June 25, 2024
Merry Grande, Minnesota Public Health
(612) 693-3243
info@mpha.net
The Minnesota Public Health Association Announces 2024 MPHA Award Recipients
Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) presented the 2024 MPHA Awards during the group’s Annual Business Meeting on June 25, 2024. The MPHA awards are presented each year to leaders across Minnesota who are passionate advocates for public health and greater health equity.
The Albert Justus Chesley Award, honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to MPHA, was presented to Ellen Saliares, MPH. Ellen Saliares’ willingness to fill any role at any time with a smile belies her dedication, organization skills, efficiency and most importantly passion for public health. She is a past president of MPHA and currently serves amongst other roles as the membership and communication chair. She does it all with ease and professionalism, which should be commended given her busy personal and professional life. She steps up to write grant applications and continues to give significantly of her time to strengthen MPHA as an organization.
The B. Robert Lewis Award, which honors an elected official who has championed public health, was presented to Rep. Alicia "Liish" Kozlowski, who goes by the Ojibwe name Ozaawaa Anakwad, or "Yellow Cloud," has been representing their hometown of Duluth as a state legislator. They identify as nonbinary and two-spirit, and they are of Anishinaabe-Ojibwe and Mexican origin. Some Indigenous people refer to a nonbinary gender identification or sexuality that incorporates both a masculine and feminine spirit in their Native traditions as "two-spirit." Alicia "Liish" Kozlowski was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in November 2022. Rep. Kozlowski serves on the Capital Investment, Economic Development Finance and Policy, Housing Finance and Policy, and Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committees. Rep. Kozlowski was appointed by Speaker of the House, Melissa Hortman, to serve on the Great Lakes Commission and Minnesota Indian Affairs Council for the 2023-2024 biennium. During their term, they co-created the first Queer Caucus in the DFL party and are Vice Chair of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus where they take a leading role to root out violence in all its forms, create a state where everyone has affordable and secure housing, and cultivate a regenerative and green economy that lifts up everyone.
Representative Kozlowski has authored or co-authored significant legislation in Minnesota to improve the lives of Minnesotans such as HF 381 - Increase Teachers of Color Act in higher education strengthened, pilot scholarship program for aspiring teachers of color made permanent, teacher shortage loan repayment program provisions modified, and money appropriated; HF 2065 - Gender-neutral, single-user restroom and locker room facilities provided; and money appropriated; and HF 2091 -Indigenous cultural heritage exhibits and programming funding provided, and money appropriated; and HF 1071 Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act/ Indian Child Welfare Act modifications, legislation aimed at keeping Native American children within the foster care system in Native American homes.
Taylour Blakeman received the Dr. Harold 'Hal' Leppink Scholarship, awarded to an early career professional working for Local Public Health located in Greater Minnesota. Taylour Blakeman has been working with Carlton Cook Lake St. Louis Community Health Board (CHB), as the Regional Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator since January 2023. During this time, she has done a fantastic job of jumping into the work. She has established and maintained connections with all the regional staff and partners to get to know them and their work. She provides a servant leadership approach and competently leads the local SHIP staff with an attitude of support. Taylour wants to see her colleagues succeed, is devoted to the health of the region, and she embraces her role in making that happen. Taylour is engaging at the state level working with the MDH on advisory committees and bringing her innovative ideas and rural perspectives to statewide work. She also serves as Membership Chair of the Minnesota Society of Public Health Education (MNSOPHE) where she works to support the growth of others in the field of public health and advance public health collaboration across the state.
Jessica Nelson received The Harvey G. Rogers Environmental Health Leadership Award, honoring “an individual who through years of dedication, distinguished service and technical contribution has promoted the public's health through preservation of the environment”. Jessica Nelson is passionate about the potential for biomonitoring to help advance health equity and to be used as a key tool for environmental public health practice in Minnesota and across the country. Jessica has been the program director and epidemiologist for the Minnesota Biomonitoring program since 2010, but her work and the impact of her work extends far beyond her current job position. As the program director, she leads the epidemiology team implementing the Healthy Kids Minnesota Program, a statewide biomonitoring effort focused on measuring environmental chemical exposures in preschool-aged children. She was the Principal Investigator for past biomonitoring projects focused on mercury and other heavy metal exposures in pregnant women and children, and exposure to PFAS in affected Minnesota communities. In her work at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), she has built strong relationships with a wide array of partners, including local public health, school districts, tribal nations, community organizations, and other agencies.
It is the relationship building that takes patience and is time consuming, yet relationships are critical for building trust with communities. Jessica continues to be a trustworthy source of information in her personal and professional life. It is those trusting relationships that have ultimately produced results that help protect vulnerable populations in Minnesota communities where she works.
The Laura Waterman Wittstock Racial Justice & Health Equity Award winner was Kris Rhodes. As director of the Office of American Indian Health at Minnesota Department of Health and the founder and chief executive officer of Asemaake, LLC, a consulting firm on American Indian and Alaskan Native health issues. Kris leverages her decades of public health experience to provide strategic and collaborative support to improve programs and systems centered on the health of American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. Her approach is rooted in tribal values and wisdom, and incorporates relevant scientific data for innovative, sustainable, and culturally grounded solutions. Kris was previously the chief executive officer of the American Indian Cancer Foundation. In that role she focused on raising awareness of the burden of cancer on American Indian and Alaskan Native communities, building community capacity, and supporting research and evaluation to identify and develop Native-led solutions.
Kris is an enrolled citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and a descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She earned a Master of Public Health in Public Health Administration & Policy and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Community Health Education, both from the University of Minnesota. With decades of strategic, cooperative, and equity-focused public health experience, Kris is a respected authority on American Indian and Alaskan Native health concerns. She is committed to just, sustainable, community-centered policies, systems, and research solutions in her capacity as a public health leader. Her expertise lies in forming genuine alliances with academic institutions, governmental agencies, and philanthropic sectors to support inventive, long-lasting, and culturally-based projects. She has the track record to implement ideas effectively and efficiently.
The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Public Health Achievement Award was presented to Chera Sevcik. Chera is truly a champion in public health and has faithfully served the people of Minnesota for many years. Chera is currently the Executive Director/Community Health Administrator for Health and Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties. Chera is nominated for her work at MNSU and her public health work. This award honors “an individual who has distinguished themselves in public health through an outstanding contribution… to promote and protect the health of individuals, families and the community… (and) leadership as demonstrated by the impact of on other’s careers or having made a contribution that reflects innovation, creativity or a courageous pioneering effort consistent with professional excellence and public service”.
Bilsma Adema was honored as the recipient of this year’s Student Achievement Award. Bilsuma is an exceptional young woman with a bright future in public health. Bilsuma joined the Minnesota Health Department’s office of Statewide Health Improvement Partnership in the spring of 2023. She came as an Americorps Service member for a year-long stint within the Well-being Team. Bilsuma was also completing her last two semesters as a student at Concordia University in St. Paul and also held part time jobs throughout the year. In her Americorps Service, Bilsuma took on many assignments to help build out the work for Community Well-being projects throughout the state. She proved to be a more than capable member of the team as she helped develop the strategy, handle day to day work, and created a leader’s manual for starting trauma informed organizations.
As she continued to work at MDH, Bilsma explored career possibilities in the public health field, and applied to graduate school in epidemiology. She will start at the University of Minnesota in the fall. Bilsuma’s dedication to all the roles she played at MDH, along with juggling completion of her undergraduate degree and supporting her family through difficult times underscores her capabilities and dedication to the future of public health.
The awards were presented at MPHA’s Annual Business Meeting, held virtually on June 25, 2024. All are welcome to learn more about MPHA’s awards and the nomination requirements at mpha.net.
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About the Minnesota Public Health Association
The Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) represents over 350 public health professionals across the state of Minnesota who champion the health of our people and communities. The mission of the MPHA is to create a healthier Minnesota through effective public health practice and engaged citizens. For more information, visit www.mpha.net, or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.