State of the Environment in Minnesota
Katrina Kessler, Commissioner of the MN Pollution Control Agency
Tuesday, January 17 • 7pm
Minnesota’s Landmark Environmental Case
Reserve Mining & Grant Merritt
Peter Gove
Tuesday, January 24 • 7pm
credit - Steve Carlson, Carlson Photography, Cambridge, Minn
Thoughts on Nature & the Environment from a Naturalist Writer’s Lens
Sue Leaf, author of Portage: A Family, A Canoe, and the Search for the Good Life; A Love Affair with Birds. The Life of Thomas Sadler Roberts
Tuesday, March 14 • 7pm
The Environment and the State Parks & State Trails of Minnesota
Ann Pierce, Director of MN State Parks & Trails
RESCHEDULED DATE
Tuesday, March 28 • 7pm
Environment from an Adventurer Biker
Jerry Holl, leadership speaker, author of Downhills Don’t Come Free-One Man’s Bike Ride From Alaska to Mexico
Tuesday, April 4 • 7pm
credit - Tim Dooley
Food & the Environment - Sustainable Food for the Future
Beth Dooley, StarTribune Food Writer, author of 15 food books, including The Perennial Kitchen, A Simple Recipe For A Healthy Future; Star Tribune Food Writer for Taste Section; Endowed Chair of Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture at University of Minnesota
Tuesday, April 18 • 7pm
Black Nature Writing - Environment Thoughts
Erin Sharkey, writer, film Producer, author of A Darker Wilderness. Black Nature Writing From Soil To Stars
Tuesday, May 2 • 7pm
Environment of Lake Superior’s North Shore & the Superior Hiking Trail
Rudi Hargesheimer, former president of the Superior Hiking Trail Association and author of the new updated book, The Superior Hiking Trail Story, The Trek Continues / Expanded Content
Tuesday, June 6 • 7pm
MODERATORS
For our Environment and Wellness series, we are honored to have two moderators from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
Kathryn Hoffman
Kathryn graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2006 magna cum laude, and earned a Masters in Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute at the same time. After working in complex litigation in Zelle LLP in Minneapolis for four years, she joined MCEA as a staff attorney in 2010. She stepped into the CEO role in 2017, and she is proud of the way the organization has grown and changed since then. She has worked as adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota Law School, and is also a former Chair of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Kathryn is celebrating 10 years at MCEA in 2020.
Aaron Klemz
Aaron holds two Masters degrees, one in Communications, the other in Advocacy and Political Leadership. He has over a decade of experience teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in policy and communications. Prior to working at MCEA, Aaron was the Advocacy Director at Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Inspired Life Speaker Series provides an open environment to reflect upon topics relevant to our community and to find inspiration for lives of purpose and meaning. The series is rooted in a sacred vision to seek abundant life for all, to care for the wellbeing of each individual, and to work for the vitality of our local community and world. We're grateful for our speakers and the support of volunteers in coordinating these conversations.