News from the Office of African American Health

Established in 2023, the African American Health State Advisory Council completed its inaugural term in 2025. The council had several notable accomplishments during their term including development of a governance structure that consists of three sub-committees, conducting outreach and engagement activities with African American communities in Minnesota, and identifying key themes from those conversations to inform recommendations made to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Under Minnesota Statutes section 144.0755, the council advises the Commissioner of Health on disparities and contributing factors in African American communities in Minnesota. The council is responsible for recommending policies and strategies for development and review to address disparities affecting African American health. The council is convened by and closely collaborates with the Office of African American Health.

Sub-committees

The council is organized into three sub-committees focused on health and wellness, community outreach and engagement, and policy and legislative advocacy. These sub-committees coordinate with the Office of African American Health to identify policies and strategies to address health disparities in African American communities, and develop recommendations to the Minnesota Department of Health to drive systems change.

Themes from 2025 community engagement

• A need for trusted relationships with faith leaders and local congregations, as faith-based organizations often serve as key sources of support, information, and connection for African American communities.
• A desire for more culturally congruent, community-led health strategies.
• A need for culturally grounded resources and supports to address growing mental health and emotional wellbeing concerns in African American communities.
• A desire for visible, consistent engagement between MDH and the council to promote trust and transparency.
• A need for chronic disease prevention and wellness resources that are centered in accessible, trusted community spaces.
• A need for practical, user-friendly tools to address digital access and health literacy gaps. 
• A lack of information, leading to persistent and multi-generational health disparities.

Recommendations 

The council identified four recommendations to drive action towards improving African American health. Recommendations focus on strengthening MDH’s capacity to address the impacts of systemic discrimination on African American health outcomes through equitable institutional practices, community-centered planning, and culturally responsive health education. Key strategies include advancing organizational accountability and engagement with African American communities; conducting a restorative and participatory needs assessment to inform long-term planning and coordination; improving access to reliable health information through an interactive digital health toolkit; and expanding culturally relevant public education efforts that support self-advocacy, patient rights, and effective navigation of health care systems. These recommendations align with MDH's health equity goals for reducing avoidable health disparities, strengthening community partnerships, and improving access to culturally responsive health resources.

Annual legislative report

The 2025 Annual Legislative Report summarizes the African American Health State Advisory Council’s activities carried out in 2025. The report outlines the foundational structures, initiatives, and partnerships established to operationalize the council’s statutory mission. The full 2025 report can be found here: 2025 Legislative Report (PDF).

Welcome to the 2026 – 2028 Advisory Council members

The Office of African American Health, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office, completed appointments for the 2026-2028 term of the African American Health State Advisory Council and welcomed new members in February.

The council collaborates with the Office of African American Health using a shared leadership model and community-centered engagement approach. Together, we identify strategies and policies to address health disparities in African American communities, conduct outreach and engagement, and support culturally responsive public health systems change.

Current council members

• Abdou Manjang
• Carol Houston
• Christopher Smith
• Cindy Devonish
• Demitrea Kelley
• Dr. Inih Essien
• Dr. Joel Boyd
• Gage Urvina
• Iman Ibrahim
• Jamie Hackett
• Kiora Kamara
• Lola Muhammad
• Matthew Arries
• Susan McPherson

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the African American Health State Advisory Council partnered with Paths to Black Health (PBH) grantees for a day of engagement, collaboration and relationship-building. The PBH program is designed to address the root causes of identified health disparities in Minnesota’s African American communities by developing and implementing strategies that support the social determinants of health.

During the event, PBH grantee organizations presented on their projects supported by the PBH program and shared how their work is contributing to measurable impacts in the communities they serve. Presentations highlighted approaches to improving health outcomes, advancing health equity, and addressing systemic barriers in areas such as health care quality and access, education quality and access, economic and social stability, neighborhood and built environment.

The event showcased the impact of targeted investments achieved through community grants and reinforced the importance of the Council’s role in guiding and informing equitable health strategies to improve African American health.

On April 24, 2026, the Office of African American Health participated in African Heritage Day on the Hill, an annual event hosted by the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage. The event brings together community members, elected officials and partners to highlight legislative priorities that impact people of African heritage in Minnesota. Partnering on important convenings such as this reflects OAAH’s commitment to connecting with partners and supporting strategies that promote health and well-being for Minnesotans across the African diaspora.

From September 2025 through September 2026, the Office of African American Health in collaboration with The Improve Group, is carrying out an evaluation of the Paths to Black Health Program. The purpose of this evaluation is to provide dedicated technical assistance and training to PBH grantees, in order to strengthen their evaluation capacity and enhance their work. This includes monthly community of practice meetings, five evaluation trainings, and tailored technical assistance sessions. Key deliverables include development of community resiliency and vibrancy measures, a resource map to support increased access to and coordination of community services, and an impact report highlighting the issues that Paths to Black Health projects are addressing through targeted interventions.

Preliminary evaluation findings demonstrate examples of how community-led strategies are creating an impact across Minnesota:

Health Equity Northland - Duluth, Minnesota
During the 2025 growing season, Health Equity Northland grew and distributed 2,487 pounds of culturally relevant produce to African American families in Duluth, mentored eight young adult garden interns and engaged 212 volunteers.

Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) - Minneapolis, Minnesota
NdCAD's Parent Power program served 158 scholars and 136 parents in 2024–2025. Every participant improved their reading skills, and all parents reported increased confidence and enhanced workforce readiness.

For more information about the Paths to Black Health Program, visit the African American Health Special Emphasis Grant Program webpage.