Healthy Community Initiative

By Ashley Gardner as a Guest Columnist for the Faribault Daily News September is National Recovery Month, and at Healthy Community Initiative we are celebrating both the power of recovery and the harm reduction work that’s been accomplished through the efforts of the Rice County Chemical and Mental Health Coalition (RCCMHC). Here are some highlights of […]

You’re Invited! Join us on Thursday, Sept. 11, for an evening of charity drag bingo benefiting HCI at Roxy’s Cabaret in downtown Minneapolis. Enjoy a lively night out and help us raise some money to support HCI’s programming! This is a perfect event for you to share your support of HCI with friends, family, and community members, […]

Night to Unite is August 5, 2025 Night to Unite (also referred to as National Night Out) is an annual tradition that helps neighbors get to know each other and fosters relationships between residents and first responders with the goal of promoting safer neighborhoods. Residents sign up to organize block parties throughout their cities, giving […]

HCI staff from a variety of programs and systems change initiatives attended the WINGS 2025 grant celebration on June 16 at the Northfield Community Resource Center. Representatives from TORCH, Growing Up Healthy, Northfield Community College Collaborative, and Youth Engagement provided information on the important services being supported in part by WINGS. Jen Barrientos, manager of […]

Diplomas, scholarships, college acceptances — seniors in the TORCH program had many reasons to celebrate in the final weeks and months of their education at Northfield Public Schools. Thirty two out of the 33 TORCH seniors graduated on time with the Class of 2025, for a 97% graduation rate! TORCH Senior Manager Tessa Kiesow said […]

A new childcare center opened in Faribault last week, marking the result of a year-long partnership between Healthy Community Initiative and Faribault Cares. Little Scholars Academy will serve 77 children from infant to school-age. It’s located at 550 Wilson Avenue and is the second Faribault location for Little Scholars, which also has a facility at […]

Highlights from HCI’s 2025 Community Breakfast More than 250 guests gathered in St. Olaf College’s Buntrock Commons Ballroom on Wednesday, April 9, for HCI’s annual Community Breakfast. HCI’s staff and board, along with friends, community leaders, and longtime and recent supporters of HCI, enjoyed breakfast and celebrated the transformational impact HCI-supported programs are having on […]

Join this local competition to raise awareness about those in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. Now in its fourth year, Recovery’s Got Talent is open to anyone in Southern Minnesota — those in recovery and anyone who supports those who are! Consider signing up for the contest or attending the show on Friday, August […]

Dr. Chris Richardson will retire as superintendent of the Northfield Public Schools in June.  Dr. Richardson has been an important champion for young people in our community — and a wonderful friend to HCI. We hope you will attend a retirement celebration on behalf of Dr. Richardson on Tuesday, May 31.