By being willing to collaborate to identify violence that exists in four communities and to find solutions to that violence; that’s how the Maple River Community Network earned this fourth annual award of the Minnesota Medical Association.

In 1994, representatives from four rural communities, Amboy, Good Thunder, Minnesota Lake and Mapleton banded together to form this Network. With limited resources and experience, this grassroots group of individuals began to tackle the problems they knew existed in their communities.

Some of their success stories include:

• started the Maple River West Schools “Student-Teacher-Parent Connection,”
• implemented a panel discussion on violence,
• wrote prevention articles for the local media,
• surveyed teachers and parents, needs and wants for school involvement,
• surveyed the community to determine ways to ensure safety in their own home,
• conducted an anti-violence campaign at the schools,
• provided free parenting classes,
• provided leadership training,
• distributed prevention literature, stickers and pencils at county fairs and community celebrations, and
• wrote and received grants.

This group is proud of the work they have accomplished so far, but realizes there is still much to be done before their communities are the safe, healthy places they want them to be.

Thanks to a recent grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the group will be implementing some new strategies to deal with violence and to provide free recreational activities for kids of all ages.

The Maple River Community Network is one of the 130 local coalitions who belong to the Minnesota Star of the North Prevention Coalition and is located in southeastern Minnesota. For the past five years they have received technical support from Regional Specialist Barbara Lamson at Region Nine Prevention and Healthy Communities. For more information about the group contact Phyllis Murilla, 507-345-1218.