Our Movement
Crow Wing Energized is a community grassroots movement that was formed in 2013 as a united approach to improve health and wellness in our community by making healthy choices essential. It is led by Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Crow Wing County Community Services, in collaboration with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP). The goal is to improve health and wellness in our community through collaborative solutions with multiple community stakeholders focused on efforts that can create the greatest community good with our available resources. Every three years, Essentia Health conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to systematically identify, analyze, and prioritize community health needs.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee serves as an advisory board for the CWE staff to improve health and wellness in our community. The Crow Wing Energized steering committee will have four main goal groups that will help with implementation and be driven by partnerships within these collaborating goal groups: Healthy Choices, Mental Fitness, Workplace Wellness, & Community Connections
Todd Defreece
Essentia Health
Gina Heyer
Crow Wing County
Russel Habermann
Essentia Health
Rena Bolt
Crow Wing Energized
Kara Schaefer
Crow Wing Energized
Kelli Johnson
Crow Wing Energized
Tracy Wallin
Crow Wing Energized
Steve Barrows
Crow Wing County Commissioner
Julie Christensen
Nystrom Counseling & Essentia Health
Kathy Cottew
Essentia Health
Shane Riffle
Brainerd Family YMCA
Carolyn McQueen
University of Minnesota Extension
Renee Richardson
Brainerd Dispatch
Jessica Schwartz
Essentia Health
Teresia Mortenson
Knute Nelson
Jane Vortherms
Essentia Health
Traci Moreland
Essentia Health
Kalsey Stults
Crow Wing County
Kari Horak
Crow Wing County
Terry Bock
Crow Wing County
Jon Aga
Central Lakes College
Crow Wing Energized Support Staff
Karen Johnson
Crow Wing Energized, Community Health Specialist
Kelli Johnson
Crow Wing Energized, SHIP Coordinator, Community Health Specialist
Kara Schaefer
Crow Wing Energized, Community Health Educator
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