Community Innovation

Grantee Learning Logs

An important part of creative problem solving are the lessons learned along the way. As a learning organization, we realize how important these discoveries are and have intentionally included time for reflection and sharing as part of how we work. 

In that same spirit, we ask our Community Innovation grantees to share their reflections and learnings through interim and final reports. Their learning logs are a great resource for what went well, what didn't and what others might take away as they work to make our region better for everyone.

World Wildlife Fund

Term: August 01, 2021 - August 31, 2024

This grant builds on a previous Community Innovation grant to align the stewardship of Pine Ridge tribal lands with community needs and aspirations. The next phase of the work is to form an innovative public/Native nation partnership that indigenizes conservation by bringing the Oglala Lakota peoples' perspective to co-management of the 133,000-acre, tribally owned portion of Pine Ridge Reservation, designated the South Unit of Badlands National Park. This work has the potential to transform the way Native nations manage and regain cultural connections to their lands within national park boundaries.

Itasca County

Term: April 01, 2020 - March 31, 2025

To partner with justice-involved youth and their families in Itasca County to design and pilot a whole-family solution led by Itasca County Public Health that is appropriate, sustainable, and impactful

Tuttle Rural Innovation Center

Term: July 01, 2020 - September 30, 2023

To create a rural community and economy that exists at the intersection of food, art and entrepreneurship

Native American Community Development Institute

Term: October 01, 2018 - October 31, 2020

To identify community-led strategies to address homelessness in the Minneapolis Native American community

Arts on Superior, Inc.

Term: August 01, 2014 - September 30, 2016

To host a monthly community forum, encouraging the community to share ideas and thoughts on how to improve the economic, social and cultural status of the city of Two Harbors

Second Harvest Heartland

Term: March 01, 2020 - March 31, 2021

To mobilize a collaborative effort to ensure families receive meals during the COVID-19 outbreak

Dunn County

Term: May 01, 2019 - June 30, 2024

A collaborative process for landscape conservation in Western North Dakota

Helpline Center

Term: August 01, 2021 - August 31, 2024

This grant builds on a previous Community Innovation grant. Helpline Center will test the coordinated social services delivery model they developed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in two new cities: Brookings and Watertown. They will document their efforts to share with others. The work in Sioux Falls has been very successful and as the state explores what is possible for a statewide system, having two medium-sized towns pilot the Sioux Falls model will further contribute to the efforts to build a statewide network.