Healthy Community Initiative

by Candace Godfrey as a Guest Columnist for the Northfield News The NCCC — Navigating and Coaching for College and Careers — started in 2018 under the name Northfield Community College Collaborative as a program of Healthy Community Initiative. Since 2018, we have moved our location from downtown Northfield to the second floor of the […]

Northfield Community School’s Summer BLAST and PLUS programs and Faribault Community Schools’ STEAM program provide students with fun, engaging, and supportive summer learning experiences that blend academics with enrichment opportunities. Designed to build confidence, strengthen social skills, and keep students connected to learning, the programs offer a variety of hands-on clubs and activities that encourage creativity, collaboration, and […]

by Emily Culver as a Guest Columnist for the Northfield News Last month I had the pleasure of accompanying five middle school and high school girls on a five-day trip to YMCA Camp Menogyn and into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The trip was one of several that students involved in the TORCH program […]

Northfield Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann ends his tenure with Northfield Public Schools on June 30 and starts a new job as executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. His successor, Dr. Tim Anderson, assumes the role of superintendent on July 1. HCI Communications Manager Joy Riggs sat down recently with Hillmann to discuss […]

by Karra Howles as a Guest Columnist for the Northfield News As a St. Olaf College senior this past year, I had the opportunity to intern as an office and operations team assistant for Healthy Community Initiative. Before starting my position at HCI, I had heard of the organization in passing but did not realize […]

More accessible playgrounds for kids in wheelchairs. More trees and places to play sports. More chain restaurants. Fewer bike lanes. Fifth graders had numerous suggestions for how to improve the City of Northfield when given the chance to speak at a mock city council public comment session on Tuesday at Greenvale Park Elementary School. Four […]

Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) is celebrating National Prevention Week (May 10-16) by recognizing the efforts of local prevention champions. The Rice County Chemical and Mental Health Coalition recently presented 2026 Prevention Champion awards to Yahye Noor, an officer with the Faribault Police Department, and Kelli Podracky, Executive Director of the Northfield Union of Youth. The […]

More than a dozen students from all three Northfield elementary schools have been paired with college mentors this spring for after-school music lessons offered in partnership with Northfield Community School.  The mentors and mentees were matched depending on their chosen instruments (orchestra, band, vocal or piano). The 45-minute, weekly music practice sessions started March 2 […]

Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) presented Northfield Superintendent Matt Hillmann with its first “Friend of HCI” award Wednesday, April 15, at its annual community breakfast at St. Olaf College. District Youth Council (DYC) co-chairs Delphine Hawkins and Atticus Mayer made the surprise announcement halfway through the program.  The award was given to Dr. Hillmann for his […]

By Mariana Cruz, Néepa Hyde, and Byrd Lenzen as Guest Columnists for the Northfield News Over the course of 10 years, Northfield YouthBank has granted $200,000 to nearly 80 youth-led projects. Continuing the program’s dedication to uplifting the voices and ideas of young people in Northfield, the local YouthBank chapter launched a grant round in […]