ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) is proud to announce that Minnesota SOPHE will be awarded SOPHE Chapter Award of Excellence during the 2026 Annual Conference in Portland, April 22-24.
“On behalf of the Minnesota Society for Public Health Education Chapter (MN SOPHE), we were deeply honored to receive this recognition from National SOPHE,” said MN SOPHE President Taylour Blakeman. “After a challenging year for many in public health, this acknowledgment felt especially meaningful. It was a moment of pause — a reminder that the work we poured our energy into truly mattered.”
This award recognizes a SOPHE Chapter that has demonstrated creative and effective methods in the delivery of one or more core member services. Chapters are recognized for innovative approaches to membership, fiscal management, leadership, communications and continuing education.
“We were recognized for the intentional design of our Annual Summit, which centered on leadership development and equity, as well as for the diverse awards we presented to professionals across Minnesota,” Blakeman said. “We wanted to elevate and celebrate the brilliance already present in our field — and to create space for leaders at every stage to feel seen and supported.”
MN SOPHE’s mission is to exemplify leadership and strengthen public health education for students and professionals in pursuit of health and wellness for all.
The Chapter Award for Excellence underscores the impact of consistent communication in strengthening public health efforts.
“As we planned our Annual Summit, many of our committee members were experiencing very real impacts in their professional environments,” Blakeman said. “There were layoffs occurring, shifts in funding, and broader instability affecting colleagues and partners across systems. It would have been easy to scale back our vision, soften our focus, or avoid complex conversations. Instead, we stayed committed and centered on leadership development and equity.”
Despite the current public health climate, MN SOPHE stays resilient and focused on the future and overall mission.
“These are disruptive times for public health. Yet we have been here before. During COVID, we learned what it means to adapt quickly, lead with integrity, and support one another through sustained pressure,” Blakeman said. “Public health has always required persistence and long-term vision. Even when conditions are unstable, our commitment to community well-being, equity, and evidence-based practice does not waver. If we keep our focus on our shared mission and continue investing in leadership, equity, and collaboration, we will not only endure this moment — we will shape what comes next.”
SOPHE will present all awards and scholarships to public health professionals, health education researchers, faculty, programs, and practitioners at the 2026 SOPHE Annual Conference. These awards and scholarships recognize significant advancements in the profession of health education and health promotion and outstanding contributions of veterans and rising stars to improving the public’s health.
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About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit association that supports leaders in public health, health education, and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities across the globe. SOPHE members work in health care settings, communities, organizations, schools, universities, worksites, and in local, state, and federal government agencies. For more information visit www.sophe.org.
