2011 Leaders for Social Change Profiles
RICHARD AVILES ’13
Major: Dance, Political Action through the Arts (CIS)
Internship Site: Youth Farm & Market Project
Position or role: Harvest Coordinator; TC House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Youth Farm and Market Project provides year-round, youth development programming for over 500 youths ages 9 – 18, utilizing experiential education and training, urban agriculture, gardens and greenhouses. We build youth leadership through planting, growing, preparing, and selling food. Youth Farm and Market Project currently works in 5 neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, Lyndale, Powderhorn and Hawthorne in Minneapolis, and the West Side and Frogtown in St. Paul. While at Youth Farm, I tracked and recorded harvest for Powderhorn Community, supported youth during Farmer’s Market and Mobile Market, served as a support for the Drumming Focus Group and engaged youth in leadership roles.
TARYN ARBEITER ’12
Major: Political Science and French
Internship Site: CURI - Immigration in Faribault
Position or role: Student Researcher; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Maria Ward ’12 & Taryn Arbeiter ’12 co-authored a comprehensive report on immigration and diversity in Faribault with Professor Tegtmeyer Pak as part of a CURI research project. This project was an extension of community-based research conducted by students in Immigration and Citizenship (PSCI 350) in the spring of 2011. After the Welcome Center: Renewing Conversations about Immigration & Diversity in Faribault
KATE BJORKLUND ’13
Major: French and Political Science
Internship Site: Minnesota AIDS Project
Position or role: Public Policy Intern; Twin Cities House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Founded in 1983 as a statewide nonprofit agency, the Minnesota AIDS Project envisions a world free of AIDS. MAP’s mission is to lead Minnesota’s fight to stop HIV through prevention, advocacy, awareness and services. This holistic approach decreases the stigma that is associated with HIV, which improves the lives of people living with or without HIV. During my time working with the Minnesota AIDS Project, I conducted a literature review to evaluate the public policy program’s logic plan. Organized and tracked federal legislation related to HIV and researched and summarized upcoming developments in HIV care, prevention and policy. Also, attended meetings in the community.
AMY CHATELAINE ’12
Major: Biology and Women's Studies Concentration
Internship Site: Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy
Position or role: Summer Intern (Creation Care, Health Care, Hunger & Poverty); TC House
Poster for final LSC presentation
LCPPM seeks to engage all people of faith in the promotion of public policy that supports peace, justice and care for all of God's Creation. LCPPM is uniquely positioned to address critical and at times polarizing issues from nonpartisan, theological, ethical, and practical perspectives. LCPPM engages people of faith by: Networking, Educating & Advocating.
This summer, I addressed MN budget deficit crisis by coordinating in-district meetings with legislators. Conducted research for talking points, updates and published articles. Engaged congregations and college campuses in Environmental Stewardship.
JAMES DALY ’13
Major: Environmental Studies
Internship Site: Cannon River Watershed Partnership & Northfield Transit
Position or role: Intern; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
The Cannon River Watershed Partnership is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, member-funded organization dedicated to engaging people in protecting and improving the water quality and natural systems of the Cannon River watershed. CRWP envisions a healthy watershed with clean water that is fishable, swimmable, and drinkable.
Northfield Trasit provides curb-to-curb rides within the city limits. Fare tokens are sold in packs of ten at Northfield banks, the Northfield Manor, Three Links Apartments, Northfield Community Resource Center, Cub Foods, EconoFoods and City Hall. A 2-hour advance reservation is required for "Dial-a-ride" service.
KARA DONNITHORNE ’12
Major: Biology/Biomolecular Studies
Internship Site: Social Entrepreneurship, Env. Design and Stewardship (SEEDS) Farm
Position or role: Farm Intern; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Founded by Greg & Nancy Carlson ’82, the farm allows students to discover & design innovative approaches to improving health and wellbeing for the community through environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture. The internship takes place in Northfield Township on 50 acres of land owned by the Carlsons. Although producing healthy, organic produce in a sustainable manner is a pivotal goal of the farm, the farm's development depends on three other cornerstone goals. These include a commitment to: Produce healthy food, foster experiential learning, discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship, gain a deeper appreciation for environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture and strengthen local community.
AMBER HESSE ’12
Major: Biology
Internship Site: Northfield Community Action Center
Position or role: Client Services Intern; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
The Community Action Center is a private, nonprofit organization serving the greater Northfield area whose mission is to promote a healthy, caring and just community for all people through resources, advocacy and volunteer effort. As a client services intern at the CAC,
my duties included: Perceive and identify client needs. Prioritize and reconcile needs
with availability of resources. Improvise and imagine alternative solutions. Refer clients to other community organizations. Design and implement camp evaluations. Research and conceptualize structure and content of culturally competent money management class for Spanish speakers. Summer Projects/Other Involvement: Food Shelf, Thursday's Table, Monday's in the Park, Camp evalution report, Financial literacy class (Spanish).
ARIELLE JOHNSON ’12
Major:Psychology
Internship Site: Transit for Livable Communities
Position or role: Internship, Twin Cities House
Poster for final LSC presentation
TLC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to reform MN's transportation system. Through advocacy, community organizing, and research, we promote a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, bicycling, and thoughtful development. TLC’s three-part approach is a dynamic and effective one, as it is grounded in reliable research and intentional activism, all while allowing communities to be involved in the changes that they see implemented in their own neighborhoods. This summer, I wrote/posted news blogs on the TLC site, created/edited a series of podcasts about Bike Walk Twin Cities’ (an initiative of TLC) work in the community and maintained an active and vibrant online community using social media tools.
RACHEL JOHNSON ’13
Major: Sociology/Anthropology, Women's Studies and ARMS Concentration
Internship Site: Project for Pride in Living
Position or role: Youth Literacy Intern; Twin Cities House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Project for Pride in Living (PPL) works with lower-income individuals and families to achieve greater self-sufficiency. PPL Youth Development empowers students to achieve success in school and in life through academic support and enrichment opportunities. PPL fights the cycle of social inequality by targeting housing stability, economic advancement, family stability, and youth achievement. At PPL, I supervised youth in large and small groups and tutored students individually. Designed and led activities to improve literacy as well as health and garden knowledge. Developed a pre-kindergarten literacy activity library and created customized literacy packets and explored nonprofit management.
BOB KELLY ’12
Major: Music and Management Studies Concentration
Internship Site: CURI - Economic Impact of the Arts in Northfield
Position or role: Student Researcher; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Alyssa Lynne ’12 & Bob Kelly ’12 worked with the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission to develop recommendations on how Northfield can further develop as an arts destination. This community-based research, sponsored by CURI and supervised by Sian Muir, involved extensive interviews with 36 individuals from Northfield and concluded with presentations to the Northfield Economic Development Auhority and City Council. Students in Ethnographic Research methods (SOAN 373) laid the foundations for this research in the spring of 2011.
The Arts Economy in Northfield: Further Recommendations Report
View Northfield news article
ERIC KLEIN ’12
Major: English and Education
Internship Site: Summer PLUS (Northfield Public Schools)
Position or role: Teaching Intern, Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
SummerPLUS is a district–provided program that provides organized & supervised activities for Northfield youth during the summer. Its primary goal is to offer an academic experience during the months of summer that is both fun and educational for the students . A vast majority of the program’s students come from low-income families, and many of them are minorities as well, primarily Latino. This summer I encouraged, inspired, and pushed students to excel in their academics as well as in their day-to-day interactions with each other—making them not just better students, but better people as well. I worked to instill a positive attitude towards education and a recognition of its value. I inform the students of the various aspects of college education (how to pay for college, what college life is like, the benefits of college).
THANDO KUNENE ’13
Major: Sociology/Anthropology and English
Internship Site: So How Are the Children (SHAC)
Position or role: Intern; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
SHAC is a non-profit, youth-oriented program serving at risk youth and families in Faribault, MN. SHAC believes that the well-being of youth is a crucial indicator of overall community well-being. Thus, it seeks to implement programs which aid youth and their families. My time at SHAC consisted of recruiting and managing volunteers for SHAC’s Mondays in the Park program which helps Somali mother develop English language skills through intentional conversation. Planning and participation in daily Kids Connection programming. Hosting a body image forum for Somali girls to promote healthy eating and positive body image and created a report evaluating and seeking strategies to increase St. Olaf students’ volunteer participation in Faribault programs.
JON LAVEN ’12
Major: Mathematics and Philosophy
Internship Site: Community Design Center of Minnesota
Position or role: Summer Garden Corps Intern; Twin Cities House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Community Design Center of Minnesota is a Saint Paul-based organization whose mission is to build vibrant and healthy communities through food, conservation and youth development. Their Vision is to be a leader and innovator in using food, conservation and youth development programs so that youth and community members: Have opportunity for learning, leadership, service and career connections; engage with their community and env.; and learn about and access healthy food. This summer I assisted in facilitating and leading Garden Corps youth interns in operation of gardens, market stand, and entrepreneurship team. Brainstormed and developed plans for Harvest dinner & other public events and Managed youth intern payroll & paperwork
ALYSSA LYNNE ’12
Major: English and Sociology/Anthropology
Internship Site: CURI - Economic Impact of the Arts in Northfield
Position or role: Student Researcher; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Alyssa Lynne ’12 & Bob Kelly ’12 worked with the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission to develop recommendations on how Northfield can further develop as an arts destination. This community-based research, sponsored by CURI and supervised by Sian Muir, involved extensive interviews with 36 individuals from Northfield and concluded with presentations to the Northfield Economic Development Auhority and City Council. Students in Ethnographic Research methods (SOAN 373) laid the foundations for this research in the spring of 2011.
The Arts Economy in Northfield: Further Recommendations Report
View Northfield news article
JORDAN MONTGOMERY ’13
Major: Asian Studies and Political. Science
Internship Site: Take Action Minnesota
Position or role: Political Organizing Intern at TakeAction Minnesota; Twin Cities House
Poster for final LSC presentation
TakeAction Minnesota works to make change that matters to Minnesotans. They do this by organizing individuals to lead in their local communities, building dynamic coalitions that criss-cross the state, training and educating people to engage in public action. At their core, they are community organizers - they invest in people as leaders. This summer, my role had 4 steps: Targeting: Discover the target you are mobilizing around. Membership Mobilization: Create a list of interested folks and give them an “ask”. Ex: Phone banking, email lists. Develop a Message: Write an message meant to invigorate members and agitate targets. Ex: Fair Revenue, Safe Corridor. Execute Ask: Connect with members who get involved, and develop them as leaders for the future. EX: Join the doorknock, sign-ins.
KARL TURNLUND ’12
Major: Soc./Anth. & Social Studies Education
Internship Site: Northfield Healthy Community Initiative & Northfield Area Learning Center
Position or role: Summer Intern (at HCI), and Summer School Teaching Assistant for the Northfield Area Learning Center; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
The Healthy Community Initiative is a non-profit coalition for youth development in Northfield. HCI's mission is to foster a collaborative environment in Northfield that empowers youth, strengthens families, and builds community. My responsibilities were split between the HCI office, and the Northfield Area Learning Center. I gathered, interpreted, and evaluated best practice models for two new HCI endeavors. I articulated my findings and developed recommendations for programs through two written reports. I instructed, encouraged, and helped manage summer school students at the ALC. I assisted in the development and organization of the summer social studies curriculum and evaluated student work, and compiled grades.
MARIA WARD ’12
Major: Asian Studies and Political Science
Internship Site: CURI - Immigration in Faribault
Position or role: Student Researcher; Northfield House
Poster for final LSC presentation
Maria Ward ’12 & Taryn Arbeiter ’12 co-authored a comprehensive report on immigration and diversity in Faribault with Professor Tegtmeyer Pak as part of a CURI research project. This project was an extension of community-based research conducted by students in Immigration and Citizenship (PSCI 350) in the spring of 2011. After the Welcome Center: Renewing Conversations about Immigration & Diversity in Faribault