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Vol. 16 ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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May is the gateway to summer! Flowers are in full bloom, we finally feel some warm Vitamin D on our post-winter skin, and the birds are singing (more on that later). It always ends up being a BUSY month, and that rings true for us this year. Our team attended several climate events together this month, including the Women’s Environmental Network Spark Talks, the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERT) meeting at Hyland Hills, and Voyageurs Conservancy’s annual Fundraiser, Voyageurs On Tap. Like our pollinator friends, the sustainability community is buzzing with new energy this time of year. Onward!
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+ the team: Angie Trygg, Anika Hager, and Jen Winslow
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May is a peak month for bird migration, and our fine feathered friends have been moving north in massive numbers. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology uses weather radar to detect and predict the numbers and flight directions of migrating birds aloft to support bird conservation and expand our understanding of migratory bird movement. Check out Cornell’s bird migration tools, including their Minnesota BirdCast, and download their Merlin app to listen to and identify the birds chirping around you! And no, we are not sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We are just a bunch of bird nerds who want you to nerd out with us 🤓
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Image courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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Event Recap: Voyageurs On Tap
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All four of us made it out to Voyageurs On Tap at Bang Brewing last Thursday! This annual fundraiser for Voyageurs Conservancy, the official nonprofit of Voyageurs National Park, brought together outdoor enthusiasts, conservation supporters, and community leaders for a relaxed evening of craft beer, environmental stewardship, and shared appreciation of Minnesota’s national park. As a member of the Voyageurs Conservancy Board of Directors, Megan’s passion for the park radiates into our team. All of us are so proud to support this special (dark sky certified!) place.
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The Sustainable Growth Coalition is a multi-sector partnership of businesses with a Minnesota footprint harnessing their expertise to equitably advance the circular economy, where all energy is renewable, waste is eliminated, and natural, social, and human resources are protected and preserved. Individually, each organization is committed to sustainability, and recognizes that together they can have a larger societal impact on their operations, industries, environment, and community. Together with Environmental Initiative, Native Sustainability is mapping out the SGC’s trajectory this year, planning opportunities for members to engage and stewarding their progress as a group. Do you represent a Minnesota company interested in becoming a sustainability leader in the state? We are looking for more members of the Sustainable Growth Coalition! Contact us to learn more about joining the group. SGC Member Companies:
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Updates on H.J. Res. 140 from our friends at Save the Boundary Waters: On April 27, the President signed H.J. Res. 140 into Law. This legislation used the rarely used Congressional Review Act (CRA) and officially revoked Public Land Order (PLO) 7917, which protected over 225,000 acres of federal land in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park from the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining for 20 years. On April 16, the Senate passed H.J. Res. 140, a devastating bill that unravels protections for the Boundary Waters watershed. This harmful resolution strips away critical, science-based, broadly popular protections from the headwaters of the Boundary Waters, opening its fragile waterways to copper mining and putting these pristine waters at permanent risk. Minnesota can—and must—be the backstop against these unprecedented attacks on the Wilderness. Learn more here and contact your state elected officials.
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What We’re Reading and Listening ToInterested in diving into sustainability topics even further? Check out some of our current favorites:
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Eureka Recycling Community Open House May 30, 2026 Eureka Recycling 2828 Kennedy St NE, Minneapolis This is a chance to learn more about what belongs in your recycling bin, meet the people behind the process, and discover how recycling supports a zero waste future.
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Waterfest May 30, 2026 Lake Phalen Park Pavilion 1600 Phalen Dr. St. Paul, MN 55106 This free, family festival celebrating our clean lakes provides an opportunity for outdoor hands-on learning about clean water, wildlife, and land and water conservation.
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Women’s Environmental Network Spring Clothing Swap May 30th, 2026 University of Minnesota ReUse Program Minneapolis, MN Ready to refresh your wardrobe and give back to the planet? Come join WEN for an eco-friendly, fun-filled evening of swapping clothes and supporting sustainable fashion!
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Apply to the MN Greencorps Program
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MN GreenCorps is a statewide initiative to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals. Members serve at host site organizations in the following areas: Community readiness & outreach Energy conservation & transportation Stormwater & forestry Waste reduction & recycling
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Native Sustainability works with clients to creatively solve their most complex sustainability challenges. Learn more about us here. We also support individuals and consumers through education, tours, and resource connections for a more sustainable home and lifestyle. Until next time! Stay connected:
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