Welcome to Community Resources: Minnesota - a new podcast that I’m giving a try. Today is March 5th, 2022. My name is Jerome Evans, I host the TV Show Bottomless Coffee with Jerome and another podcast called Bottomless Coffee Podcast. Those two projects are based around conversation. But for this podcast - Community Resources Minnesota - I want to focus on sharing information about the community resources that we have at our disposal! 

Today I’m sharing information that was sent to me from The Minnesota Department of Health, CDC, the Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates list, the MN Immigrant and Refugee Health Announcements list, and The Center for Health Equity.

For this episode we’re going to start with Announcements and then talk through Vaccine Events that are taking place around Minnesota and then finish up with CDC Updates.

Also - you can open up the description and read through everything I’m talking about. I’ll put links in the description when possible. But a lot of these announcements and events come with flyers. So you really should go to BottomlessCoffeeShow.com/Community and look through all of the supplemental info there as well.

Announcements

1. MAJOR CDC UPDATE

On Feb. 25, 2022, CDC updated their framework for monitoring the level of COVID-19 in communities.

With this new framework, the focus of recommendations is on minimizing severe disease, limiting strain

on the health care system, and enabling those at highest risk to protect themselves against infection and severe disease.

This new framework is called the “COVID-19 Community Level.” It moves beyond looking just at cases

and test positivity to look at factors that reflect the severity of disease – including hospitalizations and

hospital capacity— and helps to determine whether the level of COVID-19 and severe disease are low,

medium, or high in a community.

Knowing the COVID-19 Community Level in your area and your own underlying risk will help you

determine what prevention measures to take. Go to www.CDC.gov to view the County Check Tool

where you can identify your COVID-19 Community Level and the recommended prevention strategies

for your community.

Given this new framework, MDH website content, materials, and guidance will be reviewed and

updated as needed in the coming days.

The COVID-19 Community Level will inform CDC recommendations on prevention measures, like

masking and screening testing in public settings, including schools. And CDC’s recommendations for

layered prevention measures will depend on the COVID-19 Level in the community.

In areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is low—people, households, and communities can take

minimal, practical precautions.

In areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is medium—CDC recommends focusing specific

prevention measures on protecting those at increased risk of severe illness.

In areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is high—layered prevention measures are recommended to avoid overwhelming local hospitals and health care systems by preventing severe illness and death.

Layering prevention means the more steps you take to slow the spread of COVID-19, the safer you will

be.

Regardless of level, people should stay up to date on their vaccines and get tested when needed.

The letter in its entirety is posted on the site.

American Heart Association Virtual Town Hall. 

1. Join the American Heart Association for a Zoom town hall to learn more about the Social Impact Fund and opportunities for funding.
2. $500K is available for nonprofits that are sustainably addressing food insecurity, education, housing, health access and employment for residents in the Twin Cities area.
3. Link on the page and in the description.
4. https://heart.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdeiopj8vG9HDNfP6jzOjSdNGhy-KfNoI?_x_zm_rtaid=duR60AD9SoezwAhsa_i6EA.1645639297142.cbda7b09c83bb1225c758f0da8cf778e&_x_zm_rhtaid=976  

Gov Walz Announces MN College Registration as part of ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’  See Word Document

1. Governor Tim Walz today announced the registration form is open for Minnesota parents whose 5- to 11-year-olds receive the COVID-19 vaccine to register for a $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship, the next phase of the “Kids Deserve a Shot” vaccine incentive program.
2. Any Minnesota parent or guardian whose 5- to 11-year-olds have ever received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine by April 11 can enter to win one of five $100,000 Minnesota College Scholarships. On April 15, the State of Minnesota will hold a drawing for five $100,000 scholarships valid at any public or private non-profit higher educational institution in Minnesota.

COVID-19 Vaccines for People Who Would Like to Have a Baby

COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 during Pregnancy

Jobs

Minnesota Department of Transportation Student Worker Programs:

1. Phoenix Student Worker Program: One year positions for high school juniors going into senior year
2. To apply go to Search for Careers Within the State of Minnesota
3. Enter: 52367
4. Phoenix Student Worker Application Supplement Instructions
5. Phoenix Student Worker Application Supplement.pdf
6. Phoenix Student Worker Program 2022 Flyer.pdf

Vaccine Events

1. Merrick Community Services Covid-19 event March 7th 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.   Pfizer 2nd dose March 28th Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church 1669 Arcade St
2. Hibbing Covid-19 Vaccine event March  8 at 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. and 2nd date is March 29th Pfizer – see correct flyer  event hours changed
3. Virtual Town Hall March 9th 10 am. See  MN Facebook page flyer and Twin Cities Townhall flyer PDF
4. COPAL – March 20 Vaccine event The Center Clinic – Dodge Center 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. See attached flyer
5. COPAL – March 21 Vaccine event Folwell Community School 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.  3611 20th Ave S Mpls MN see flyers English and Spanish
6. ACER Academia Cesar Chavez COVID-19 Vaccine event Pfizer March 22 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  English and Spanish – see flyers
7. Albert Lee COVID-19 Vaccine clinic Shady Oaks 800 S 4th Ave Pfizer  2nd dose on March 23  9 am – 4 p.m.– See flyer
8. IANA family vaccine clinics March and April dates on Fridays.  See flyer for dates, locations and times in Bloomington, Minneapolis, and St Paul
9. Briva Health vaccine clinic every Saturday 9 am – 5pm   Minneapolis MN call 1-833-567-6662 for appointment English and Somali

Everybody remember to chill out this week. You’ve been through a lot. If you think that you haven’t been through a lot - you’re wrong - and you still need to take at least a few minutes to take some deep breaths, to unclench your jaw, and to let your mind and body relax for just a few minutes.