Minnesota

Soak Up the Sun, Not the Waste: Your Guide to a Sustainable Minnesota Summer

June 9, 2025 | By Avonna Starck

Summer in Minnesota is pure magic. Whether you’re camping in the Northwoods, boating on one of our 10,000 lakes, or dancing at a neighborhood festival, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the season. But all that fun can also mean a lot of waste. This summer, let’s protect the places we love by treading a little lighter. Read on for ideas on how to camp, boat, and party sustainably across our beautiful state.

Avonna and her husband Mike on a summer trip to the North Shore, with text: Soak Up the Sun, Not the Waste. Your Guide to a Sustainable Minnesota Summer.

A dozen people sit for dinner at a home, with a small film crew setting up equipment around the room.

Going Global

May 21, 2025 | By Avonna Starck

Last week a film crew from France was in Minnesota. Their goal was to gather information about Amara’s Law. They wanted to understand how Minnesota was able to pass such an impactful law while weaving in the personal stories of those of us who have worked to pass the law and have been impacted by PFAS in one way or another. Our state is setting an example for the world. France, Japan, England, Australia have all reached out to work with us and understand more about Amara’s Law. Now is not the time to slow down—we’re just getting started!

I'm 22 with a new job focused on clean water. Here's why I'm doing it.

March 19, 2025 | By Morgan Schafer

Instead of paying for their mess, multi-billion-dollar industries are spending massive sums to influence Minnesota lawmakers. Our message is clear: We are open to partnership, but we are unwavering in our belief that polluters should pay. Only when this hits their bottom line will they be motivated to change.

Collection of signs: "The Health Threat Is Real - Protect Amara's Law"

The Ethics of PFAS and Taxing Polluters - And How it Impacts Your Bottom Line

March 14, 2025 | By Avonna Starck

First Japan, Now Australia! Taking On PFAS Across The Globe.

January 27, 2025 | By Avonna Starck

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to meet with Cate Faehrmann, a Member of Parliament from New South Wales, Australia. Cate traveled all the way from her sunny home on the other side of the world to our chilly corner of the globe to connect with legislators, agencies, and advocates about PFAS. She was seeking to understand how Minnesota is addressing the PFAS crisis through regulatory action so that she might take some of her lessons learned back to her home country.

Still from film of Amara Strande, caption: "Despite her illness, she testified to the State Legislature"

Water is Treasure – and so is our global community

January 21, 2025 | By Avonna Starck

A documentary film crew from Japan visited our community to screen their made-for-television film, Water is Treasure – Fighting PFAS Contamination! Fight for Life. The film chronicles how mothers in Japan are leading efforts to raise awareness about PFAS contamination in their drinking water, which they attribute to U.S. military bases and the use of PFAS-based firefighting foam, and weaves in stories from the United States.