Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light

MNCIFA Celebration!
2023-06-26 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | The Coliseum Building, 2708 E Lake St., Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
We’ve had a lot to celebrate this legislative session, and here’s another reason to keep dancing — the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority was created and fully funded with $45 million!
MNCIFA is a state funding authority that will help communities, families, and businesses access money for renewable energy and other green projects. This innovative “green bank” was designed with equity and climate justice at its core. No one should be left behind in the transition to our greener future! MNCIFA will ensure everyone has access to the technical assistance and upfront funding needed to center equity and scale up our energy transition for climate justice.
Come celebrate with us!
Join us on Monday, June 26, to thank the MNCIFA bill authors, Representative Emma Greenman and Senator Tou Xiong, other legislative champions, and the coalition of organizational partners and people who came together to make MNCIFA happen!
Whether you can be with us in person or in spirit, we want to express our deep gratitude for your tireless work and companionship on this journey. Let us mark this moment for all that is to follow.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Event Details
The event will be held at the historic Coliseum Building and Hall at 2708 E Lake St. in Minneapolis. Located in the heart of the George Floyd uprisings, this building is under renovation which will include adding solar to serve the community.
Because this is a construction site, covered footwear is recommended. We will be gathering under a tent on a gravel parking area.
Street and lot parking is available nearby.

This event is hosted by Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light and CURE, with support from Intermill Land History Consulting and the co-sponsors below:

Additional support provided by the organizational partners associated with the Rise and Repair agenda and MNCIFA legislative effort.

Community Connector Circle - 1st Tuesday
2023-07-04 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Do you share information from MNIPL and opportunities to act for climate justice with your congregation, community, or team in any way? We invite you to be part of our Community Connector Circle! In this working group, we’ll share ideas, ask questions, celebrate successes, and get to know each other.
We meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 4 pm and on the 1st Thursday at 12 pm. Come as often as you like! No registration is required. Simply click this link to join.

Spirit of Water
2023-07-15 09:30 - 19:00
Join us on July 15 for a celebration with Mississippi River! Come gather to connect, learn, pray, engage, play, celebrate, and honor the spirit of water.
The event is designed to highlight the care and responsibility involved in protecting and sharing valuable water resources—like Mississippi River—that in today’s world are often hidden by infrastructure and institutions. We will focus of themes of gratitude, celebration, unity, coming together, the commonality of water as a presence in our life, reverence, respect, and honor for our water and all that is sacred.
MORNING SESSION | United Seminary, St. Paul
Come to United’s St. Paul Campus at 9:30 a.m. to start the day. After an opening ritual prayer, attendees will be able to attend workshops, participate in activities, and listen to talks about the importance of water, threats to water, and ways in which we can work to protect water. Refreshments will be available and lunch will be served at noon.
Register for the morning session at this link!
AFTERNOON SESSION | Hidden Falls Regional Park, St. Paul
At 2:00 p.m., meet us at Hidden Falls Regional Park—just five miles (mostly south) from United. On the bank of Mississippi River, we will have a community celebration. There will be speakers, music, information booths, food, art, and play areas for children.
Register for the afternoon session at this link!
EVENT CO-PRESENTERS
This event is co-presented by the following partners:

Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
The Leadership Center for Social Justice at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging (R.I.S.E. Coalition)
Rights of Mississippi River
Friends of the Mississippi River

Want to get involved? Fill out an interest form today!

Voices for Climate Song Circle - July
2023-07-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Good Courage Farm, 21161 York Rd., Hutchinson, MN, 55350, United States
Feed-Your-Farmer Potluck and Community Sing
Saturday, July 29, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Good Courage Farm
21161 York Rd, Hutchinson, MN 55350
This Feed-Your-Farmer Potluck and community gathering is a wonderful opportunity to show gratitude and support for southern MN farmers who grow good food. Community members provide the food and farmers are invited to to come and enjoy an evening off from cooking. Sarina Partridge, Community Songleader from MN Interfaith Power and Light, will lead the gathering in song. Good Courage Farm is a regenerative fruit farm and home to a non-profit agrarian ministry affiliated with The Episcopal Church in Minnesota — www.goodcourage.farm. Come meet farmers and kindred spirits who champion a resilient local foodshed!
Register by emailing deacon@goodcourage.farm. Note in your email if you are able to provide a dish.

A SECOND July Voices for Climate Song Circle
2023-07-30 10:00 - 12:30 | Spirit of Peace / Mills Church, 13215 Minnetonka Dr., Minnetonka, MN, 55305, United States
WHERE: Spirit of Peace/ Mills Church: 13215 Minnetonka Drive Minnetonka, MN 55305
WHEN: Sunday, July 30
10 – 11 ~ Service (with lots of singing!)
11 ~ Lunch – all are welcome to come eat
11:30-12:30ish ~ Voices for Climate Song Circle
Join the Spirit of Peace and Mills Church communities for a welcoming Sunday morning of togetherness and song. Songleader Sarina Partridge will teach original, simple songs that all can sing. No need to read music or see yourself as a “singer”! Come meet others, sing together, and learn about climate justice action we can plug into. Join for all of the morning or just come for lunch and singing. To get a taste of the original songs that Sarina will teach, check out “Every Step a Prayer” or “Of This Earth”. Listen to more of Sarina’s music here. Or click here to learn more.

Yes, Your Congregation Can Go Solar!
2023-08-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Learn how your congregation can benefit from solar energy and slash its carbon emissions. Get step-by-step details and answers to frequently asked questions. Find out how solar works, how you can get a no-cost solar design and proposal for your congregation, how IRA provisions improve solar’s return on investment, and the various methods for financing for your project. In recent years, MNIPL has helped more than a dozen congregations and nonprofits go solar. With new federal tax credits, we expect to double that number in the next year alone. Join us to be part of the solar movement!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

How We Win: Organizing for Environmental and Climate Justice
2023-09-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Minneapolis Friends Meeting, 4401 York Ave S, Minneapolis, 55410, United States
From his first arrest in the Civil Rights era to his most recent during a climate justice march at the age of 83, George Lakey has committed his life to a mission of building a better world through movements for justice. Lakey’s life and vast experience with nonviolent social change organizing reminds us how to find hope in even the darkest times through strategic, joyful activism. Through a panel conversation with local organizers, Lakey will guide us in an exploration of what it takes to organize successful campaigns that create environmental and climate justice in our community.
Organizer Nazir Khan will discuss the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table’s campaign to shut down the HERC Trash Burner. Joe Vital will share insights from East Phillips Neighborhood Institute’s campaign around the Rooftop Depot site. George Lakey will weave in lessons learned from campaigns he’s organized and share stories from his involvement in struggles for peace, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, labor justice, and environmental and climate justice. This is an event not to be missed!
Lakey is visiting the Twin Cities as a part of his Dancing with History: A Life For Peace and Justice book tour. His book How We Win! will also be available.
We are so excited to cohost this amazing event! More information available at fnvw.org/georgelakey

Rise + Repair: North Minneapolis Gathering
2023-10-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Reedemer Lutheran Church, 1800 Glendwood Ave, Minneapolis, 55405, United States
Along with many community partners, we are gearing up for the 2024 Legislative Session.
Join us to learn more about how Rise and Repair can be a vehicle for small organizations to achieve their legislative priorities next year and for Minnesotans across Minnesota to amplify and support Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice during the 2024 Legislative Session.
Special Guest: Senator Bobby Joe Champion (Senate District 59)
To register, click here

Reparations Learning Lab: October 11, 2023
2023-10-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Thank you for signing up to be part of the Reparations Learning Labs! This session will build a community of doers who are committed to repairing the harms of colonization through action. Being a part of these labs will help support your commitment to the forever work of decolonizing yourselves and your communities.
This session’s focus is to-be-determined.
These learning labs are geared towards white folks who are committed to taking action — BIPOC folks who are interested in that work are also welcome!
This session is free to attend, but we will ask that everyone who participates commits to doing something — either making a donation to support our BIPOC Reparations Advisory Table or by sharing our reparations work with a friend or neighbor.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

A Call for Global Repair
2023-11-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
Join MNIPL and our partners at ActionAid USA for an important presentation and discussion on international climate justice!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Global systems of extraction and greed have exacerbated an unequal world, one where the countries who have benefited least face the most dire consequences of climate change. We believe that in order to address the impacts of global climate change, the countries whose governments and corporations have caused the most harm to the planet and its people must pay their fair share to repair it.
Staff and board members of MNIPL will share about how our organization has taken action to redress global harms, from helping to rebuild after floods in Bangladesh to working with local, national, and international organizers in successfully pushing the United States to commit to funding for global repair.
Special guest Brandon Wu of ActionAid will share about what has happened over the last year since this funding was committed and talk about where we go from here. Your support is desperately needed to make sure the US makes good on its promises and commits to funding repair in way that ensures that those most impacted by climate change decide what repair looks like for them — not the US.
Come for a light lunch and dialogue and leave with a renewed promise to help the US to show up globally in a way that promotes justice and peace.

Rise + Repair 2024 Launch
2023-11-14 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom
Along with many community partners, we are gearing up for the 2024 Legislative Session.
Join us to learn more about how Rise and Repair can be a vehicle for you to achieve your legislative priorities next year and for Minnesotans of faith across Minnesota to amplify and support Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice with their elected officials.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The State of Global Repair
2023-11-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
We need you to show your support for the people and organizations that are pushing our government to honor its commitment to create a Loss and Damage Fund — and to put the fund in the hands of those countries most effected by climate disruption.
Join us in a national call-to-action with Rep. Ilhan Omar hosted by MNIPL, Justice is Global, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Action Aid, where you’ll learn about the state of play in 2023, the ever-growing importance of committing to global repair, and how to take action.
Rep. Ilhan Omar will share how she is challenging her colleagues in Congress to make good on Loss and Damage. Brandon Wu at Action Aide and Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists will share expertise on the need for global repair, and you’ll hear from youth from Cameroon to the Philippines who will tell stories of their activism in repairing the places they’ve called home.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

The Threat to Community-Owned Solar
2024-01-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Utility and energy companies in Minnesota are pushing for administrative changes that would make community-owned solar more expensive and onerous to try and monopolize the solar future. We need you to help protect our sustainable energy future by keeping it in the hands of Minnesota communities.
Please join us for a conversation about the history and future of community-owned solar and how you can join the fight to help protect it.
REGISTER HERE

Climate-Right Buildings
2024-01-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom
Join MNIPL as we host the building efficiency experts at Minify Energy: Jeremy Davis and Ben Wallace. Since launching in 2019, they have helped dozens of clients make their buildings more sustainable and more comfortable.
You’ll hear about the changes congregations can make, what to expect for return on investment, and the generous incentives and tax credits available to Minnesota faith communities. Using case studies, Jeremy and Ben will describe best practices for implementing energy efficiency projects and how your congregation can move forward in 2024 making your buildings part of your mission to heal the climate crisis.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Rise & Repair Pre-Session Policy
2024-01-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Rise & Repair is a diverse alliance bringing together Minnesotans from across the state to push for bold proposals during the 2024 Legislative Session to advance Indigenous rights and climate justice!
Join us for an in-depth deep-dive about key legislative priorities from partner organizations and how to get involved during session.
This event will be hosted via Zoom to allow remote participation from constituents across the State! The zoom information is below, but PLEASE RSVP so we can plan accordingly!
More about Rise & Repair: RiseAndRepair.org
REGISTER HERE

Climate Justice and Indigenous Rights: A Jewish Opportunity to Rise & Repair
2024-01-31 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The Rise & Repair Coalition is kicking off their planning for the 2024 Legislative Session, with a focus on protecting and promoting Indigenous rights and fighting for climate justice in our state.
Join us to learn more about how Rise and Repair can be a place for you to get involved and support the work different partners are pushing for during this legislative session. We will share information on specific bills being proposed, ways that you can get involved, and lots of opportunities for learning new topics.
Featured Speakers:

Juventino Meza, J.D., Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Siana Goodwin, Mount Zion Temple Climate Action Group
Beth Gandler, Jewish Community Action

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Threat to Community Owned Solar: How Corporations like Xcel are Undermining Local Renewables (and What We Can Do About It Together!)
2024-02-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Thank you for registering for this conversation about the history and future of community solar and join the fight to keep solar in the hands of Minnesotan communities!
Utility and energy companies in Minnesota are pushing for administrative changes that would make community-owned solar more expensive and onerous to try and monopolize the solar future. We need YOU to help protect our sustainable energy future by keeping it in the hands of Minnesota communities.
The speakers will include:

Julia Nerbonne, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, Cooperative Energy Futures
John Farrell, Institute for Local Self Reliance
And others!

We’re excited for you to join this conversation about the history and future of community-owned solar and how you can join the fight to help protect it!
Event Sponsors: Just Solar Coalition, Climate Generation, Cooperative Energy Futures, Vote Solar, Minneapolis Climate Action, Community Power, and Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Click here to join the Zoom!

St. Cloud's Circular Economy: Defining the Clean Energy Future
2024-02-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
You may be surprised that the City of St. Cloud is also active in caring for the earth and has made some remarkable strides in pursuing ambitious carbon-neutral goals. Join us online February 7 at 1:00 pm to hear from St. Cloud’s Public Services Director Tracy Hodel about the green technologies the City is developing and implementing. You’ll be inspired by what’s possible and St. Cloud’s visionary leadership for a 21st city more harmony with the earth. This event is sponsored by the UMRR League of Women Voters with support from the St. Cloud chapter of Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Rise & Repair: Welcoming our Legislators to the 2024 Session
2024-02-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The 2024 Legislative Session starts at noon on Monday, February 12th. Folks from the Rise & Repair alliance will be holding space in-person at the Capitol to welcome our legislators and encourage them to be bold. There will be singing!
We’ll meet at 10am in Conference Room 316 at the Capitol and start heading towards chambers around 11:30am.
More information about this event will be coming soon. Please RSVP so we can make the most of this opportunity to advance the movement around Climate Justice & Indigenous Rights during the 2024 Legislative Session!
More about Rise & Repair: RiseAndRepair.org
REGISTER HERE

2024 Rise & Repair Caucus Training
2024-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
2024 is set to be a vital year for the climate movement and our planet as a whole. The Rise and Repair Alliance is bringing together organizations to promote Indigenous rights and climate justice, mobilizing people to make sure that these issues are a top priority for candidates, leaders, and voters in 2024.
What is a caucus? What are caucus resolutions? How do I participate? What should I do at my precinct caucus on February 27th?
Join us for a remote zoom training on how to use the 2024 caucuses as a constituent to advance Indigenous rights and climate justice via the Rise & Repair platform!
This one-hour zoom webinar will be led by Amy Livingston, a seasoned caucus veteran!
If you are willing to caucus on behalf of the Rise & Repair 2024 agenda, in addition to RSVP’ing to this event please commit to caucusing by filling out this form: Commit to Caucus Form!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Climate Justice & Indigenous Rights: A Christian Opportunity to Rise & Repair
2024-02-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Rise & Repair is a diverse alliance of people and organizations advancing Indigenous rights & climate justice during Minnesota’s 2024 Legislative Session.
Join us to learn more about how Rise & Repair can be a place for you to get involved and support the work different partners are pushing for during this Legislative Session. You’ll get information on specific bills being proposed, ways that you can get involved, and lots of opportunities to engage in caring for creation.
Featured Speakers:

Dr. Jimmy Hoke, Director of Children and Family Ministries at House of Hope Presbyterian Church
Liz Loeb, Associate Director at Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
A note: MNIPL is an intentionally multi-faith organization, which means we have supporters who practice a number of different faiths, spiritual beliefs, and spiritual practices who have a shared goal of creating a more just, sustainable world. And, we know that our different faiths call us to that work in different ways. This is an opportunity for Christian communities to talk about how a commitment to caring for creation calls us into action around Indigenous rights and climate justice.

We need folks from across multiple communities of faith, conscience, spiritual beliefs, and spiritual practices to be part of this work, respecting the unique tenets of our faiths while celebrating our shared passion for repairing this world and caring for the people in it. If you’re interested in getting involved in our work in Jewish communities, please check out this blog post with a recording of a similar event for Jewish communities and contact Juventino at juventino@mnipl.org. If you’d like to help facilitate a similar conversation within your own community of faith, conscience, spiritual belief, or spiritual practice, please get in touch with Liz at liz@mnipl.org

Be the Spark Information Session
2024-02-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Be the Spark is 5-session series of conversation and training that will help you grow your capacity to organize, build your skills through connection with other passionate people, and help you inspire others into climate justice work. As you progress in the series with your cohort, you’ll get tools and practices that will help you inspire your people, focus your purpose, and identify tangible actions for successes you can celebrate. Further coaching and workshops will also be available for folks who complete the series.
We will be launching a Be the Spark series in March. To kick things off, we’re hosting an Information Session to share more details about the content of the series and to find out how to sign up.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
To learn more about Be the Spark, click here!

MCEA: Climate Justice and Indigenous Rights at the Minnesota Legislature in 2024
2024-03-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join MCEA’s legislative team and a MNIPL’s Juventino Meza, J.D. for a wide-ranging discussion of the 2024 Minnesota legislative session. Learn more about the Rise and Repair coalition, our agenda, and MCEA’s work to advance climate action while protecting Minnesota’s bedrock environmental laws and preserving community input.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Rise & Repair Rally & Lobby Day 2024
2024-03-12 09:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Saint Paul, MN, 55155
Building on the success of last year, we’re going for round two ~ Join us for a full day of amazing organizing at the MN Capitol! This is the big day! The event will include training, visits with legislators, a march & rally in the rotunda to advance the movement around Climate Justice & Indigenous Rights.
More information about this event will be coming soon. Please RSVP so we can make the most of this opportunity to advance the movement around Indigenous Rights & Climate Justice during the 2024 Legislative Session! Let us know in the form if you have any interest in volunteering.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Be the Spark! Spring 2024 Series
2024-03-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Be the Spark is 5-session series of conversation and training that will help you grow your capacity to organize, build your skills through connection with other passionate people, and help you inspire others into climate justice work. As you progress in the series with your cohort, you’ll get tools and practices that will help you inspire your people, focus your purpose, and identify tangible actions for successes you can celebrate. Further coaching and workshops will also be available for folks who complete the series.
Spring 2024 Session Dates:
Session 1: Wednesday, March 27 | Noon – 1 pm CT
Session 2: Wednesday, April 10 | Noon – 1 pm CT
Session 3: Wednesday, April 24 | Noon – 1 pm CT
Session 4: Wednesday, May 8 | Noon – 1 pm CT
Session 5: Wednesday, May 22 | Noon – 1 pm CT
All sessions will be on Zoom
SIGN UP HERE!
Requested Donation:
We are asking people to make a suggested donation of $200 per person to MNIPL when they sign up. If you have more to give and would like to, please do to make it possible for us to sustain this offering for everyone, regardless of their ability to donate. If $200 is outside what you can offer, please make a donation of whatever feels meaningful to you. If you can’t give at all, please still sign up – we need you there, too.
DONATE HERE

Rights of Manoomin/Psíŋ Webinar
2024-04-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
Join the Rise & Repair alliance for a webinar regarding a resolution introduced in the Minnesota recognizing the inherent rights of Manoomin/Psíŋ, or “Wild Rice”. This webinar will provide information about the cultural significance of Manoomin (Anishinaabemowin) / Psíŋ (Dakota) and discuss a resolution which has been introduced in the 2024 legislative session by Representative Jamie Becker Finn & Senator Mary Kunesh recognizing the inherent rights of Minnesota’s “State Grain.”
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Unnatural Gas: Challenging Methane Gas Proposals at the PUC
2024-05-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join us for our virtual lunch and learn, Unnatural Gas: Challenging Methane Gas Proposals at the PUC on Friday, May 31 at noon!
Given our state’s goal to phase out all carbon-based energy, it is critical that climate justice voices are heard in the public comment process to challenge utility companies’ use of this carbon-producing gas!
We’ll hear from Brian Edstrom and Olivia Carroll, Regulatory Advocates of Citizens Utility Board (CUB), with comments from MNIPL’s Greater MN Director Bret Pence. They’ll break down upcoming dockets at the Public Utilities Commission related to methane or “natural” gas, what’s at stake for wise climate policy, and how we can make our voices heard!
RSVP HERE!

Laugh & Learn: Improv Benefit w/Tane Danger & the Theatre of Public Policy
2024-06-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Faith Mennonite Church, 2720 E 22nd St, Minneapolis, 55406, United States
Come laugh and learn with 66-year-old Donna Minter (aka Grammy) as she shares her Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) to ride across America in Fall 2024 and raise $500,000!
This improv comedy extravaganza will be hosted by Tane Danger and the Theater of Public Policy to discover Grammy’s BHAG to ride her bicycle from San Diego, CA to Saint Augustine, FL from Sept 1 – Nov 23, 2024 to raise $500,000 for five climate action organizations: Climate Generation, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, Third Act, Climate Ride, and Climate STARR – Climate Strategies for Trauma, Action, Resilience, and Regeneration. A soon-to-be-announced climate action expert will also join the fun on June 18!
Tickets for this event are $25. If you can’t make the event in-person, you can also buy a ticket for the live stream!
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

CO2 Pipelines in Minnesota: Fossil Fuel's Quiet Game Plan for Drilling More Oil
2024-06-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Carbon dioxide pipelines are being sold as a necessary part of meeting our climate goals. What industry representatives don’t like to mention is that that compressed CO2 will likely end up in oil wells in North Dakota to push out more oil – a process called Enhanced Oil Recovery.
We know that a safe and equitable transition to a greener future means ending our use of fossil fuels, not finding more creative ways to hide it. Join us to learn more about how these pipelines are bad news for Minnesota and how you can help fight them!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Drag Queen Bingo Fundraiser
2024-07-30 18:30 - 21:00 | Roxy’s Cabaret, 1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 55403, United States
Join us for an evening of drag queen bingo to support MNIPL!
Local legends Nina DiAngelo and Monica West will host 10 bingo games and regale us with humor and some drag performances between games!
Reusable bingo boards will be available for $10 each (so you can play all 10 games with one board), and we’ll be selling raffle tickets throughout the night for a 50/50 raffle! There’s an ATM on site to get cash for the raffle and to tip the queens!
Space is limited, so we need folks to sign up!
Please note that you’ll have to pick the 7/30 date in order to get tickets for this specific event!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP!
