Mill City Museum on the historic Mississippi Riverfront is one of many attractions that will tempt visitors in Minneapolis, which is the site of APHA’s Annual Meeting this fall.
Photo by Coppersmith Photography, courtesy Meet Minneapolis
APHA’s 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo will be held in a city with a diverse culture, over 20 lakes, a variety of museums and a range of other enticements.
The APHA event, which is expected to bring 12,000 people, is returning to Minneapolis after a half century. With many meeting-goers likely visiting Minneapolis for the first time, local public health professionals are looking forward to showing off their city.
APHA 2024 activities will be centered at the Minneapolis Convention Center in the heart of Minneapolis, which is known as the “City of Lakes” and straddles both sides of the Mississippi River.
The convention center is within walking distance to a variety of restaurants, Loring Park, a sculpture garden, locally-owned coffee shops and a global food market. For visitors wanting to add to their step counts, an inviting riverwalk awaits to the east and a row of pristine lakes and parks await to the west.
With the Annual Meeting happening Oct. 27-30, visitors can expect temperatures to be pleasant but cool, according to residents.
“Dress in layers, bring a jacket, bring gloves, wear sturdy shoes, rubbers,” said Merry Grande, MPH, executive director of the Minnesota Public Health Association. “If you show up in outdoorsy business casual, you will be fine.”
Attendees will have hundreds of events and sessions to attend at the Annual Meeting and many networking options. The Public Health Expo will feature a huge floor of public health booths and events. The theme of the four-day event is “Rebuilding Trust in Public Health and Science.”
After a day of meeting activities, attendees can venture out to Minneapolis’ many renowned restaurants. Choices in the city of 430,000 include Mediterranean dishes at Cardamom, North African creations at Moroccan Flavors, Latin American plates at Chimborazo, Ethiopian delicacies at the Red Sea Bar and Restaurant, Himalayan eats at Gorkha Palace and Somali plates at Afro Deli. Eat Street, a diverse, 17-block stretch along Nicollet Avenue, hosts a range of enticing flavors.
Minnesota has 11 federally recognized American Indian tribes, and Minneapolis boasts a large Indigenous population. The city hosts the American Indian Cultural Corridor on East Franklin Avenue, only a few blocks south of the convention center. Visitors can dine at restaurants serving Native dishes, visit fine art galleries and browse shops.
Minneapolis is also the site of a horrific incident that changed the nation and world. In May 2020, resident George Floyd was murdered by police at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis, sparking protests and igniting a movement for social justice. Visitors are welcome at the site, now called George Floyd Square, which has become a place for communal gathering and reflection.
Public health professionals unable to attend the meeting in Minneapolis can take part virtually with a digital version of APHA 2024. Registration and housing for the meeting are now open. Students, early-career professionals and other APHA members can receive discounted rates.
To register for the Annual Meeting, reserve housing or learn more, visit www.apha.org/annualmeeting.
For more information on things to see and do in Minneapolis, visit www.minneapolis.org.
“Spoonbridge and Cherry” by Claes Oldenburg is a crowd favorite at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Photo by Mike Madison, courtesy Meet Minneapolis
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
