St Louis Park

(952) 924-2500

Year of Health

The St. Louis Park community is preparing to launch a Year of Health and we need your help! The Connect for Health Challenge, sponsored by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, will award up to $500,000 to nonprofits, schools and local units of government to support efforts that strengthen social connections in low-income communities across Minnesota.

You can help St. Louis Park compete for a portion of the grant money by visiting the Connect for Health Challenge website where you can learn more about the Year of Health in St. Louis Park. Then, leave a comment about why you believe this initiative should be among the communities receiving grants.

About the Year of Health

Year of Health in St. Louis Park is a kick-off dialogue and series of follow-up events planned for 2012/2013 that support long-term improvements in the health of St. Louis Park residents, particularly low-income residents. Funding will be used to build social connections by strengthening Bridging Networks, Linking Networks, and Bonding Networks while promoting enjoyable activities focused on improving community health.

Bridging Networks will be strengthened at a daylong community dialogue for 150 community stakeholders, including leaders from the city's five highest need neighborhoods. The dialogue will be facilitated by professionals from Mobius, Inc., an organizational development firm with experience working with St. Louis Park residents as well as with emerging health-related issues. Every participant will have the chance to speak, contribute, listen, and reflect. Enrollment will be managed to ensure representation from all sectors, with an emphasis on residents of low-income neighborhoods in St. Louis Park.

Linking Networks will be strengthened through the participation of decision makers from Park Nicollet Hospital, the City, School District, Chamber of Commerce, and Children First. These five key partners are active participants in the project and co-applicants for this grant award.

Bonding Networks will be strengthened through the specific neighborhood-level actions that will result from the community dialogue and follow-up planning: walking groups, cooking circles, social events, youth asset-building activities, etc.

For more information about the Year of Health, contact Bridget Gothberg at bgothberg@stlouispark.org or (952) 924-2684.