Archive

The three pillars of civil resistance: Lessons from the Twin Cities

What emerged during Operation Metro Surge, and what continues today, offers a crucial lesson that local leaders across the country cannot afford to ignore. Protecting a free and civil society requires three pillars working in concert: brave people, willing organizations, and robust public space.

How one Minneapolis parish is cutting emissions and improving comfort

With help from the Clean Air Assistance Project and the City of Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program, recent renovation to the Church of St. Frances Cabrini showed how practical changes can be introduced to older buildings to reduce emissions and improve comfort.

An Uptown Minneapolis auto body repair shop is proving cleaner air starts in the garage

Hagen’s Auto Body recently completed a major transition to water-based paint. Thanks to Clean Air Assistance Project and the City of Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program, this switch created a safer, more productive work environment and significantly reduces emissions of volatile organic compounds.

2025 Environmental Initiative Awards recap

In the past three decades, the Environmental Initiative Awards has allowed us to uplift over 200 environmental changemakers from communities, businesses, governments, and nonprofits. 2025 marks a crucial turning point in the program.

$28 million available for local communities to improve Minnesota’s environment

A new Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grants Program worth over $28 million dollars invests in the protection, conservation, preservation and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish and other natural resources.  

Building farmer-centered outreach: Messaging insights from Midwestern corn and soy producers

Effective engagement is essential for agriculture outreach professionals looking to bridge the gap between conservation practice knowledge and uptake. When your outreach faces challenges, insights from producers can help enhance your messaging.

Reaching Farmers Faster begins at the farm gate

An ongoing partnership between Environmental Initiative and Trust In Food™, the climate-smart agriculture arm of Farm Journal, is using data and intelligence to identify where producers are in their conservation journey and connect them with programs that meet their unique situations with actionable solutions.

The Sustainable Growth Coalition is embracing nature-based solutions

Experts Ted Carling and Will Nielson from Ecotone Analytics recently joined an SGC learning lab to provide insight on how nature-based solutions can be used to build thriving and resilient ecosystems. 

National initiative announces local investment in public spaces that advance healing and systemic change

Reimagining the Civic Commons recently announced a $750,000 expansion into Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Environmental Initiative will collaborate with Paul Bauknight in ongoing work to revitalize public spaces in ways that benefit communities.

Tailored workshops help conservation agriculture professionals increase engagement

Environmental Initiative and Trust in Food™ are now providing workshops to help conservation agriculture professionals accelerate voluntary program engagement among producers. Workshop availability follows the announcement of ReachFarmersFaster.org.