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Courageous Stories
Highlighting community stories of courage, strength and resiliency
Section
How Wilder Meals on Wheels Volunteer Sukanya Sathiamoorthi helps close the hunger gap in Saint Paul
More than 44 million people in the U.S. experienced hunger in 2022, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently reported. That statistic about food insecurity, worrying about where one’s next meal will come from, reflects an increase of about 45 percent over the year before. When hunger is increasing, programs like Wilder Meals on… Read this story »
With a place to call home, Wilder participant Adira launched a path to financial stability
Adira, a participant in supportive housing and asset-building programs at Wilder, lives in a tidy apartment in Roseville. The 33-year-old works at a gas station and picks up shifts for a grocery delivery company. When Adira isn’t working, she and her kids spend time together and enjoy trips to Como Park and Como Town amusement park. Read this story »
Telling Queer History storytelling events create community connection
For 10 years, Telling Queer History (TQH) has been creating spaces for people to connect, and using storytelling to build community and foster belonging. The organization was created as a response to the erasure of LGBTQ+ history in public spaces and with a desire to create more intergenerational, intersectional spaces. Read this story »
Ending Homelessness Together: Wilder Research partnerships help the community and Wilder programs understand homelessness and housing needs in Minnesota
The Minnesota Homeless Study, one of Wilder’s best-known research projects, will return on October 26 after a pause during the pandemic. Wilder Research conducts the study every three years to better understand the prevalence of homelessness as well as the circumstances of those experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. Read this story »
The Community Equity Program provided Keisha Mitchell with hands-on experience during a historic Legislative session
Minnesota legislators passed transformational legislation for abortion rights, paid family and medical leave, transgender rights protections, driver’s licenses for undocumented residents, restoration of voting rights for people after release from prison, a $1 billion investment in affordable housing -- and much more.
Keisha Mitchell was… Read this story »
Wilder volunteer Asha Boggs creates authentic connection with participants in Healthy Aging programs
Asha Boggs stands out as a volunteer for two Wilder programs for her bright smile and obvious passion for caring for older adults in Saint Paul. The broad focus of Asha’s volunteerism reflects her personal philosophy of care for seniors, which seeks to consider a person’s needs from a holistic perspective. Read this story »
“They just want to love you for who you are:” Cretin-Derham Hall volunteers gain valuable lessons from young learners at the Child Development Center
The Wilder Child Development Center strives to recognize and meet the diverse interests and abilities of children and their families. That commitment extends to volunteers. Staff at the center welcome groups and individual volunteers – and as students at Cretin-Derham Hall have learned – there are a variety of projects that volunteers… Read this story »
Donors Craig and Kathy Binger’s connection to Wilder spans a century
It’s no surprise that Craig and Kathy Binger support Wilder’s mission as donors. After all, Craig worked at Wilder for more than 30 years, and he values Wilder’s focus on innovation to meet community needs now and into the future. Read this story »