The Minnesota GreenCorps program is a statewide initiative, coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals.
The program places AmeriCorps members with host organizations around the state to assist communities and local governments in addressing a variety of statewide needs, aiming to:
- Reduce solid waste and increase recycling in Minnesota communities.
- Reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and other air pollutants.
- Reduce water runoff and improve water quality.
- Assist community members to take eco-friendly actions.
- Increase community resilience and build local capacity to respond to the threats of climate change.
- Train new environmental professionals.
Minnesota GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program. Funding is provided through a grant from ServeMinnesota and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Members serve at their host sites for 11 months, from mid-September through mid-August. More than 240 GreenCorps members have served at over 130 organizations across Minnesota. Former and current host site organizations include cities, counties, public schools, universities, watershed districts, and non-profit organizations.
Since the program’s launch in 2009, Minnesota GreenCorps members have engaged and educated nearly 200,000 volunteers in communities around the state through service projects, including assistance with environmental fairs, multi-modal transportation events, energy benchmarking, waste sorts, tree inventory/citizen foresters, invasive species removal, tree planting, and building rain gardens. Many of these projects help to increase resilience of Minnesota communities to the impacts of climate change, such as increasing heat and heavy precipitation.
For more information
For more information, please email: mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us
Members serve with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions statewide. Members serve 40 hours a week for 11 months, from late September through the following August.
Currently there are 40 Minnesota GreenCorps members serving at 40 host sites around the state.
Project summaries: Program Year 2017-2018 (p-mgc1-09)
2017: Member - Lauren Jensen
About me. I was born and raised in Austin, Minn., and attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities for business management. During my senior year I took a study abroad class focused on managing change and innovation within business, specifically regarding sustainability. Growing up in Minnesota I have always enjoyed spending time outdoors and on the lake which has given me an appreciation for nature and our environment. It was during that class in Brazil however, after a presentation by Cargill’s Sustainability Manager, that I realized a passion for wanting to help preserve this amazing place we call home and a strong desire to make a career out of it.
About my service. I am serving in the Green Infrastructure—Stormwater track with Winona County’s Planning and Environmental Services Department. The main focus of my service will be connecting with the surrounding townships, city officials, community groups, and county residents to provide outreach, education, and assistance on ways to better manage our stormwater. I will be working with both the city of Winona and Winona County to promote and implement their available cost-share grants for local residents to install rain gardens as a way of improving water quality. Other projects during my service year include developing a historical report of the Whitewater Joint Powers Board and their projects within the Whitewater Watershed as well as creating a county inventory of all current stormwater best management practices to identify areas of further need.
GreenCorps member Lauren Jensen
Did you know rain gardens help prevent rainwater runoff? That means less pollutants flowing directly into nearby streams and ponds. The latest #OurMN video features what Minnesota GreenCorps is doing in Winona County!
Why I serve. After graduating college, I felt a strong need to be a part of something that really made a difference. After learning about AmeriCorps, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get involved, further my education on environmental topics, and experience new places and communities. I served last year in San Jose, California, with Our City Forest, an urban forestry non-profit and worked to teach and engage residents on the importance of growing our urban forests. After my 11 months out West, I was eager to return to Minnesota to continue to make a difference in the community I call home. MN GreenCorps has given me the opportunity to continue to educate, build capacity, and make a difference within our communities on important environmental issues affecting us all.
My favorite place to visit in Minnesota. Near Lower Whitefish Lake. My family has visited the area yearly since before I was born and has always been a trip I’ve looked forward to and cherished. Nothing beats a week at the cabin hiking, fishing, boating, and spending quality time with family.