The Northland Foundation’s Board of Trustees has welcomed three new members, as well as elected officers. The 2023-2024 officers are: Peter McDermott, Chair – Retired, Grand Rapids; Mary Harrelson, Vice Chair – Owner, Mary Rademacher Psychological Services, Grand Portage Reservation; Roy Smith,Treasurer – Director of Education & Talent Development, Iron Range Resources/MN State Colleges & Universities, Hibbing; and Cindy Anderson Bina, Secretary – Counselor (retired), Vermilion Community College, Ely. The Immediate Past Chair, Angie Miller of Duluth, will spend an additional year on the board. Find the listing of all Northland Foundation Trustees at northlandfdn.org.
Our newest trustees bring a great diversity of experience and perspectives to the board! Learn a little about each of them, below, including what about Northland’s mission most resonates with them.
Tia Marie is the owner of two small businesses in the Grand Rapids area: UnWined Up North and Smoke on the Water Co. and is very involved in small business development and networking. She had previously been a school teacher for 28 years in Northern Minnesota and California. Tia is the proud permanent Foster Parent of two teenagers with disabilities and is an involved supporter of Special Olympics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bemidji State University and has licenses in reading recovery, early childhood special education, physical health disabilities and developmental delays. Of the opportunity to serve on the board, she said:
“I was struck by Northland Foundation’s values, including intention, the desire to break down barriers, and trusting the communities to know their own challenges and strengths. We live in an amazing place, and I welcome the work needed to strengthen it.”
Darren Sheldon is the principal of Lakewood Elementary and is also the Federal Programs Coordinator for Duluth Public Schools. He is currently on the Lake Superior Basketball Board and officiates across the region at the high school and college level, as well as sings with the Twin Ports Choral Project Choir. Darren received his bachelor’s degree in teaching from Concordia College and his Doctorate degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Dakota. Darren stated:
“The Northland Foundation has a mission where people and communities work towards a future where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. One piece of this mission is to help students and our youth. I want to help connect northeast Minnesota even further and as a school principal in the area, I really think we (our region and the Northland Foundation) can strive to accomplish one of the World’s Best Workforce Goals in Minnesota which is having ALL students ready for school.”
Elena Foshay is the Director of the City of Duluth’s Workforce Development Department, leading development and implementation of workforce strategy, employer services, and programs for jobseekers. She serves as the Executive Director for the Duluth Workforce Development Board and serves on the Local Advisory Board for Duluth LISC. She earned a master’s degrees in social work and community economic development, both from the University of California – Berkeley. She also served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay as an Urban Youth Development volunteer from 2002-2005. Said Elena:
“Northland is a leader on some of our region’s most critical issues and urgent needs. The programs and organizations Northland supports have a ripple effect that helps leverage other resources, build community leaders, and strengthen organizations and small businesses. And all of this is done with a sharp focus on equity and belonging. I am thrilled to help support this important work.”
Melissa King joins Northland staff
Our staff has also grown by one. Melissa King joined the foundation in July as an accountant. Melissa not only has extensive managerial accounting background but also valuable experience in the nonprofit realm. Most recently, she served as the Accounting and Finance Manager at Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration, both from The College of St. Scholastica.
Funding Notes
The Northland Foundation’s AGE to age communities, like many others across the region, state, and country, have recognized a need to re-ignite intergenerational social engagement and volunteer opportunities due the disruption that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. With funding support from the state and national initiatives outlined below, the AGE to age Community Engagement Project is infusing added financial and technical support into these 16 rural sites to help them strengthen social connections and improve the well-being of children, youth, older adults/elders, and the generations-in-between.
Throughout this project, the Northland Foundation is providing training and support to help communities share ideas with one another, as well as tapping the expertise and resources provided by the Wallace and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundations.
Wallace Foundation: Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents
In partnership with 16 AGE to age Communities across the region, the Northland Foundation, was chosen by The Wallace Foundation to participate in a one-year initiative called Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents. This effort is intended to help Wallace Foundation partners to better address the needs of adolescents who face barriers to participation in after-school and summer programs. This work will also build understanding to inform potential future Wallace initiatives as well as the youth development sector as a whole. Northland received $175,000 in funding.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Wallace Foundation to support community-based enrichment programming for under-served and at-risk rural youth, ” said Zane Bail, Chief Operating Officer. “This funding will bolstered our incredible AGE to age sites to better connect young people with older generations and create sustainable, culturally relevant opportunities that help youth thrive.”
Following the Wallace Foundation’s open call for submissions last fall, that prompted more than 1,700 expressions of interest, Northland was among 81 organizations invited to submit proposals and one of just 30 throughout the U.S. to be funded.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation: Healthy Connections Program
The Northland Foundation was awarded a $100,000 grant over two years for our AGE to age: bringing generations together program. The grant is part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation’s Healthy Connections program, which seeks to increase social connections within and across communities and generations to reduce social isolation. Northland is one of 13 grantees in Minnesota that received funding as part of this $2 million statewide initiative.
“The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation is in firm alignment with our belief that communities hold the answers to their pressing issues, and we are grateful for their support to help AGE to age sites implement local solutions to alleviate isolation of community members of all ages,” stated Northland Foundation President, Tony Sertich.
Newly Closed Loans + Free Lenders Forum
Recent loans total over $2 million
During the past several months, the Northland Foundation closed on three loans totaling $2,122,500 to support northeast Minnesota businesses. They are:
Northland Laser and Skin, LLC, Hibbing
Virginia Hospitality, LLC, d/b/a TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Virginia
Wetherby Properties, LLC, d/b/a Fork in the Road Retreat, Nashwauk
To learn more about Business Services and loan tools available, please email our Business Services Director, Michael Colclough.
Non-traditional Lenders Forum coming up October 30 in Chisholm
Join us for a free lunch & learn on the Iron Range to find out more about the numerous regional programs available to support small businesses to start, sustain, and grow. Bankers and other lenders, business owners, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend.
In addition to the Northland Foundation and Northland Small Business Development Center, other presenters may include the Northspan Group, Inc., Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), East Central Regional Development Commission (ECRDC), Area Partnership for Expansion (APEX), Entrepreneur Fund, Great River Energy, Innovate 218, and the Minnesota Business Finance Corporation (MBFC).
We hope to see you there!
Non-Traditional Lenders Forum Luncheon
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE:https://bit.ly/iron-range
Recently Awarded Grants
From April through June, the Northland Foundation awarded $1,011,000 in quarterly grants and another $27,500 in Maada’ookiing grants to benefit the people and communities within its geographic service area.
Two large Systems Change Grantstotaling $300,000 were awarded to initiatives that target the root causes of social issues. Beyond providing direct services, grantees are seeking to shift policies, mindsets, and power dynamics that have allowed issues to exist and persist, or to modify how services are delivered leading to better outcomes for populations being served. Systems Change grantees are working to promote fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by institutions or systems.
Two-year grants of $150,000 each were awarded to: Koochiching County Food Access to help move food systems and access in the county toward a more sustainable and equitable model, and to Carlton County to improve community response for domestic violence survivors and their children and help break the cycle of violence across generations.
“Undoing existing systems and services and rebuilding them to be better is no small task. That’s why we’re committing significant resources over multiple years to organizations with the capacity to take on these big
challenges and opportunities.”
Michelle Ufford, Director of Grantmaking
In addition to quarterly and systems change grants, 11 Maada’ookiing grants totaling $27,500 were recommended for approval by the Maada’ookiing Advisory Board in late June. Maada’ookiing is an Indigenous-led program offering up to $2,500 to individuals for creative projects that strengthen Indigenous community, culture, and regional capacity.
As a reminder, we are currently accepting applications for several special grant opportunities:
grants to help child care businesses start and expand in the region, including special funding for Greater St. Louis County child care,
grants to licensed family- and center-based child care to help pay for critical needs that allow them to sustain services, and
grants up to $10,000 that support individual or small group grassroots efforts to raise awareness, promote healing, or otherwise address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives.
