SEAD seeks to expand on our successful storytelling program by archiving and illustrating first-person narratives from elders in our community. Our proposed program, entitled Collections from Home,will document first-person stories from elders in our Hmong, Viet, Khmer, and Lao communities on topics related to immigration, childhood, homelands, and tradition, which will then be illustrated by emerging artists within our community for publication and distribution.
Pollinators play a key role in ecosystem function and in agriculture, including thousands of native plants and more than one hundred U.S. crops that either need or benefit from pollinators. However, pollinators are in dramatic decline in Minnesota and throughout the country. The causes of the decline are not completely understood, but identified factors include loss of nesting sites, fewer flowers, increased disease, and increased pesticide use. Developing an aware, informed citizenry that understands this issue is one key to finding and implementing solutions to counteract these factors.
Continuing pollinator habitat creation and enhancement on 11 sites from Lakeville to St. Cloud, with public engagement and education centered on youth, schools, and community awareness of natural resource stewardship.
To partner with the Scott County Historical Society to co-design a mobile recording booth big enough to house high-quality recording equipment, a table and seating for 2-4 people, and create a Best Practices manual on collecting oral histories. The booth would include a ramp and wide door and table for ADA accessibility. Scott County Fair will pilot the first round of interviews during the fair, and support the Historical Society to implement plans to manage the collection of stories, train volunteers to staff the booth, and conduct transcription.
This program will acquire 1,100 acres of state wildlife management areas (WMA) or federal waterfowl production areas (WPA) to enhance grassland and prairie habitat and provide public recreation opportunities for the citizens of Minnesota. In addition, PF restore an additional 1,500 acres of grassland habitat on permanently protected lands (WPA's or WMA's).
Prepare Blakeley Bluffs Park Reserve Acquisition Master Plan. A? This project would identify the proposed boundary for a 2,000 acre park reserve. The project would be conducted in partnership with stakeholders including local landowners, the Ney Nature Center, MN DNR, and US Fish and Wildlife.
