Southeast RSDP

The Southeast RSDP covers a range of Minnesota ecological land classifications. Our service areas includes the Mississippi River Blufflands, the Rochester Plateau, the Oak Savanna, and portions of the Big Woods and Minnesota River Prairie.

The Southeast region generally includes, but is not strictly limited to, the following counties: Blue Earth, Faribault, Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, LeSueur, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Fillmore, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona. It also includes the sovereign Native Nation of Prairie Island Indian Community (Dakota).

Mankato farmers market

SE RSDP partnered with University of Minnesota students and staff to bolster the planning process for a permanent farmers market location in Mankato. The Mankato Farmers Market currently operates in the parking lot of a retail store, which is only accessible by car and has limited space for the market’s growth.

Farmers and vendors wanted a permanent location with protection from the weather, better parking, and accessibility that would also allow them to increase the number of vendors.

The group spent the year visiting other locations, polling current members of the Mankato farmers market, and collecting data on existing use and possible locations for the proposed permanent site. They came up with a possible location and recommendations on what kind of structure may work.

Hillcrest Village 

Three years ago, Northfield Community Action Center and SE RSDP began partnering on an exciting project to create affordable, eco-friendly housing. The work has been supported by the SE RSDP Call for Ideas, a CERTs Seed Grant, and an Institute on the Environment Impact Goals Grant. 

Hillcrest Village, a 17-unit net-zero affordable housing complex, was recently completed in Northfield, and the designs are currently being duplicated in Rochester.

Team members have worked with Daniel Handeen and Rolf Jacobson, research fellows at the University’s Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR). The Rochester Area Foundation First Homes is now breaking ground on five units they’ve designed using the information from the original Hillcrest Village partnership.  

New board members

Cathy Liebowitz

After working on sustainability on college campuses for almost a decade, Cathy Liebowitz joined Clean Energy Economy Minnesota in January 2024, where she engages with their membership in programming and publications about Minnesota's clean energy transition.

She earned her BA in Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College, and her MA in Higher Education Administration at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Beyond her professional role, Cathy enjoys exploring the different trails around Rochester, where she lives, and visiting the animals at Zollman Zoo.

Angelica Walton

Angelica Walton is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing with expertise in holistic and integrative systems of care. Her work looks at the promotion of regenerative environments and ecosocial relationships through innovative and creative strategies, with a focus on healing justice.

She is working with our team to support communities in building resiliency and health.

• Pam Bishop, [email protected] - Owatonna
• Steven Carlson, [email protected] - Albert Lea
• Abby Gold, [email protected] - Ramsey
• Lauren Jensen, [email protected] - Chatfield
• Cathy Liebowitz, [email protected] - Rochester
• Bruce Mckendry,[email protected] - Northfield
• Rachel Olson, [email protected] - Rochester
• Anna Pollock, [email protected] - Waseca
• Rob Vander Broek, [email protected] - Rochester
• Angelica Walton, [email protected] - Minneapolis
• Rachel Morin, [email protected] - Apple Valley

Greetings from the Southeast RSDP! Have a project idea? Learn more about what we look for in a partnership and how to share your idea. We would love to hear from you!