Speakers

Laura Westlund, Managing Editor and Development Officer of the University of Minnesota Press.

Laura will speak about her work at the press and the books they acquire.  She is a proud graduate of Edina High School and St. Olaf College. Laura will be introduced by Sue Mickelberg.

Learn more at University of Minnesota Press.

Matt Norman is President & CEO of Norman & Associates, which leverages Dale Carnegie training to develop the skills and habits to inspire others with confidence. Through sustainable, intentional growth, you can overcome what’s holding you back to lead a more impactful life, and make work more productive and humane. Start your leadership journey today.

Lean more at the website.

EMRC member Jack Lee, VOB Executive Director, will present this program about a very special organization.

Outward Bound’s roots go back to 1941, when influential educator and philosopher Kurt Hahn developed a survival training program for British sailors based on a philosophy that training through challenges produced better outcomes and greater impact than training for challenges because it created transferable character traits. In 1962, Josh Miner, adopting Hahn’s philosophy, founded Outward Bound USA. Since its inception, Outward Bound has been the pioneering leader in outdoor experiential education, serving over one million students from all walks of life and immersing participants in challenging expedition courses that inspire discovery. Minnesota’s independent 501(c)(3) Voyageur Outward Bound School is a true jewel in this crown. Opened in 1963 in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota by founder Bob Pieh, Voyageur Outward Bound School was the first Outward Bound School to put girls on course in 1965 and the first in the United States to conduct urban programming.

VOBS has two program bases in Minnesota and one in Texas. We founded our Twin Cities Center in Saint Paul, MN in 2011 for the specific purpose of bringing Outward Bound experiences to urban youth. Whether we are working with young adults challenged by homelessness or junior high school students who find themselves in the principal’s office too often, our goal is the same: to provide opportunities for adventure and challenge in a group setting, where individuals can grow personal skills and contribute to a positive group culture.

Homeplace, our base camp in Ely, MN, is sandwiched between the boundaries of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We serve women’s groups, veterans, youth, teens, adults, college students, alumni, outdoor educators, teachers, professionals and at-risk youth. We strive to connect these folks with the power of an amazing ecosystem to cultivate personal excellence. Lastly, our Texas base in Big Bend National Park allows us to strengthen and diversify our programming, offering unique opportunities for challenging desert backcountry experiences and whitewater canoeing. This venue also provides VOBS with unique professional development and leadership opportunities for our own staff.

Visit the website to learn more.

Urban Homeworks focuses the combined resources of the public, private and faith sectors to transform vacant, condemned, or underutilized properties and vacant lots into quality, attainable places to live for low to moderate income households. Housing has been one of the primary ways that racialized wealth gaps have been maintained in our country’s history.  Our goal is to transform housing into a redemptive force not only for the resident or owner, but for the contractors, vendors, and individuals and businesses that benefit from the development and management of the housing we work with.

Our ultimate aim is dignified housing – housing that is both affordable and high quality, and includes a supportive network with a responsive landlord and resources from local community partners.

Visit the website to learn more.

Rich Melzer serves as Executive Director of the YMCA of the North, which includes the Southdale YMCA and The Marsh in Minnetonka.