RCLLG November Newsletter

Read our other newsletters

Newsletter Content:

1. Register for the Annual Dinner & Program

2. November Program Summary 

3. Previous RCLLG Monthly Programs

Registration is Open!

Join RCLLG on December 15 at the

Wakefield Park Community Building in Maplewood

Dr. Irina Fursman

Co-Founder & CEO HueLife

RCLLG Annual Dinner & Program

Thursday, December 15th

5:00 - 8:00 PM

Join your fellow RCLLG members as we convene, in-person, for our annual dinner and program. Our featured speaker will be Dr. Irina Fursman, Co-Founder and CEO of HueLife.

December 15th Agenda

5:00 - 5:45 PM | Social 

5:45 - 6:15 PM | Dinner Served

6:15 - 6:45 PM | RCLLG Presentation

6:45 - 7:00 PM | Break/Social

7:00 - 7:50 PM | Presentation: Dr. Irina Fursman

7:50 - 8:00 PM | Social & End

RCLLG Monthly Programs and the Annual Dinner & Program are open to all elected/appointed officials and staff of RCLLG member organizations.

RCLLG November Program Summary

Last Friday, November 11^th, we were delighted to host a special Veteran’s Day program in which our member veterans were recognized and honored. We were also fortunate to hear presentations on veteran resources from Christina Rost, Ramsey County Veterans Service Officer Interim Director and Kurt Johnson, Metro Regional Director for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV).

Steve Scott, Arden Hills City Council and Board Member of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Suburban Ramsey County, kicked off the program by informing us of the history of Veteran’s Day.

Our member veterans then shared their experiences serving, answering these questions:

• What inspired you to serve?
• Which branch, service period and duty locations?
• What unique experience(s) did you gain from the military?
• What would you tell a young person who is on the fence whether they should consider serving or not?

Veterans participating included:

• Steve Scott, Arden Hills City Council & Board Member, BTYR Suburban Ramsey County
• Eileen Scott, Board Member and Chair, BTYR Suburban Ramsey County
• Trista MatasCastillo, Chair, Ramsey County Board
• Abdullahi Abdulle, New Brighton City Council
• Christina Rost, Ramsey County Veterans Service Officer (Interim Director)
• Kurt Johnson, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)

Christina Rost then shared a presentation on the role of Veterans Service Officers. Each county has at least one Veterans Service Officer, and their role is to help members understand and receive access to benefits, programs, and other important information. Community partners and other partnering public programs include MACV, BTYR, Catholic Charities Shelter and Housing, and other programs involved with food support, medical assistance, cash benefits, and more.

Kurt Johnson presented on the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), a nonprofit that serves veterans and their families experiencing homelessness across MN. This council was established in the 1990s and focuses on “Housing first” and removing barriers to ending veteran homelessness. They transitioned approximately 15 veterans into housing last month.

To finish the program, Steve Scott shared a presentation on Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, an organization that supports families while their loved ones are on deployment. 

Download the Veterans Service Officer Presentation

Download the MAC-V Presentation

January: On January 21, we held a legislative update in which we heard from multiple State legislators. The members of RCLLG and the Minnesota State Representatives talked about a variety of issues, including mental health, housing, education, crime, climate change, and more. We heard what bills our legislators are creating and supporting, especially those regarding mental health.

February: On February 11, we heard from a panel of community service organizations who focus on food security. This meeting provided an opportunity for RCLLG members to learn how food is brought to those in need in our communities, and how we as local government entities can find some ways to provide support individually or collectively.

March: On March 11, we heard from Maplewood's Mental Health Outreach Team (MHOT) and Roseville's Community Action Team (CAT) on their challenges and benefits in embedding a social worker into their emergency response teams.

April: On April 8, RCLLG members attended "Mental Health: From Pandemic to Endemic" and heard from representatives from Ramsey County and NAMI Minnesota on we can learn to live with the pandemic’s effects and understand how the past two years has affected mental health in our communities.

May: On May 13, we learned about workforce trends in Ramsey County, and heard from Erin Olsen, Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent; Ling Becker, Director of Workforce Solutions at Ramsey County; Mike Hauswirth, St. Paul Chamber’s Education and Workforce Committee; and Jenny Moore, Career Pathways Coordinator for White Bear Lake Area Schools and White Bear Chamber of Commerce Member.

June: On June 10, we attended the “Ramsey County Public Safety Update” program, in which Ramsey County Attorney John Choi shared data from his office related to recent increases in violent crime and described how he and other county leaders have responded. He also discussed new sources of funding, relevant policies and initiatives, & legislative efforts.

July: No Meeting

August: Member Social

September: On September 9, a program on “A View of Mental Health in the Classroom," took place, in which three school-based social workers in Ramsey County shared what mental health challenges look like in the classroom at the K-12 level, including the current tools they use to address these challenges.

October: On October 14, we attended the program on “Responding to the Homelessness Crisis," in which Roseville and Maplewood public safety leaders shared philosophies, policies and resources that provide a humane and effective response to a homelessness crisis.