Brunch for Better 2025

We’re coming together to celebrate our successes from 2025 and to look forward to 2026. Our award ceremony is honoring advocates from the community and the legislature to highlight and thank them for the work they’ve done to protect and preserve Minnesota’s water for future generations.

We hope you’ll join us at the iconic Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant for a fun, casual brunch event that is rooted in the celebration of the past and excitement for the future. Come mingle, eat delicious food, and help us change the world.

Tickets and Sponsorships

Help us continue our work for a healthy and just Minnesota by purchasing your ticket or sponsorship for this event. All proceeds benefit Clean Water’s programs to protect families from toxic chemicals, empower environmental justice communities, reduce plastic pollution, and ensure a clean water future for all residents of Minnesota. 

Tickets are $60 each. Sponsorships are available for $250. Please contact us for more details on the benefits of sponsorship.

Purchase Tickets Here

By registering for this event, I give Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund permission to use photos, audio, and video recordings taken during the event. These may be used for news, social media, website, or other promotional purposes by Clean Water Action or Clean Water Fund. I release both organizations and their representatives from any liability related to the use of these recordings. This release does not impact any insurance coverage held by either organization.
Click here to read the full media release. If you prefer to not be photographed, please inform the event organizer upon arrival to ensure your preference is honored.

Live Music

This year, we're honored to be joined by two amazing musical guests, Irie Sol and em.rhea.

Lisa Venticinque

Irie Sol is a music group that fuses genres indigenous to Jamaica (reggae, dancehall, ska, and dub) with American music styles, including hip hop, funk, soul, rock, and jazz. They've shared bills with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, The Wailers, Stephen Marley, The Meditations, John Munson of Semisonic, Bret Michaels, Quiet Riot, Warrant, Sevendust, and Tech N9ne. 

 

Nick Greseth

Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter em.rhea gives us songs that blend catchy, rhythmic pop sensibilities with ethereal vocals and sincere lyrics. 

2025 Award-Winning Honorees

The David Zwick Impact Award: Speaker Emerita
Melissa Hortman 
The David Zwick Impact Award is a special award for special people, not given every year. This award honors long-term work on environmental issues resulting in long-term, systemic change. David Zwick, founder of Clean Water Action in 1972, left an impact on the world through his influential work on the Clean Water Act. This award acknowledges work that has been done in a way that defines real progress - progress we’ve been chasing for years, decades, or even generations by the recipient. They have done something to change the world in a meaningful way for future generations.

 

Amara Strande Advocacy Award: Leanna Goose 
We named this award after Amara because of the role she played in passing the most comprehensive PFAS legislation in the world. The Amara Strande Advocacy Award winner exemplifies advocacy in a multitude of ways: this person sets an example and inspires others by challenging the status quo and speaking up for our water; they actively seek to improve our community, even when the odds are against them. For this winner, truth is key, and they aren’t afraid to tell it, and as Amara said, they know what it means to truly “speak truth to power.” Winners of this award are selfless, focused on service, bring people together, share stories, and positively fight for a better tomorrow.  

Legislator of the Year, House: Matt Norris
Legislator of the Year, Senate:  Aric Putnam 
The legislator of the year award is given to one House member and one Senate member who went above and beyond to support Clean Water Action Minnesota’s goals. These lawmakers worked hard to advocate and progress an agenda focused on protecting our water for future generations. Without lawmakers such as these, change could not happen. Legislators of the Year for the House and Senate listen to Minnesota’s diverse communities, think strategically about how to create a healthier, safer future, and understand the value of our water.  
 

Environmental Justice Award: Eoin Small 
The Environmental Justice Award is given to one individual who demonstrates a strong passion towards justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion regarding environmental policy or environmental advocacy. This person not only understands that certain communities have been suffering under the cumulative impacts of pollution in many forms for decades but seeks to change the status quo. The recipient of this award has shown dedication and bravery with regards to standing up to the systems that support institutionalized racism, inequity, and the polluters who seek to profit off these unjust systems across Minnesota.    
 

Clean Water Ambassador Awards:  
Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Jennifer McEwen, Representative Peter Fischer, Natalie Watters, Christian Krohn, Representative Athena Hollins, Representative Brion Curran, Representative Kristi Pursell, Representative Andrew Myers, Senator Julia Coleman, Aaron Klemz, Senator Judy Seeberger, and Senator Rob Kupec.