Your ABSENCE is requested at the 25th Celebration & No-Show Fundraiser Gala! This gathering will never take place, and you don’t have to give up a precious evening or weekend to attend one more event. That being said, WE NEED YOUR HELP, just not in person… so stay home, hang out in your backyard, and […]
Your ABSENCE is requested at the 25th Celebration & No-Show Fundraiser Gala! Read More »
Darby Nelson is a man as unique as his name, and that’s a good thing. In a recent interview with Darby, his wife and lifelong adventure partner, Geri, joked, “If he had been named Dave I don’t think I’d have married him!” Thankfully, his mother heard another mother calling down the streets of Tower, MN
Darby & Geri Nelson are CURE’s 2016 RiverKeepers Read More »
My name is Erik Hatlestad and I’m a Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) sustaining member, and on staff as the Energy Program Associate. I’ve always lived in Western Minnesota. I love it here. I love our communities and the landscapes that embrace us. Of all of the places in the world I could call home,
I Give to CURE…to Build Civic Leaders Across Rural Minnesota Read More »
My name is Katie Laughlin. I am CURE’s Communications & Program Associate and I am a sustaining member of CURE. If you’ll give me a moment of your time, I’d like to tell you a story… When I was ten, my family moved to a farm. I remember the grove in our backyard most clearly
I Give to CURE…to Build Communities of Environmental Stewards Read More »
The statement “the little engine that could” is often used when an unassuming individual takes on a large task with relentless determination. On an afternoon last spring, longtime CURE member, Jianhua ‘Chen’ Qian came into the office and offered to use his ‘pedal power’ to raise money for CURE outdoor programs. As an avid biker
CURE member volunteers to raise money for outdoor programs Read More »
[easy-image-collage id=7099] From Paddling the Minnesota River to Pedaling from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, Chen is biking to raise $5,000 for a new CURE program. Born in China, Jianhua Qian grew up in a time when people didn’t think about the environment and thus the air and rivers in and around Shanghai
CHEN pedals to raise money for new CURE program Read More »
Long time CURE member, Jianhua Qian “Chen” sets out to pedal from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River in Iowa to raise awareness and money for CURE. This ride will begin on Sunday, July 23 in Glenwood, IA by putting his rear bike tire in the Missouri River and end eight days later putting
Chen hits the road for CURE Read More »
After four transformative years, I am leaving CURE’s nest. As of Friday, April 29th, I will no longer be working for the organization that I have grown with over the years. I am pursuing my dream job in the historic preservation field as the Minnesota Main Street Coordinator for the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM).
Thank You CURE for a Strong Foundation Read More »
CURE members were in attendance at the 41st annual Salt Lake Birding Weekend in southwestern Minnesota this past weekend. Near 100 avid birders drove in from around the region for this amazing rite of spring on the prairie. There were guided tours for birders around Salt Lake, Big Stone Refuge, the lakes, wetlands and native
Birding On the Prairie Read More »
On Saturday, October 31st, CURE’s first online auction ended with the winning bid going to Ben Tokheim, son of Lucy and Gene Tokheim of Dawson, MN. In early October, I had the opportunity to visit with longtime CURE member Lucy. She mentioned that she knew of someone who might be interested in the Pram. Little did
Pram Comes Full Circle with Tokheim Family Read More »
Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.
Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!
