Request for Committee Action

Approving the following nine Southside Green Zone Council members for unexpired terms beginning ending June 30, 2021:

Seat 1 - Joan Vanhala - Ward 9 - Long time East Phillips resident who has dedicated her career and volunteer time to advancing environmental justice. Currently works as an Engagement Specialist for Hennepin County.

Seat 2 - Lois Long – Ward 9 – Little Earth resident and LERA Board member. Is a Lakota speaker and Master Speaker, a veteran and a great-grandmother.

Seat 3 - Bayissa Didi - Ward 6 - East Phillips resident and retired banker with a degree in business administration. Volunteered in community and homeowner association as chairman.

Seat 6 - Baku Tufa - Ward 6 - Resident and business owner in Cedar Riverside who has large electric bills and is interested in clean energy. 

Seat 7 - Megan Kuhl-Stennes - Ward 9 - East Phillips resident with 12+ years of experience working in the environmental field around waste reduction, air pollution reduction and climate/environmental justice.

Seat 8 - Jose Luis Villasenor - Ward 9 - Long time East Phillips resident who has dedicated personal and professional life to addressing food and environmental inequity through youth empowerment, urban farming and cultural resistance and empowerment.

Seat 13 - Brenda Senteno - Ward 9 - Full time student and intern with COPAL (Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina). Was in student council for both middle school and high school. Volunteered at ROC-MN (Restaurants Opportunity Center) and currently volunteers at Dream for Wild Health farm.

Seat 19 - Eticha Fufa - Ward 12 - Journalist, teacher and activist in Oromo community. Has a media platform called Oromo Diaspora Media (ODM Inc.). Recently attended a three-day workshop on air pollution and climate change hosted by the State of MN.

Seat 20 - Zaynab Mohamed - Ward 9 - Powderhorn resident and community organizer in Twin Cities. Volunteers with Ayada Leads to help East African women gain the tools to run for political office. 

The Southside Green Zone was established in June 2017 to work with staff and area stakeholders to complete and implement the Southside Green Zone Work Plan. The Work Plan was completed in December 2019 and is available to be presented to the City Council at their convenience. These nine applicants will fill the remaining six months of unexpired terms. All members must reapply for the next two-year appointment of the Southside Green Zone Council in spring 2021. Members Megan Kuhl Stennes and Jose Luis Villasenor are current non-voting members applying to vacant voting seats, which then opens those non-voting seats to two new members that live outside of the Southside Green Zone boundary.