Crookston’s Night to Unite Partnership Recognized with 2026 Seed Coalition President’s Award

"The Seed Coalition's Community Partner Award recognizes UMN Crookston's community-university collaboration, and Night to Unite is one of those many regional partnerships showcased each August."

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The community partnership behind Crookston's annual National Night Out celebration, locally known as Night to Unite, has been recognized with a 2026 Community Partner Award from the Seed Coalition. The recognition highlights the collaborative effort among local partners, including University of Minnesota Crookston, that helps make the event one of the region's largest community gatherings.

Each year, the Seed Coalition's network of colleges and universities across Minnesota and Iowa recognizes outstanding civic and community engagement initiatives that strengthen campuses, communities, and the relationships between them. The Community Partner Award honors collaborative efforts that demonstrate meaningful partnerships between higher education institutions and the communities they serve.

The Crookston partnership was recognized for its work supporting Night to Unite, the community's local celebration of National Night Out. The event marked its 41st year nationally and its 22nd year in Crookston in 2025. Over the past five years, Night to Unite has been held on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus on the first Tuesday in August, where the university works alongside local partners to host one of the area's most visible community-building events.

Nationwide, more than 40 million people in over 15,000 communities participate in National Night Out events each year. In Crookston, the event has grown in participation, scope, and community engagement, with more than 1,500 attendees gathering on the Crookston campus each August to connect with neighbors, local organizations, and public safety partners.

"Night to Unite is the largest and most impactful community event organized by the City of Crookston and would not be possible if not for the partnerships with UMN Crookston," said Darin Selzler, Interim City Administrator and Crookston Police Chief.

Local public health leaders also note the broader community impact created through the collaboration.

"The impact of this collaboration is felt throughout Crookston and beyond. It reinforces democratic values and civic responsibility by creating a welcoming space among residents, university, local leaders, law enforcement, health providers, and alike," said Sarah Reese, MS, CHES, Administrator and Director of Polk County Public Health and Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Services.

The University of Minnesota Crookston has partnered with Night to Unite organizers since 2010, helping expand the event's reach and community participation in recent years.

"The Seed Coalition's Community Partner Award recognizes UMN Crookston's community-university collaboration, and Night to Unite is one of those many regional partnerships showcased each August," said Michelle Christopherson, Director of Outreach & Engagement at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

Award recipients will be recognized during a ceremony on Thursday, April 9, hosted by St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

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