Minnesota Environmental Partnership

A COALITION THAT'S MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

Founded in 1998 by conservation leaders who recognized the value of working together toward shared goals, MEP provides forums for collaboration and offers capacity building services that make our member groups, and our coalition, stronger.

CONVENING, COLLABORATION & COORDINATION

• Collaborative Issue Campaigns:
  Clean water, clean energy, defending environmental laws and achieving strong conservation investments are key long-term goals for MEP. MEP coordinates and works with “clusters” of our member groups on specific priority issues that are part of a multi-faceted campaign.
  
  MEP’s staff provides crucial convening and coordination as well as strategically targeted technical assistance. Our members count on us for public opinion research and training in how to communicate effectively and “speak with one voice” about priority issues. We lead effective communications initiatives using traditional, online and social media strategies. MEP also provides public education on the issues, arranges meetings with decision leaders and operates phone and email systems that mobilize citizens at key junctures.

• Member Services:
  MEP offers a range of ongoing services to member groups, in addition to the capacity building that takes place though collaborative issue campaigns. Our member meetings create opportunities for networking, provide forums for our members to speak with state agencies and elected officials and training opportunities in targeted areas.
  
  Our email Weekly Update, electronic news clip service, environmental issues blog and multi-faceted website are heavily used forums for gathering, sharing and disseminating information.

• Great Lakes Leadership:
  With a Duluth office complementing our Saint Paul-based headquarters, MEP provides services specifically for Northeast Minnesota groups, many of which are run by volunteers. We work to connect local needs to state-level policy initiatives, engage groups across the state in Lake Superior-focused collaboration and represent Minnesota in Great Lakes forums.

PRODUCER OF THE LIVING GREEN EXPO

In 2010, MEP became producer of the state’s largest “green lifestyle” fair, a two-day event that includes more than 300 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors each year. The Living Green Expo (www.LivingGreenExpo.MN) provides a powerful education opportunity, helping our coalition inspire environmentally concerned Minnesotans to act on their values, and building new connections with green businesses.

PROVEN TO HAVE HIGH IMPACT

In 2011, MEP was named the #1 environmental nonprofit with high impact in Minnesota, in a survey of local experts conducted by Philanthropedia. Based on the experts' comments, Philanthropedia said:

"MEP enables Minnesota's 80+ environmental nonprofits to organize around common priorities and speak with a unified voice to state legislators, the media, and the pubilc. The coalition's legislative advocacy has been instrumental in the passage of key environmental legislation, including the 2008 Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment."

"MEP was praised for the depth and diversity of its coalition and for the outstanding knowledge and experience of its leadership. Experts also cited MEP's media and communications support as being particularly helpful to member organizations."