Case Study: Minnesota Cancer Alliance Summit

Turning a Statewide Cancer Plan into Collective Action

Client

Minnesota Cancer Alliance in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health.

The Opportunity

The Minnesota Cancer Alliance was preparing to launch a new statewide cancer plan and wanted to use its annual summit to bring partners together around the next phase of work.

The goal was not just to host a conference, but to create a convening that would:

• align partners across Minnesota’s cancer prevention and care community

• highlight innovation and emerging strategies

• build shared momentum for implementation

At the same time, there was a broader challenge common to many statewide coalitions: How do you move from a strong plan and a successful convening into clear, coordinated action across partners?

Freya + Co was engaged to support the planning process and design a summit that could serve as a bridge between strategy and implementation.

Freya + Co’s Approach

Freya + Co worked with the Alliance’s steering committee and planning team to translate the goals of the cancer plan into a purposeful statewide convening, while beginning to lay the groundwork for action beyond the event. 

Key contributions included:

• Summit program design
  Shaped the agenda structure, plenary framing, and breakout session tracks to connect data, strategy, and real-world application

• Collaborative planning facilitation
  Supported planning committee discussions and decision-making, helping the group move from ideas to clear program choices

• Breakout session framework
  Developed criteria and selection processes to ensure sessions aligned with cancer plan priorities

• Participant engagement design
  Integrated reflection and action-oriented elements to help participants connect the work to their own organizations

• Learning and evaluation tools
  Designed a process survey and captured insights to inform future Summit plans

Freya + Co used facilitation approaches such as the Technology of Participation (ToP) to support inclusive dialogue while maintaining forward momentum.

The Summit

The 2026 Minnesota Cancer Alliance Summit brought together almost 300 participants from across Minnesota, including:

• healthcare providers

• public health leaders

• researchers

• community organizations

• policymakers

• advocates.

Participants described the summit as a powerful opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, and strengthen partnerships across the state.

The program featured:

• a plenary panel on data disparities and the path to action

• breakout sessions highlighting innovative programs and community initiatives

• structured opportunities for reflection, connection, and shared learning.

Results

The summit exceeded expectations in both participation and engagement.

Highlights included:

• 300+ attendees from across Minnesota

• strong sponsor participation and support

• high-quality breakout sessions showcasing work across the state

• widespread positive feedback from participants

Participants described the summit as one of the most engaging in the Alliance’s history and an important moment of connection for the statewide cancer community.Impact

Freya + Co helped the Minnesota Cancer Alliance translate its statewide cancer plan into a convening that aligned partners, surfaced innovation, and inspired action across Minnesota’s cancer prevention and care community.

Impact

The summit successfully brought together partners, strengthened relationships, and generated energy for the next phase of work. It also surfaced an important insight:

While the summit created strong alignment and momentum, sustained impact requires more explicit structures for translating that energy into coordinated action.

Freya + Co’s role helped position the Alliance to take that next step, moving from:

• shared vision → shared priorities

• individual inspiration → collective ownership

• convening → implementation

Services Provided

• Strategic convening design

• Facilitation and collaborative planning

• Program architecture and session design

• Participant engagement design

• Evaluation and learning capture