Heather Cusick learned first-hand the stabilizing force of nature when her struggling family moved to a 100-acre farm in rural Kansas. There, she found that the land had the power to heal. This childhood informed her lifelong commitment to
Kate Davenport believes we can design waste out of our systems of production and consumption in a way that addresses climate change, local economic development and social and environmental justice. As co-president of the social enterprise Eureka
Malini Srivastava wants North Dakota to become more energy efficient. That's no easy feat: the state is one of the nation's coldest, has an abundance of fossil fuel resources, ranks first in per-capita residential energy consumption, and is dead last
Food is central to each of our lives, yet, many people purchase, prepare and eat food without fully understanding the impacts of their food choices. My goal is to increase access to healthy, sustainable and local foods by developing a community-owned
Rural Minnesota includes numerous food deserts and has higher poverty levels than the state as a whole. In my central Minnesota community, there is not a sustainable supply network that can meet the demand for local food. With the support of my
The Mississippi River and its community face many threats to health, ecology, economy and spirit. These include the threat of pollution, flooding, changes to the navigation system, short-sighted economic development, displacement and disconnection
The current oil boom in North Dakota presents rewards and risks. We have the opportunity to use the wealth created to go forward in a way that honors our past, ensures present prosperity and creates a future for our children that we can be proud of
Nationally and locally, demand for local food is exploding while the existing food distribution system is geared to large-scale, long-distance delivery. In West Central Minnesota, “food deserts” are springing up even though the area is heavily based
Colleges and universities in Minnesota spend at least $30 million on food every year. Since relationships are a key lever to building a thriving local food economy, I will work to bring together two previously isolated communities—college students
People living in rural areas who lack mobility due to age, income and/or illness have trouble accessing quality food at affordable prices. Small town grocery stores struggle to stay open because more affluent residents pass them by to drive longer
