Healthy Community Initiative

A Northfield man who helped a group of teenagers from the Key build a canoe is the February 2012 recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. John Daniels spent nine months guiding the teenagers […]

Four teenagers who organized a benefit concert for a family who lost their home in a fire are the December 2011/January 2012 recipients of the Healthy Community Initiative’s  “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. Within hours of learning of […]

Bob Gregory-Bjorklund and Ann Gregory-Bjorklund are the November recipients of the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI)  “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. The Gregory-Bjorklunds were recognized for encouraging and supporting youth through the arts.  Bob, who recently directed a cast […]

Chuck Perkins, a volunteer coach with the Northfield High School Raiders football team, is the September/October 2011 recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. “We’ve often referred to him as our positive energy […]

Four AmeriCorps Promise Fellows who devoted the past year to serving youth in Northfield are the July/August recipients of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. Through a partnership with the Minnesota Alliance With Youth, the […]

Seven Carleton College tutors who volunteered with the TORCH program were named the June recipients of the the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. The college students volunteered throughout the school year assisting high school TORCH […]

The Bethel Lutheran Church group Youth Energized to Serve (Y.E.S.) is the May recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. The youth group coordinated the church’s March food drive and raised $14,035 and 158 […]

Rotary Youth Exchange Officer Vicki Dilley is the April 2011 recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative “Making a Difference” Award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. Dilley oversees the application process for Northfield students who want to go abroad through Rotary, and she […]

Local business owner Randy Malecha is the February/March 2011 recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference” award.  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. Malecha, who owns Willie’s Shoe Service, was selected for his commitment to volunteering at Bridgewater Elementary School.  He […]

Gabriel Rysdahl, a senior at St. Olaf College, is the January recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s (HCI) “Making a Difference Award.”  The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth. January is National Mentoring Month, and Rysdahl was selected for his commitment to mentoring youth […]