A DRAGON’S BLOOD CAN SAVE LIVES” BLOOD DRIVE
MOORHEAD – Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons are saving lives by giving blood. The Michelle (Foulk) Olson, APR, Public Relations Student Society of America; MSUM Student Nursing Association; and Tri-Beta are hosting a blood drive with Vitalant from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, February 28, in the MSUM Comstock Memorial Union.
While at the blood drive, participants will have the opportunity to learn about Adolescent and Young Adult Lymphoma (AYA Lymphoma) and its effects on college students. Lymphoma causes physical and emotional impacts, changes in family dynamics and fertility, finances and schoolwork. AYA Lymphoma is everywhere; donating blood can help save the life of someone dealing with AYA.
Community members and college students can register to donate blood at
bit.ly/MSUMDragonsBlood or at the event on February 28.
The Michelle (Foulk) Olson, APR, Public Relations Student Society of America, aims to cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners.
For more information, please visit msumprssa.wixsite.com/website.
MDH EXPANDS COMMUNITY COVID-19 RAPID TEST DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is expanding its successful program to provide Minnesotans with free COVID-19 at-home rapid testing through community-based organizations around the state.
This week, MDH is providing 347,000 rapid antigen test kits to local public health agencies, tribal health, food shelves, and MDH COVID-19 Community Coordinators (CCCs) to provide for free to the communities they serve throughout February and March. Each kit contains two tests.
Providing free at-home rapid testing through local public health and community groups will help reduce barriers and expand testing access for Minnesotans who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This week’s disbursement comes after an initial distribution of 150,000 test kits to community groups in January. Groups receiving tests will communicate to their communities about how to pick them up.
“Rapid testing is a key tool Minnesotans can use to lower the risk of spreading COVID-19 to their families and their communities. Even as transmission rates go down, it’s important that Minnesotans use resources like rapid testing if they feel sick,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm. “By partnering with community groups and local health agencies, we’re making it easier for vulnerable Minnesotans to get the resources they need to continue staying safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to this community partnership, Minnesota has secured 3.6 million rapid tests for schools to provide to students, staff and teachers to monitor symptoms at home and stay safe in the classroom. The state has also secured 550,000 rapid tests to distribute through child care facilities.
Minnesota also offers free rapid testing at many of the state’s two dozen COVID-19 community testing sites.
More information on the at-home testing distribution partnership is available at Take-home Rapid Test Distribution Program.
How Minnesotans can get a COVID-19 test:
Walk in or schedule an appointment for a test at one of the state’s free COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.
Order a test through the state’s free COVID-19 Test at Home program.
Find a testing option near you through the state’s Find Testing Locations map.
Questions about COVID-19:
Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline: 1-833-431-2053, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
THE CITY OF FARGO ISSUES CALL FOR PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
FARGO – The City of Fargo’s Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) is issuing a Call for Public Art Projects. The community is invited to propose a public art project (visual or performance-based, permanent or temporary, free and accessible) to improve the community. The application process closes on March 18, 2022.
The City and its ACC are both committed to increasing The City of Fargo’s access to the creation of public art and works to facilitate arts development, provide opportunities for local and emerging artists and promote/increase the capacity of arts (both visual and performance-based, permanent and temporary) in the public realm.
Brad Bachmeier, local artist and ACC Commissioner remarked, “As we do not have a specific project defined, we are seeking to invite the community to imagine possible projects as a way to advance The City’s Public Arts Master Plan.”
Joe Williams (Director of Community Education and Director of Native American Programs at the Plains Art Museum, an ACC Commissioner and storyboard artist) said, “The ACC appreciates everyone is creative and contributes to the culture of Fargo; ideas for possibilities can come from anywhere. By including–rather than excluding–people, the ACC hopes to invite more collaborations.”
New to the process this year, the ACC encourages culture bearers and traditional artists, community members and even City departments to consider the invitation.
The full description of the ACC 2022 Call for Public Art Projects, criteria details and the application questions can be found at FargoND.Gov/CallForPublicArtProjects. A question and answer informational session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in the Fargo Downtown Library Community Room (101 4th St. N.). Answers to submitted questions will be posted to FargoND.GoV/CallForPublicArtProjects following the session. The call will close at 4 p.m. on March 18, 2022.