Picture a laser beam. Then think of how aiming that laser at your eye, in the hands of an expert, can change your life from coke-bottle glasses to clear vision. One small intervention can change everything — for life. That’s how Wallin Education Partners functions: one small intervention – a college scholarship of about $4,000… Read More

Free Arts Minnesota’s mission is to bring caring adults alongside youth in challenging circumstances.  Free Arts believes in team-style mentoring, and requires a regular commitment from their volunteers.  This commitment is necessary because these children have been disappointed by the adults in their life, or the only adults they interact with are authority figures like… Read More

An “equitable food project”. Do you think of Backpack Buddies that way? Probably not, but that’s how Prodeo teacher Jennifer Christensen presented it. She started the Salon by asking members to think about where we would go to buy fresh produce, meat, gluten-free items. How would we get there? How would we carry the items… Read More

This past fall, I led a double shift of JLMer’s for the Girls on the Run fall 5k event.  It was a beautiful, crisp fall day. We volunteered at the registration table, were part of a cheer squad out on the race course, and helped with some very demanding post-race clean up.  Girls on the… Read More

The team was set, the countdown had started.  T-3 minutes, the doors would open, and approximately 250 people would be expecting us to be on our A game.  My palms were sweaty, my heart rate was a bit elevated.  Oh – and my hair net was NOT cute.  I suddenly felt awkward in a way… Read More