Twin Cities Business recognizes Fairview for long-term community impact
For our years of work supporting community health and wellness, Fairview Health Services is being recognized with the Long-Term Impact Award from Twin Cities Business. As a nonprofit health system and an anchor institution deeply rooted in Minnesota’s diverse neighborhoods, Fairview’s commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families extends far beyond traditional healthcare.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for Fairview’s long-standing impact on the health and wellbeing of our neighbors,” says John Swanholm, vice president of Community Advancement. “This work is possible thanks to the collaboration of our local partners and the continued commitment of our leaders to advance health equity.”
Fairview’s Community Advancement team leads the way in addressing social determinants of health—factors like food access, education, and trust in healthcare—that influence over 80% of overall health and wellbeing. For over a decade, this dedicated team has operated these cornerstone programs that exemplify Fairview’s mission to create healthier, more equitable communities.
East Side Health and Well-being Collaborative
As the founder, funder, and convener of this nationally recognized collaborative, Fairview brings together local partners to build trust and co-design solutions for health challenges in vulnerable neighborhoods. Over the past decade, the East Side Health and Well-being Collaborative has launched impactful initiatives including the Cultural Brokers Program, a policy advisory council, and East Side Table projects providing meal boxes, workforce development for youth, and senior outreach. The collaborative has served as an incubator and enabled Fairview to scale and spread programming through all our service areas.
Cultural Brokers
Fairview’s cultural brokers—employees embedded within partner organizations—play a crucial role in bridging gaps between communities and healthcare. Representing African American, Karen, Latine, Hmong, and American Indian populations, these brokers deliver essential resources and build trust. Between 2016 and 2024, they served 2,453 individuals through nearly 30,000 encounters, helping address inequities and promote wellness at the grassroots level.
Fair Table, Food Is Medicine
Recognizing food access as a key social determinant of health, Fairview’s Fair Table initiative connects patients and neighbors with fresh, nutritious food while supporting local, diverse farmers and vendors. With programs ranging from food boxes and vouchers to medically tailored meals, Fairview delivered over 168,000 meals to food-insecure patients in 2024 and maintained 45 contracts with BIPOC farmers to ensure a healthy supply of produce and protein while building community wealth.
Health Commons
Fairview supports three Health Commons sites in Minneapolis and St. Paul in partnership with community-based organizations. The sites offer free, accessible health and wellness services from massage and aromatherapy to healthy living classes and drop-in consultations with medical professionals. Health Commons sites foster social connections and empower community members to take charge of their health. In 2024, nearly 14,716 visits were made to Health Commons locations.
Community clinical care
Since 2006, the Minnesota Immunization Networking Initiative (MINI) program has brought mobile vaccination clinics and preventative care directly to communities facing health disparities. Led by Fairview and supported by over 250 partner organizations, MINI has expanded to offer free dental fluoride applications, outbreak response services, and training in opioid overdose prevention. In 2024, MINI administered 5,525 free COVID-19 vaccine doses, 6,190 free flu shots, and 1,246 free Mpox vaccines at 443 vaccination events. The team provided 987 free fluoride varnish dental applications, and 745 blood pressure checks were given. In addition, 12,995 overdose prevention kits were packed, and 39 Fairview-led training sessions were held.
A legacy of care and commitment
For more than 170 years, Fairview has served as a pillar of care and compassion in Minnesota, operating hospitals, clinics, senior living centers, rehabilitation facilities, home health care, counseling, and more. Its unwavering focus on meeting the needs of the community—especially those most at risk—embodies the spirit of the Long-Term Impact Award. Our innovative programs and deep partnerships are a testament to what can be achieved when a health system puts equity, collaboration, and people first.
