Erin Simmons

Mankato, MN

Erin Simmons is the Executive Director of Mankato Youth Place (MY Place). Before working at MY Place, Erin spent 15 years with the American Lung Association as a training and technical assistance provider supporting communities working on policies to reduce tobacco harm, including smoke-free bars and restaurants. Erin was a founding board member for the South Central Minnesota Food Recovery and has been involved in several other community-based initiatives. Erin has lived in the Mankato area for 21 years with her husband and four children and attended MSU before that time.

Liz Johnson

Duluth, MN

Liz is currently working with the American Lung Association as part of the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation Coalition. Before this, she worked with Our Children to MN to help raise awareness about disparities in Minnesota’s education system. A long-time advocate for electoral reform, she served as Deputy Director at FairVote Minnesota. Liz is a co-founder and board member of Vote Run Lead, a national organization founded in Duluth that trains women to run for office and win. Liz has worked with countless leaders to inspire, inform and equip them to pursue positions of influence and elective office. A leader in the design and implementation of training programs for rural women, Liz helped create Plate to Politics with Women, Food and Agriculture Network. She is a current board member of the Hmong American Farmers Association and recipient of the Minnesota Women’s Press Change Maker Award. Her work is characterized by her asset-based approach and the number and diversity of participants. Liz lives in Duluth, Minnesota, next to the largest freshwater lake in the world.

lizjohnson969@gmail.com |  612-819-9898