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 42 Minnesota GreenCorps members serving at host sites around the state.
Project summaries: Program Year 2018-2019 (p-mgc1-10)
2018: Member - Laura Wessberg
About me. I was born and raised in a suburb of St. Paul. I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life except for four months when I lived just over the border in North Dakota. I went to school at Minnesota State University Moorhead and graduated with a B.S. in Sustainability. I love plants and have a darling collection of orchids.
About my service. I am serving in the Waste Reduction, Recycling & Organics Management track with the Hubbard County Solid Waste Department in Park Rapids. I have already sorted through hundreds of pounds of trash and recycling. I am working on educating residents and students about waste management in the hopes of reducing the community’s impact on the environment.
Hubbard County is hosting a Minnesota GreenCorps member
Laura Wessberg is serving with the Hubbard County Solid Waste Department until August 2019, with the goal of improving the environment while gaining professional experience.
Why I serve. Caring for the environment is one of the most important things we can do with our lives. I believe making a difference on the local level is the most impactful. I want people to feel hopeful about the future of our planet and understand their everyday impact.
My favorite place to visit in Minnesota. I love to go to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It’s so peaceful and serene... only there can you truly get away from it all.