seat at the table.
Take a next step, not the perfect step.
Conversations, not presentations.

How it works

Circle of 17 smaller circles with colors corresponding to the 17 colors used for the Sustainable Goals

Participants are grouped in rooms, one for each SDG, with leaders to guide the discussion.

Four people icons with two thought bubbles

Each room identifies 1 to 3 viable actions to implement in the next 12 to 18 months.

Four thought bubbles interconnected to illustrate cross-room collaboration

Rooms share their ideas with others to encourage collaborative actions and insights.

The circle of 17 circles and four thought bubbles together

Organizers compile the plans and insights and share them in a report to help drive action.

Why Participate

Advance Concrete Actions

All rooms are tasked to consider what is needed and what participants can do over the following 12-18 months.

Gain New Insights

When participants working on common problems share their perspectives from different backgrounds, organizations, and sectors, unique forms of group learning occur, both within and across rooms.

Build Practical Communities

Working together on shared goals while acknowledging diverse perspectives can create a sense of shared enthusiasm, opportunity, and responsibility.

Honorary chair

Mark Ritchie

Former Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Minnesota. Over the past decade, Mark led the public-private partnership working to bring a World’s Fair to Minnesota. Mark’s public service has included serving on Minnesota’s State Board of Investment, Minnesota’s Executive Council, the federal Election Assistance Commission Advisory Board, on the board of the Minnesota Historical Society, and as board chair for the Military Historical Society of Minnesota.