West Central Initiative welcomes Ben Schierer as Director of Civic Partnerships and Griffin Peck as Climate Resilience Officer, bolstering the organization’s regional development work. Schierer will engage with government entities, communities, and organizations to foster strong public-sector partnerships and advocate for regional needs at legislative levels. Peck will spearhead efforts to help communities adapt to…
A farmers market gives a community an opportunity to shop locally, supporting local food and goods. The new Prairie Farmers Market in Parkers Prairie offers fresh produce, meats, breads, preserves, flowers, crafts, and more. The market is held on Fridays from 3-6 p.m. from June to October at City Park in Parkers Prairie. Meghan Jahnke,…
The increased prevalence of extreme weather in the region brings about the need for a deeper understanding of emergency preparedness measures. I spoke with Julie Anderson, Douglas County’s Emergency Management Director and Public Information Officer, about the new Preparedness Pal program. Having a reliable person outside of your household during an emergency is crucial. A…
It’s one o’clock on an April Tuesday afternoon in Vergas, and local Lions Club members gather in a neighborhood garage. It’s a party-like atmosphere, laughing, chatting, as a dozen Lions grab bulging plastic garbage bags from truck beds and car trunks that just arrived, walking them into the garage where they toss them onto a…
Native grassland habitats are some of the most endangered in North America according to the University of Minnesota. Less than 1% of the original tallgrass prairies remain. To combat some of this habitat loss, planting native grass and restoring parts of west central Minnesota’s prairie has become a popular choice among home and landowners. Windflower…
Participants from the region and beyond will gather to drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, forge partnerships, and build communities of practice On June 12, 2024, West Central Initiative, the University of Minnesota Morris, and the City of Morris will host the first 17 Rooms event in Minnesota. This dynamic, day-long gathering at the…
Spring has arrived in full swing, and many have started to look towards the soil. Gardening provides us with a chance to get outdoors, giving us a space for recharging and reflecting. Part of climate action requires us to look inside our everyday lives and hobbies, asking, “How can I be living in a more…
Members of the Fergus Falls Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (from left) Dee Johnson, Peggy Underwood, Betsy Wells, Beth Monke, and Janell Mierisch helped during a recycling audit. Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a grassroots lobbying organization focused on climate policy at the state and federal levels. Beth Monke started the Fergus Falls chapter in…
Earlier in March, a cohort of climate leaders from Minnesota attended the Aspen Ideas: Climate Conference in Miami Beach. Brought together by the Minnesota Climate Adaption Partnership, the group included nonprofit leaders, farmers, artists, healthcare professionals, and local political leaders. Sessions included hearing from national and regional climate leaders, government officials, and innovative businesses on…
Griffin Peck is the Sustainability Project Coordinator for the City of Morris. Griffin works to advance the goals of the Morris Model, a partnership between the University, Morris Public Schools, and the City of Morris. The model is designed to advance sustainability in Morris and west central Minnesota. Griffin’s role involves collecting data, publishing findings,…
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