REUSE25: Nurturing Community and Collaboration
Impressions from a first-time attendee
Over 190 people from across the Twin Cities (and beyond) gathered for a two-day, in-person event to foster partnerships within the reuse community.
This is Reuse Minnesota’s 6th year of organizing a conference to bring reuse advocates and practitioners together in one place.
The event space at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park came alive with conference attendees representing municipalities, state organizations, and nonprofit organizations. While many people work in the sustainability space, others, like myself, attended as a community member to connect with others and learn about new initiatives.
Day 1: Building community through shared values
Morning sessions featured experts from the University of Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute, Hennepin Healthcare, Augsburg College, and Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) sharing how leadership and partnerships shape the reuse economy.
Between sessions, stories, introductions, and new ideas spilled into the exhibitor space. The energy continued during lunch, where Hennepin Technical College Culinary Arts students curated, prepared, and served a delicious spread of healthy dishes.
As a designated Hunger-Free Campus, Hennepin Technical College seemed like the perfect backdrop. I appreciated that attendees were invited to bring storage containers to take food home, and any leftover food was saved for students. Practicing reuse together as a group was a powerful experience.
In the afternoon, an impressive lineup of hands-on activities ranged from small-engine troubleshooting and zipper repair to repurposing old t-shirts and Tai Chi. The book swap table had a steady flow of browsers and swappers all day.
Day 2: Behind-the-scene tours of local organizations
The next day, over 80 participants enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at Bridging, Better Futures, Ridwell, Southwest Metro Lending Library, and Hennepin Restomods, where they discovered reuse on a larger scale. 
Lessons from the keynote speaker
Alex Eaves, founder of Escape the Waste and Stay Vocal, travels the country promoting solutions to tackle our waste problem. He often hears people say, “I’m just one person,” but one person is where it starts.
In 2007, Eaves vowed to stop using disposable coffee cups after admitting that his two-cup-a-day coffee consumption contributed to the waste problem. After 6,500 days, he calculated that if he stacked all the single-use coffee cups he would have used, it would be taller than the Burj Khalifa – the world's tallest building.
His message, “If I’m one person that can eliminate that amount of waste, what if 10 more people did the same?”
Building and celebrating community
The vibe at REUSE25 was inspiring. A mix of local residents and employees from organizations united to promote action.
I met a retired Environmental Protection Agency employee, considering how to share her story about working in government. Another attendee shared, “I am feeling inspired to start a business related to reuse and other sustainable solutions!”
Lindsey Countryman, Marketing Specialist at Wedge Community Co-ops, valued participating in a panel discussion exploring how local co-ops embed reuse practices into their operations. “It’s not a topic we often get to go into in depth,” said Countryman, “so I really appreciate the chance to share – especially with such an invested and engaged audience!”
“Just from being in that space among so many smart, dedicated, inspiring people for a day,” Countryman felt a renewed sense of energy to keep reusing, get more involved in community groups, and keep spreading the word.
As a first-time attendee, I couldn’t agree more. The day buzzed with inspiration, connection and community.
Thank you to everyone who made REUSE25 possible. Emily Barker and Carolyn Wieland orchestrated an outstanding event, fostering collaboration, so together, we can promote and grow the reuse economy.
See you next year at Reuse 2026!
Jody Carey is a Reuse Minnesota member, a freelance sustainability writer, and communication strategist.
