Blue Cross MN - For communities

11/05/2025

The October chill didn’t deter children dressed in Halloween costumes from collecting candy from community organizations at Brooklyn Park’s recent 2025 Spooktacular. For a team of high school students committed to addressing the harms of e-cigarettes, it provided an opportunity for a fitting sign: “Candy is for eating, not inhaling!”

The V**e Waste Action Team, made up of teens from Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, is one of a growing number of student groups throughout the metro area tackling e-cigarette concerns. They set up at the event to raise awareness, even among much younger kids, about the harm of flavored ni****ne products and the environmental impact of v**e waste.

The team’s goal, with support from statewide nonprofit To***co-Free Alliance and NorthPoint Health and Wellness, is to educate decision-makers and push for healthier communities by ending the sale of all flavored commercial to***co products.

Twin Cities youth, with support from To***co-Free Alliance, are pushing for an end to the sale of flavored to***co products.

10/27/2025

Food isn’t just fuel — it has the power to influence individual health and well-being. Access to nutritious food can prevent chronic diseases, reduce healthcare costs, and improve our overall quality of life.

That’s why many Minnesotans are recognizing that food is also medicine. When communities have access to fresh, nutritious food, they thrive.

Unfortunately, many communities don’t have that access. Rising grocery bills, food deserts, and cultural barriers make it harder for many Minnesotans - especially in low-income and underserved communities - to eat a healthy diet.

Fortunately, community-led organizations are addressing this challenge. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has been a key partner in their efforts for over a decade.

Through its Food Access Funding Initiative Blue Cross supports 12 local nonprofit organizations throughout Minnesota. The funding helps break down barriers to healthy eating in the communities most affected by food insecurity.

Read more:

Proper nutrition can prevent chronic, diet-related diseases and reduce healthcare costs

08/13/2025

August is National Breastfeeding Month, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, addressing common barriers to breastfeeding, and supporting babies and families through education and advocacy. Breastfeeding is beneficial not only to the health and wellbeing of infants but also to mothers, families, and communities.

“Breastfeeding is one of those beautiful, mutually beneficial experiences for both mom and baby, when it’s possible,” said Delali Degbey, Senior Program Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “Research shows that breastfeeding strengthens the immune system of both parties. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports that for moms, it can sustain postpartum recovery, reduce the risk of certain cancers, and help with shedding pregnancy weight. For babies, it lowers the risk of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal issues, asthma, diabetes, and even childhood obesity. It’s remarkable the powerful communication loop it creates between the infant and the mother’s body.”

Read more in the Sahan Journal here:

August is National Breastfeeding Month, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, addressing common barriers to breastfeeding, and supporting babies and families through education and advocacy. Breastfeeding is beneficial not only to the health and wellbei...

08/12/2025

Native American community members and allies gathered at the State Capitol on Monday to recognize Traditional Sacred To***co Day.

08/12/2025

Yesterday, August 11, marked the 3rd year of Traditional Sacred To***co Day here in Minnesota. The day also recognizes the anniversary of when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was signed into federal law. Before then, Native Americans were federally prohibited from using traditional to***co for ceremonial purposes. Check out the full story here: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/08/12/traditional-use-of-to***co-celebrated-at-the-state-capitol

08/05/2025

This July, 18 high school students participated in ThreeSixty Journalism’s Multimedia Storytelling Institute, a three-week immersive camp where students learned about the art of reporting from a roster of local media experts. This year marks the eighth summer that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has partnered with ThreeSixty to support the next generation of storytellers and create greater understanding of health in Minnesota.

The theme of this year’s Multimedia Storytelling Institute was addiction and recovery. Students reported on the state of addiction in Minnesota, the impacts of addiction on youth, and profiled community leaders across our state working to support recovery. Read more:

This July, 18 high school students participated in ThreeSixty Journalism’s Multimedia Storytelling Institute, a three-week immersive camp where students learned about the art of reporting from a roster of local media experts. This year marks the eighth summer that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Min...

05/27/2025

In the United States, men are less likely than women to seek help for mental health issues, access behavioral healthcare, or receive a mental health diagnosis. Without treatment and care, men are more likely to utilize unhealthy coping mechanisms including substance abuse, self-harm, or aggressive behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men die by su***de at a rate four times higher than women and while men make up 50% of the population, they account for nearly 80% of all su***des.

In the United States, men are less likely than women to seek help for mental health issues, access behavioral healthcare, or receive a mental health diagnosis. Without treatment and care, men are more likely to utilize unhealthy coping mechanisms including substance abuse, self-harm, or aggressive b...

03/19/2025

Art over time has always been a medium that allows us to tell stories, challenge perspectives, and understand histories, whether through cave paintings, historical murals, intimate portraits, or abstract geometry. Art uniquely can blend fact and emotions, and often offers perspectives that other storytelling mediums cannot always capture. This ability to give empathy for experiences we haven’t personally gone through, thinking of the world in a different way, makes art a powerful tool to convey narratives about ourselves, our community, and core issues to our society like our health. Read more here:

While health encompasses a huge continuum from personal, to community, physical to mental, we can use art to communicate valuable messages that can transcend cultural and political divides.

03/12/2025

The Center for Racial and Health Equity is proud to attend Hunger Day on the Hill 2025. Together we can advocate for policies that ensure all Minnesotans have access to the food they need and work to create a healthier future.

02/03/2025

Black history has always been American history.

The Center for Racial and Health Equity honors the rich history, culture, and contributions of Black individuals who have shaped our world. From trailblazers in civil rights to innovators in public health, their legacies inspire us to strive for equality and justice every day.

Read an inspiring Black History Month homage to resilience and hope, written by our director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Teron Buford.

Almost a year ago, to the date, I sat down at my laptop to tell the story of how I had to console and uplift my young son after a bully made fun of his deeply rich brown skin and, effectively, his personhood.

01/21/2025

As we look back on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible partnerships and collaborative efforts that have defined our journey. Guided by our mission to invest, partner, and advocate for communities creating authentic change to heal racial and health inequities, we have worked closely with our community partners to find community-led solutions. This year has been a testament to the power of collective action and shared goals.

Our vision is to see a world where everyone leads their healthiest life, free from oppression and inequity. Together in partnership with our community and key stakeholders, we have embarked on numerous initiatives that reflect our shared commitment to these values. Read more from Bukata Hayes, vice president, racial and health equity and chief equity officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota:

https://sahanjournal.com/sponsored/collective-action-for-racial-and-health-equity-2024-in-review/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH80eRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcXpH8ISaoJt0V-3b1WNYtnwaxZHtC8SewP7pxsQZwjF3axWVSveLZII_w_aem_88XH3aPCyquK_0ba6MUfFw

As we look back on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible partnerships and collaborative efforts that have defined our journey. Guided by our mission to invest, partner, and advocate for communities creating authentic change to heal racial and health inequities, we have worked closely...

12/05/2024

The Vadnais Heights city council recently voted unanimously to adopt a revised Commercial To***co Ordinance, which adds them to the growing number of Minnesota communities that are actively working to restrict or prohibit the sale of flavored to***co products, including menthol.