M.O.V.E. Community Council: Building connections and sharing voices

In 2024, Olmsted County launched the M.O.V.E. Community Council. M.O.V.E. stands for Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity. The goal of this group is simple but important: to build trust and stronger connections between our community and county government. 

What is M.O.V.E.? 

The M.O.V.E. Community Council is made up of community members who want to make a positive difference. They help ensure people from all backgrounds have a voice in shaping county programs and policies. Early work has focused on topics like public health, but over time the council will look at many different issues that affect daily life in Olmsted County. 

This work supports three of the county’s strategic priorities: 

• Building community trust and engagement. 
• Supporting community safety and well-being. 
• Encouraging responsible growth and development. 

It also helps make sure county services are fair, inclusive, and easier for everyone to use. 

Watch this video to learn more about M.O.V.E. 

How does the community share feedback? 

In May 2025, the county launched a M.O.V.E. feedback form. This online form gives residents an easy way to share ideas, concerns, and suggestions about county programs and services. Submissions are reviewed by the M.O.V.E. council and shared with county staff for follow-up. See our May 7, 2025 article for more information.  

What are M.O.V.E.’s initiatives? 

Even though the council is new, it is already helping on several important projects: 

• Parks Master Plan: Working with county staff to gather community input for the future of our parks. 
• Childcare licensing: Exploring ways to speed up the licensing process for home childcare providers. 
• Measles education: Helping spread accurate information about vaccines and stopping the spread of misinformation. 

What’s next? 

M.O.V.E. will continue to build relationships, listen to community voices, and help county leaders make better decisions with the community’s input. It is an ongoing effort to help everyone feel heard and included. 

More information about M.O.V.E. 

See our M.O.V.E. website page for additional information. If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact communitycouncil@olmstedcounty.gov or call 507-328-6012.