Polish environmental leaders to visit Northfield

On Friday, June 7, the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with local nonprofit organization Global Minnesota, the City of Northfield, and the Rotary Club of Northfield, is sending a group of Polish environmental leaders to Northfield to discuss climate change.

The group of 10 visitors includes mayors, city council members, school administrators, as well as community and nonprofit leaders.

The purpose of the visit is to learn more about how Northfield has become a leader in addressing climate change as a community.

While in Northfield, the European visitors will meet with leaders and individuals to learn about how Northfield has invested in alternative energy and climate mitigation efforts. The day will include presentations from the mayor, representatives from Carleton College, Rotarians and members from the Northfield Environmental Quality Commission.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting community leaders from Poland and to share our community’s journey and knowledge on climate change alongside our partners,” said Mayor Rhonda Pownell. “We look forward to meeting them, exchanging ideas and building lasting relationships. This is a unique opportunity to build momentum on these large issues and to know we’re not doing this alone.”

Global Minnesota is the local implementing organization for the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the premier professional exchange program in the country. Through short-term exchanges with speakers in the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields develop lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States. IVLP participants are nominated and selected by diplomats at U.S. missions abroad.