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As we transition from the vibrant days of June into the heart of summer in July, I am excited to share with you the latest updates and accomplishments within our community. June brought us numerous opportunities for growth and collaboration, while July promises continued progress and engagement. Our community initiatives and events have been met with enthusiasm and high participation, showcasing the strength of our community spirit. Your involvement and feedback are invaluable to our continued success.
Together, we can make our community an even better place to live, work, and play. Wishing you all a wonderful summer season!
Warm regards,
~Rena
County Board Workshops
Most weeks, our County Board meets to discuss specific policy issues and receive updates from County Departments and Service Teams in our Board Workshops.
Workshops and discussions are held on Tuesdays and are open to the public. These take place at the Saint Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse in Suite 220 (2nd floor). You can find the schedule for all upcoming board meetings, workshops, and discussions sessions below.
Recent workshops include: look up all of workshops and place here:
You can access video recordings of the meetings as well as the materials shared by clicking here.
You can watch upcoming workshops live by clicking here.
 At a ceremonial signing in the governor’s chambers, Minnesota child welfare advocates, lawmakers and officials heralded passage of a new law that better protects families disproportionately represented in the foster care system.
“This is the way governments should work,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation. “It’s not just about one leader — it takes a village,” she added, giving a nod to the Black and Latino leaders among the several dozen assembled. “And if you look around, this is the village.”
The Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionately Act — which will take effect in Ramsey and Hennepin counties in January and expand statewide two years later — represents a novel approach to child welfare services.
Click to read the full story
 I was invited to this exciting grand finale to hear how students and entrepreneurs learned how to license technologies to start companies, how organizations can augment Research & Development spend and how jobs can be created within our ecosystem through the process of inclusive federal technology commercialization. At this special event, government officials, colleges and universities, corporations and entrepreneurs came together to learn about the NASA Inclusive Innovation Mashup Lab initiative - a unique public-private partnership designed to accelerate technology commercialization to support the Minnesota ecosystem.
I was joined by National Security Agency, Department Of Defense, National Institute of Health and other agencies as we all were invited to join in imagining how programs like this can support Research & Development, improve supply chain diversity, create jobs and bring federal dollars to Minnesota.
Attended PK's ribbon cutting for the all abilities park and playground at Allianz Field located at the corner of University and Snelling Ave, it was a truly inspiring experience and day. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and joy as the community came together to celebrate this inclusive space. It was heartwarming to see children of all abilities playing together and enjoying the new amenities.
The event highlighted the importance of accessibility and inclusion in our public spaces.
George Floyd Week was declared!! May 20, 2024 to May 25, 2024
There were global conversations, to hold the memory of his life and his death at the center of our desire and duty to break free from systems, processes and institutions that enabled his murder at the hands of law enforcement.
The anniversary of the George Floyd murder which is marked by the reckoning precipitated by the horrific event.
George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, this was a reminder to us all that no one is above the law and the police officers have to be held accountable when they break the law.
I had the privilege as a State Legislator to lead police reform and accountability at the state legislature. Demanding police encounters with community be done under the dignity of life. The efforts were to hold police accountable for their bad acts.
My conversation with Al McFarlane regarding George Floyd Week reminded me of the fact, forgetting would be detrimental to all communities.
 I visited Washington, D.C. to participate in a crucial event addressing the alarming disparity of missing Black women and girls in our communities and across the country. I was joined by state leaders and advocates to bring attention to this often-overlooked issue, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive policy changes and increased public awareness.
 The Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions hosted the fourth Midway Area Job Fair which is the largest job fair the county supports annually. It was a beautiful day, and more than 400 job seekers came to Allianz Field to seek employment and learn about community programs from nearly 40 local organizations. Many people applied and interviewed for jobs on the spot.
  I was invited to the Graduation Celebration of the Ramsey County Young Adult Career Academy (YACA). This was an opportunity to honor the young people and to thank department staff for their work.
YACA supports young adults as they rotate through multiple departments in the county to gain exposure to public sector careers. This effort has been a partnership between Workforce Solutions and Human Resources Pathway Program. Ramsey County Departments included: Parks and Recreation, Public Works, County Commissioners and County Managers Office, Election Services and the Assessor’s Office. The young people are provided opportunities for internships within these departments.
This is a great opportunity for our youth to gain knowledge, experience and opportunity. I appreciate this effort in supporting our youth in their career growth.
 I enjoy celebrating the training of our youth. We have a huge need for a greater IT workforce. And it is important that we have people who work in IT from diverse communities. The graduates, now have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a technical support role, making them valuable members of any IT team for an employer. This certificate is valuable as a steppingstone for additional training but also makes the graduates employable today.
Ramsey County is dedicated to supporting these efforts. And it is important that we have people who work in IT that look and reflect all communities.
  I attended numerous vibrant Juneteenth celebrations throughout the community alongside the governor and other state legislators. The events were a powerful display of unity and recognition of the significance of Juneteenth in our history. It was inspiring to see leaders from different backgrounds come together to honor this important day. The speeches, music, and community spirit highlighted our shared commitment to progress and equality.
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In the U.S., Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect on our history, learn from it and foster an environment that supports and empowers Black communities.
Here are four things you may not know about Juneteenth:
- Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when thousands of enslaved people in Texas were finally ordered free – nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in the U.S.
- In 1979, Texas became the first state to officially recognize Juneteenth as a day of observance. The day was recognized nationally in 2021.
- Juneteenth celebrations include community gatherings, educational events, music and parades that take place across the country, with the longest history of celebrations taking place in Texas and other states in the Southwest and Midwest.
- The Juneteenth Flag of Freedom features a half red and half blue design with a white bursting star in the middle, representing freedom from slavery. Every year, a Juneteenth flag raising ceremony takes place in Galveston, where the news of emancipation was first delivered in Texas.
 Spoke at the 16th annual Black Men Healing Conference was an incredible honor. The event provided a powerful platform for discussing important issues affecting Black men and their mental health. Engaging with such a passionate and dedicated audience was both humbling and inspiring. It was a privilege to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about healing and empowerment in our community.
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Bridge to Benefits
Ramsey County provides a large range of services.
Service Centers
Ramsey County has several Service Center locations and five community partner sites that provide Navigator services. A Navigator is a county staff member that helps residents access a wide range of services and programs including financial assistance services, social services, employment assistance, and voter registration.
For more information about the service centers, click here: Service Centers | Ramsey County
To submit a Service Center Navigator Referral Form for yourself or for another person, click here: Service Center Navigators Referral Form | Ramsey County
Upcoming Funding Opportunities
Did you know that we have a site solely dedicated to helping Ramsey County residents in business? Ramsey County Community & Economic Development has a useful Incentives Dashboard that serves as a one-stop spot for grants and funding opportunities across Saint Paul and other Ramsey County cities.
My office has directed several constituents to our Open to Business program, which provides technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and entrepreneurs for FREE. At no cost, you can receive help in business plan development, financing projections, city and state licenses, loan packaging, and more! These services are provided in partnership with the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, which also offers capital loan services for qualifying businesses.
Sign up to contract with Ramsey County!
The county acquires goods and services through a cost-effective, competitive and fair process accessible to all businesses. The county seeks vendors who share its commitment to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusiveness. Vendors interested in providing goods and/or services to the county and its residents must first register to use DemandStar, an internet purchasing network. DemandStar offers immediate and automatic notification of purchasing opportunities with the county, solicitation documents and results, and prior solicitation information. Subscribing to DemandStar is free.
Bids and RFPs are provided online via DemandStar. View what procurement opportunities are available by visiting our Ramsey County Procurement site.
Questions or comments about doing business with Ramsey County? Contractors, business owners and community members can email or call the Purchasing and Contracting Service Desk and connect directly with our staff.
· Phone: 651-266-PACT (7228) from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
· Email: pachelp@co.ramsey.mn.us
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 Are you or someone you know experiencing homelessness or need emergency shelter? Call 651-266-1050 to receive help finding shelter resources.
Mental Health & Crisis
In a crisis? Get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Ramsey County’s mobile crisis team provides stabilization services, de-escalation, crisis intervention, mental health assessments and initial crisis plans.
Walk-in crisis services are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Mental Health Urgent Care.
Under 18 years old? Call the Children's Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7878.
Over 18 years old? Call the Adult Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7900.
Tobacco, Alcohol & Substance Abuse
 Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States, yet more deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. (ref) Substance abuse—involving drugs, alcohol, or both—is associated with a range of destructive social conditions, including family disruptions, financial problems, lost productivity, failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, and crime.
Available in PDF format:
All Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Abuse fact sheets
Contact Us
Public Health
651-266-2400
Contact form
Department information
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Greetings,
Please see the information below about several RFPs out right now from the DHS Resettlement Programs office.
The Resettlement Programs office is pleased to share several funding opportunities for provision of services as part of Minnesota Resettlement Network Service Collaboratives. Please share these opportunities broadly with your networks.
Please see these links for four (4) published Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for Resettlement Network Services:
- Resettlement Network Services Community Workshops RFP
- Resettlement Network Services Employment and Career Supports RFP
- Resettlement Network Services Family Education Supports
- Resettlement Network Services Family Resource Connections
Please watch the DHS Grants and RFPs website for 1 additional RFP that will be published shortly:
- Resettlement Network Services Immigration Legal Services
RESPONDERS’ QUESTIONS
- Responders must submit all questions related to these funding opportunities by email to Tetiana.Banari@state.mn.us.
- Responses to submitted questions will be provided in a question-and-answer document published on https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/grants-rfps/open-rfps/ under this Grant Application title.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- The RPO has issued a Request for Information (RFI) related to Greater MN Regional New American Service Hubs
- Through this RFI, the RPO seeks information from interested stakeholders in the development, design, planning, and competitive contracting for regional New American Services Hubs in Greater Minnesota.
In Community,
Heading Home Ramsey
www.HeadingHomeRamsey.org
HeadingHomeRamsey@co.ramsey.mn.us
Identifying green energy goals
The Energy Advisory Committee (EAC), chaired by JDA Commissioner and Arden Hills City Councilmember Tena Monson, is currently defining goals to support the energy vision set by the JDA last year, which outlines a climate-forward development creating sustainable benefits for the community.
LHB and Ever-Green Energy serve as consultants to the project team. They’re currently working with the committee to review greenhouse gas emission analyses and potential site certification programs.
Adopting actionable green energy goals also reflects the Climate Equity Action Plan adopted by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in April of this year.
  Ramsey County, Minnesota
Safely dispose of needles, syringes and lancets. Bring those without medicine to our household hazardous waste collection site. Learn more at RamseyRecycles.com/HHW. Sharps containing medicine should be brought to a medicine collection site. Locations and more: RamseyRecycles.com/Medicine.
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 I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Commissioner Trista Martinson for her dedicated service as Board Chair and Ramsey County Commissioner. Her leadership has been invaluable, and we are grateful for her commitment to our community. As she embarks on her new journey as the first Executive Director of the Ramsey-Washington Recycling and Energy Center, we wish her all the best.
 I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire, whose tenure will be ending this year after her distinguished service as president of the National Association of Counties (NACo). Commissioner McGuire has brought national recognition to Ramsey County and has led many positive changes for counties across the country. Her dedication and leadership have been exemplary, and we are thankful for her impactful service. |
