The HERC (Hennepin Energy Recovery Center) is the trash incinerator in downtown Minneapolis. This is where garbage trucks from Minneapolis and some of the surrounding communities bring our trash. According to Hennepin County, the steam from the HERC produces enough electricity to power 25,000 homes and it also provides energy to Target Field and other areas of downtown. The County also reports that emissions from the HERC are consistently below Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permitted levels. Critics of the HERC are concerned about the environmental and health effects generated by the HERCs emissions. They assert that the HERC is a public health risk especially for the people living nearby, many of whom are people of color and low income, who are disproportionately impacted by HERC's emissions. 

Many Minneapolis residents are wondering, where will the trash go without the HERC? Can we afford to close it? Can we afford to keep it open? Will zero waste efforts be enough to divert from the HERC? What is the just course of action for our waste in Minneapolis?

This panel discussion will address the history, benefits, risks, science, and the environmental justice perspective behind the HERC.

Panelists:

Dave McNary is the Assistant Director of Solid Waste & Energy for Hennepin County. In that role, he oversees solid waste operations, recycling, and district energy facilities. He also leads local policy implementation aimed at zero-waste goals. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from Hamline University. 

Leslie Myint is Policy & Research Director for the MN Environmental Justice Table, a nonprofit organization working to transform our waste system away from burning and burying to regeneration and sustainability.  Her work is focused on analyzing data regarding different waste management practices.  She earned her PhD in Biostatistics from Johns Hopkins University and is a professor of Statistics and Data at Macalester College.

Nick Gerold is Director of Solid Waste & Recycling for the City of Minneapolis. He manages collection services for garbage, recycling, and yard waste throughout Minneapolis and oversees community cleanup programs.

Free and Open to All. Tuesday September 8, 6:30-8pm at Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall

Find Out What You Didn't Know About The Results of The Charter Schools Initiative.

Pulling from several years of research, Professor Orfield has surprising data to share regarding the outcomes of charter schools and how they are reshaping education in the Twin City metro area. Get informed on a critical subject that impacts Minneapolis Public School students.

Watch recording HERE.

Public concern about law enforcement training and practices has grown, especially after Operation Metro Surge when ICE & other federal agents used excessive force, conducted dangerous vehicle pursuits, made aggressive stops and arrests, and engaged in crowd control tactics that felt both alarming and unlawful.  These moments have prompted an important question: What does ethical law enforcement look like, and how is the Mpls Police Department preparing both new and veteran officers to meet the new standards of non‑discriminatory policing outlined in MPD's Settlement Agreement with the MN Dept of Human Rights? 

Watch recording HERE.

Climate change is one of the most urgent and complex challenges of our time. It affects everyone, but not equally.

Some communities that have historically faced racial, economic, and environmental injustices are more vulnerable and less resilient to the impacts of climate change. That is why the City of Mpls has developed a Climate Equity Plan that focuses on actions that benefit diverse and low-income communities, especially in the Green Zones, which are disproporionately harmed. Hear more about the underlying factors that contribute to disparities and solutions to address the problem. Learn about the issues from Jayda Pounds, Sustainability Program Coordinator, Mpls Dept of Health.

Watch recording HERE.

Federal, State, and Local Government: Who Controls Our Elections?

Guest Speaker David Schultz, Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University.

What are the roles and powers of federal, state, and local governments when it comes to election administration and funding? What are possible disruptions to the 2026 elections and how can we prepare to ensure elections run smoothly.

Watch recording HERE.