About
Board Members
If you would like more information about joining an issue team, or attending board meetings (the public is welcome), please contact one of our board members:
- Holly Wessels (Acting Chair)
- Marie Atkison-Smeins (Treasurer)
- Kari Voss-Drost (Co-Chair)
- Robyn Wessels (Secretary)
- Dawn Anderson
- Chelsie Hermsen
- Wanda Jarchow
- Angela Nolz
- Scott Wessels
History
In 2017, the Luverne community applied and was chosen by the Blandin Foundation through an application process to be the site for the Leaders Partnering to End Poverty program. Leaders Partnering to End Poverty (LPEP) is designed for community members of all income levels, who are engaged in their community, and who are passionate and committed to ending poverty. It works to develop an understanding of poverty as a community issue by identifying its causes, and approaches to deal with these issues. It provides the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences. It builds personal and working relationships among participants across economic disparities. It strengthens their leadership skills, and provides the tools to organize a focused community effort to move people out of poverty.
Throughout the one-year training, community members met on a monthly basis for training. Community events were held: a kick-off event with poverty expert and national speaker Jodi Farr, community conversations, virtual cafes, a poverty theater, and a poverty simulation.
At the end of the year, five issues were identified in the Luverne community that were either not being addressed or had been a difficult challenge. Issue teams were formed and the work began to address these concerns. #Luv1LuvAll has continued these efforts through grants, donations, and other funding sources.