As we turn the calendar page from August to September, I am taking time to reflect on this past summer and what it has meant for St. David’s Center, our families, our children, and the future we are shaping. Each day has been filled with momentum, excitement, and sometimes challenges as we forge a new path for our organization. One of the pinnacle moments: officially stepping into our next St. David’s Center Campus at 1130 Nicollet Mall.
In our early days with this new building, we are seeing a dream turn into a reality as we fully realize the abundant potential the 1130 Nicollet Mall space will bring for children and families in Minneapolis and beyond. As the adage goes: it takes a village. We are fortunate to have so many partners involved in this strategic campaign to bring our vision to life. We are continuing to expand our community and networks as we work together to build a better future for our children.
It dawned on me recently that as a longtime Minnesotan, I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to engage fully with the diverse voices and leaders in Minneapolis that make our community one of the best in the country. But that is quickly changing.
Each week, I connect with our “new” downtown neighbors. I meet with leaders across public and private sectors. I meet with parents and educators. I meet with small business owners and Fortune 500 CEOs. These exploratory conversations are critical both to understand the landscape we are joining with our move to downtown Minneapolis, and to share our perspectives and expertise on how we can create a better foundation for early children education, intervention, and family development in our communities. These meetings include direct conversations with our city and state representatives including Sen. Scott Dibble, Hennepin County Commissioners Marion Greene and Heather Edelson, Mayor Jacob Frey, City Council Chair Andrea Jenkins and Council Member Katie Cashman, Minneapolis Downtown Council President Adam Duininck, association leadership at 1200 On The Mall. The meetings have also included joining a panel for a fundraising event hosted by All of Mpls, hearing from Ben Johnson at the Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department, and more.
I am honored, and often humbled, to be the voice of children and family development in conversations around the Twin Cities and beyond. I feel a great responsibility to share with all leaders—including those of varying backgrounds, viewpoints, and beliefs—about our experience and expertise, and about the ways we’re evolving to meet the needs of our community, just like we have since our founding in 1961.
The entire St. David’s Center team and I are grateful to each of you who have trusted us to be a leader in this next chapter of our cities’ growth, and to be the voice of our children, and our families. Together, we are creating a better path to the future.
May. 07, 2024
Mar. 11, 2024
