Just out of high school, Jay Petre got a job ripping down an old railroad depot near his home in rural West Virginia. “We were stacking up all this wood,” Petre recalls. “And this guy came by and said, ‘Can I buy it?’ I ended up getting an extra $10,000, and I knew I was …
Rural Communities Light The Way When Jim and LeeAnn VanDerPol and their son Josh started construction last summer on a new upgrade to their farm, their neighbors took notice. The VanDerPols, a three-generation family of organic cattle and pig farmers in Kerkhoven, Minnesota, are used to testing out new ideas and raising eyebrows in the …
An Open Letter to the Community As we begin a new year, we are delighted to share with you the McKnight Foundation’s new Strategic Framework 2019-2021. Our board of directors unanimously approved the document last November. It reflects our shared sense of urgency given the societal and planetary challenges of our day. It also reflects …
Passer is a savvy energy policy professional and recognized expert on equity in Minnesota’s climate and energy space. He will begin his new role on September 14.
It’s been two years since Mr. George Floyd was murdered. Like so many Black Americans throughout history, he came to Minnesota for opportunity. Yet instead of realizing the American Dream, what unfolded was a nightmare. What happened to Mr. Floyd is not an anomaly. His story depicts the insidious nature of racism—how it shows up …
Cedrick Baker is an inspiring, motivational leader and systems thinker who thrives in building high-performing, engaging cultures. He begins his new role as McKnight’s chief of staff on May 16.
How do families define family engagement in education? As embracing “the power of people to change systems, not the other way around.” Or in other words, shifting decisionmaking power toward families and communities. That’s a theme we heard from the nearly 30 community partners we gathered last November to explore the topic of family engagement, …
If you ask climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, climate change isn’t just a problem for polar bears or future generations anymore—it’s affecting us all, here and now. Not only that, but the choices we make today will have a profound impact on our future—and we all have a role to play. Luckily, she says, we don't …
In Conversation with Therese Casey, Controller Our colleague Therese Casey recently celebrated her 30-year anniversary with the McKnight Foundation. To recognize this milestone, we sat down with Therese to ask a few questions about her time with McKnight. Therese is the longest-serving employee at McKnight! She joined the foundation in 1988 as an administrative assistant and …
The McKnight Foundation is pleased to announce that Beyene Gessesse will join the International team as its program officer. Gessesse has extensive experience in rural development and food security initiatives, working with farmers, researchers, development practitioners, and funders. He will start his new role on November 29. “We are thrilled to welcome Beyene to our …