Our History

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

The passage of this legislation prohibited e-cigarette use in several public places, including government buildings, public schools and most healthcare facilities. This was a huge first step toward protecting youth and the quality of indoor air. 

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

The Minnesota Food Charter was a roadmap toward healthy, affordable, and safe food for all Minnesotans. It offered 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 launched and provided 145 participants with a positive, four-month cycling experience in 2014. In 2015, this number grew to 280 participants. The program operated in traditionally underserved communities in the Twin Cities where people faced significant barriers to being physically active, including less physical infrastructure and safety concerns. 

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