Our History

Engaging with community members is essential to creating a healthier Minnesota. Acting on that belief, the Center awards funding to 18 projects that incorporate community input and participation, and focus on increasing healthy eating, physical activity and health equity.

The passage of this legislation prohibits e-cigarette use in several public places, including government buildings, public schools and most health care facilities. This is a huge first step toward protecting our youth and the quality of our indoor air, and there is still more work to do. Cities, counties and municipalities are also tackling this issue.

Nice Ride Bemidji launches in June of 2014 in an effort to foster active and healthy lifestyles, and increase the vitality of the downtown area. This innovative project will also serve as a model for towns and cities outside of an urban setting that are interested in creating bike share systems that are specifically tailored for their communities.

The Minnesota Food Charter is a roadmap toward healthy, affordable, and safe food for all Minnesotans. It offers 99 strategies for policymakers, organizations and community champions to create healthy, prosperous communities. With funding from the Center, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Food Charter launched successfully in 2014.

Nice Ride Neighborhood launches and provides 145 participants with a positive, four-month cycling experience in 2014. In 2015, this number grows to 280 participants. The program operates in traditionally underserved communities in the Twin Cities where people face significant barriers to being physically active, including less physical infrastructure and safety concerns.

The Center for Prevention and Wholesome Wave partners with Coborn’s grocery store to test a first-in-the-nation model that allows doctors to prescribe and provide vouchers for free fruits and vegetables as a means for improving health.