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Health Equity Division Newsletter |
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View this as a webpage
October 2025
The mission of the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division is to connect, strengthen, and amplify health equity efforts within the Minnesota Department of Health and across the state of Minnesota. The stories in our newsletter illustrate how we are living our mission.
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As the air becomes crisp and leaves turn across Minnesota, we’re reflecting on the quiet strength that carries us through change. Indeed, this year has brought immense changes for us at the Health Equity Division, at MDH, in our communities, and across our great country.
This fall, our focus is on resilience—the ability of individuals, communities, and systems to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of challenges. As our director Odi writes in her reflection below, we are inspired by our councilmembers, grantees, and partners who remind us that we have faced challenges before, and we will persevere again. Health equity work demands this same resilience and hope of each and every one of us.
In this issue, we highlight some of the people and programs that embody resilience, proving that progress is not just possible—it’s unstoppable.
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We are living through a time when equity work is under pressure. Resources are shrinking, funding is uncertain, and the path ahead is not always clear. Even so, we remain committed to this work. What keeps us grounded is the strength and resilience of our communities. That is why we continue to push forward: because we know what is at stake and who we are doing this work with and for.
This truth came through so clearly at our first Joint Council Event. Bringing together members from all three advisory councils for the first time was more than just a milestone. It was a moment that reminded us of our “why.” We do this work with and for our communities, and their voices guide us toward what matters most. The event also showed us the importance of building stronger connections between our councils and MDH so that their recommendations can drive actions that improve how we serve. We are committed to making this gathering a tradition, one that strengthens accountability and connection year after year.
This newsletter also points to other moments of perseverance and inspiration. The story on Morning Glory Montessori shows what is possible when community-led vision and determination take root, even against the odds.
I continue to be inspired by our councils, grantees, and partners who remind us that we have faced challenges before, and we will persevere again. Together, we are shaping strategies that not only protect the integrity of equity work but also prepare us for the long haul. Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us with courage and purpose.
Odichinma (Odi) Akosionu-DeSouza (she/her)
Division Director
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We are a network hub – leading, connecting and strengthening networks of health equity leaders and partners across MDH and Minnesota communities.
 First ever joint council event brings together leaders from across the state
The Health Equity Bureau brought together members of its three community advisory councils for the first time ever in August for an afternoon filled with connection, reflection, and energy. Members of the Health Equity Advisory and Leadership (HEAL) Council, the African American Health State Advisory Council, and the Community Solutions Advisory Council came together at the Wilder Foundation in a “deliberate act of alignment and collaboration,” according to Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham.
“The challenges we face – from systemic racism to environmental threats – demand collaboration,” the commissioner shared in her opening remarks, emphasizing how critical this synergy is “break down silos between councils, communities, and the systems meant to serve them.”
We provide leadership in advancing health equity and cultivate health equity leaders within MDH and across Minnesota communities.
HEAL Council will seek new members this fall
The HEAL Council was created as part of a broader effort by MDH to address Minnesota’s inequities in health status and was formally recognized in state statute in 2023 (Minnesota Statute § 145.987).
We amplify the work of communities most impacted by health inequities and support them to drive their own solutions.
“This is my justice imagination:” Grantee spotlight on Morning Glory Montessori
For Pastor Jessica L. Jackson, opening Morning Glory Montessori™ was more than launching a school; it was fulfilling “a sacred mission.”
As the founder and head of the school, she wears many hats: lead guide in the classroom, community builder, partnership developer, and even construction project manager during building renovations. But at the heart of her work is a vision planted decades ago through her family’s deep roots in education.
“My mother was the first early childhood educator in our family and a trailblazer in this community [of North Minneapolis],” Pastor Jessica said. “The vision that was put in my heart came from her.”
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About us
The Center for Health Equity, which was created in 2013 to advance health equity, has grown dramatically in recent years. Recognizing this growth and the center’s role in providing support and technical assistance across the agency, the executive office elevated the Center for Health Equity to a division at the Department of Health. With this structural change, we are now the Division of Health Equity Strategy and Innovation.
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