Minnesota Health Equity Networks

The Minnesota Health Equity Networks work to connect, strengthen, and amplify health equity efforts and community issues using a regional and relational approach. The networks are a community of support for local public health, tribal public health, and community organizations to address long-standing health equity issues. For monthly updates, subscribe to the Minnesota Health Equity Networks email list.

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On this page
About the networks
What is health equity?
Join us in your region at a regional gathering!
Join us online at Minnesota Health Equity Network Connections
Join us for training and events statewide
Join us one-on-one for technical assistance and capacity-building
Resources and reading

At a glance: Learn more about our approaches, core functions, and the resources that guide us in our work: Minnesota Health Equity Networks (PDF).

How will the networks work? Network coordinators will work alongside partners to build relationships; support existing work and activities that build capacity; provide a space to share expertise, provide resources; and influence policy, structural, and system changes to provide the best health and wellness outcomes for all.

The Minnesota Health Equity Networks work to connect, strengthen, and amplify health equity efforts and community issues using a regional and relational approach. The networks are a community of support for local public health, tribal public health, and community organizations to address long-standing health equity issues.

• Connect: The networks are a hub—connecting and strengthening relationships and connections of local public health, tribal public health, community organizations, and health equity partners across Minnesota communities.
• Strengthen: We strengthen communities' capacity to work on health equity through training, technical assistance, and leadership development in advancing health equity across Minnesota communities.
• Amplify: We amplify the interconnected work of communities and public health systems. We support the regional and tribal public health systems to prioritize community solutions and engage with communities as a part of public health practice.

Why are these networks vital to Minnesotans? While local, state, and tribal public health departments and community-based organizations worked to reach all Minnesota communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, deep disparities in health were revealed across Minnesota. The pandemic disproportionately impacted communities of color, American Indian communities and tribal nations, the LGBTQ community, rural communities, immigrant and refugee communities, aging people, low-income people, and people with disabilities. As response activities continue and recovery activities ramp up, our public health partnerships will need to build on our successes and address the clear inequities that have long existed in all our communities.

How can I stay in touch? If you'd like to receive updates about current and future network activities, subscribe and sign up for the Health Equity Networks newsletter.

Achieving health equity is important for all people and requires a systemic approach to making sure that people and communities have access to what they need to be healthy and well. Often people and communities are prevented from being as healthy as they can be by unjust or unfair barriers, and these are called health inequities.

We can only achieve health equity when, for example, all children get a loving and healthy start, when we can all get a good education and good jobs, when we can all take part in the decisions that shape our communities, and when we all have good living conditions. These are examples of changing social determinants of health.

Addressing health equity and the social determinants of health is needed in order to have large and sustained improvements in health outcomes and eliminate health disparities. This involves examining structures, policies, practices, norms, and values, as well as creating social and physical environments that promote good health for all people and communities.

Every region, community, and tribal nation experience different inequities and require different solutions.

Regional gatherings are free and open to all. Participate in one region, or more than one!

All regional gatherings are virtual unless otherwise indicated. 

• Northwest
  Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
  Register here
• Central
  Jan. 17, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  Register here
• Southwest
  Jan. 24, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  Register here
• Southeast
  Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  Register here
• Northeast
  Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m. to Noon
  Register here
• Metro
  Jan. 31, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  Register here

Welcome to our virtual connection forum! Minnesota Health Equity Network Connections is a space where we can all connect and share resources in between our network gatherings and trainings.

How to join: 

1. Visit Welcome to the Minnesota Health Equity Networks Connections!
2. In the top right corner, click "register." We ask people in our community to register so that we can have a safe and welcoming place for people to engage and share resources.
3. Fill in the form. After that, you will be able to join Bang the Table and see regional pages and statewide activity.
4. If you get stuck or need some assistance, try watching this tutorial on how to join: MN Health Equity Networks Connections (4:41, autoplays)

• December 7, 2023: Statewide Gathering
  Noon to 2 p.m.
  Join the MN Health Equity Networks for a statewide gathering to see what's in store for the Health Equity Networks in 2024 and for a presentation by Susan Brace-Adkins, "Systems thinking and systems change - an overview."

Past training: Navigating power

• March 2023: Navigating power, part 1: Presentation slides (PDF)
  Learn how to navigate power in more intentional and equitable ways! During this training, attendees learned how to navigate power in relationships, how power dynamics influence communication and conflict, and created an understanding of what dynamics exist within a team or community.
• June 2023: Navigating power, part 2: Presentation slides (PDF)
  The Minnesota Health Equity Networks continued the conversation from Navigating Power, part 1. 

Are you looking for support around health equity and community engagement, technical assistance, or help building your capacity?

The Minnesota Health Equity Networks are honored to provide support for network members*, local public health, Tribal public health, and our other partners in the public health system in doing the important work of health equity and community engagement.  

To request support, please complete our request form below. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for a response as our team reviews your request. We appreciate your patience as we work to accommodate your request and the multiple others we receive. 

Minnesota Health Equity Networks -- Training, TA, and Facilitation Request Form

Once we receive and review your request, our team will set up a short phone call to clarify needs, expectations, and next steps.  

*Network member refers to any person or organization who has participated in Minnesota Health Equity Networks gatherings, trainings, or other opportunities.  

More information coming soon.

Funding for this project is provided by the CDC OT21-2103 COVID-19 Health Equity Grant.