President Jason Bradshaw called the hybrid meeting to order at 12:16 pm. Lynne Beck was scribe. The greeter was Susan O'Neil. Jason announced that the last board meeting of the year will be tomorrow and then there will be 6 new members, a new slate of officers, and our new president Todd Nicholson.
Jerry Faletti gave the Inspirational Minute, a prayer by Pope Francis, and led the club in the 4-Way Test. Ed Coleman introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. Ken Crabb introduced Susan Rostkoski, consultant at Strategic Consulting and Coaching and Linda Mulhern introduced the mother of the award winner, Marianna Sullivan. Katie Johnson, a member of the Fridley club, is interested in transferring.
Michael-jon Pease introduced the Carolyn Brusseau Award for Women in Leadership for outstanding women leaders. It was named after Carolyn Brusseau, our 85th President from 1994-95, who was the first woman Saint Paul Rotary Club president. We are giving this award every year to an outstanding woman in her field. This year we selected two women to receive the award. Jason presented the awards to Marianna Sullivan and Debbie Montgomery. Marianna is a Harding High School counselor who is a big fan or Camp Ryla. She has encouraged many students from Harding to attend. Debbie was the first female and first Black woman St. Paul Police officer. She has been a role model and mentor for women and young people on the force over many years.
The two recipients will receive $1,000 for the charity of their choice, a one-year membership to the club, and a $1,000 Paul Harris Fellowship in their name. Marianna chose Our Lady of Peace hospice and Debbie selected Hallie Q. Brown Community Center to receive the gifts. The women have close ties to the two organizations. Michael-jon presented the two women with a piece of ceramic pottery by local artist Leila Deneke. Leila wrote a nice letter thanking Rotary for all our support. She received a Rotary Vocation Fellowship in 1984 to study pottery in Japan. This experience changed her life and her work as a potter.
The speaker was Holly Henning, Residential Director of Ain Dah Yun Center. She has tribal affiliations (Marten Falls, First Nation and Constance Lake, First Nation) and extensive experience working with homeless, at risk youth. She is also a visual artist who has worked on mural projects around the country
There is a long history in the United States and Canada of trauma for indigenous peoples. Much of the trauma took place during the boarding school era of the 1970's. The last residential school for indigenous youth in Canada closed in 1996. Other trauma included forced assimilation and lack of the ability to celebrate their own language, traditions and religion. This trauma has led to the breakdown of family values, mental health issues, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, etc.
Ain Dah Yun Center provides a healing place within the community for American Indian youth and families to thrive in safety and wholeness. Born out of the Red School House, the Center began in 1983 as a safe place for children 5-18 who are experiencing homelessness.
Currently, Ain Dah Yun Center has 7 programs.
- Emergency Shelter: provides culturally responsive emergency shelter to indigenous youth in crisis and need of housing
- Youth Lodge: a residential transitional living program for youth 16-21
- Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung: permanent supportive housing for young adults 18-24
- Niniyanisag: culturally responsive after-school prevention programming for children and youth 8-17 (leadership development program)
- Oyate Nawajin: support services for indigenous families with the goal of keeping families together
- Street Outreach: in-person direct services to unhoused, at-risk youth including housing assessments and case management
- Zhawenimaa: culturally responsive safe harbor services for survivors of exploitation and trafficking
Ain Dah Yun Center is supported by some federal funds (section 8 vouchers, etc), individuals, and foundations. William Kent Krueger, a Minnesota author who writes novels about Minnesota with a focus on Native peoples and cultures, supports and collaborates with the center.
Joy McElroy from Cherish All Children invited everyone to participate in their 5K walk on June 26 to raise funds to help prevent child exploitation and human trafficking. The next 501 meeting will be Tuesday at the University Club with a zoom option. Ed Coleman asked for Happy Dollars, which included Valdi's updates on RI grants for Bolivia ($66,000 for farm projects) and Tanzania ($38,000 for hospital upgrades). Scott thanked everyone who helped with Cleveland Circle; there was a great turnout.
The meeting closed at 1:15 pm.
Lynne Beck
Scribe