What Amy loves best about southwest Minnesota is that everywhere she goes, it feels like home; and in one way another, that has always been the case for her. As our Youth & Community Program Officer, Amy is a resource to build and strengthen southwest Minnesota by creating community connections and directing resources to opportunities that impact critical needs for the education and wellbeing of youth and their communities across the region. Her focus is on families, childhood well-being and community mental health. Amy has a newsletter for parents of youth that includes updates on youth-related matters around the region. She can often be found attending mental health coalition meetings around the area and is not afraid of rolling up her sleeves to work hard for our most marginalized residents.
Amy comes to SWIF with several decades of work in the human services sector, with an emphasis on individuals diagnosed with both mental illness and chemical dependency but also including child safety and well-being, and broader community safety issues. She’s inspired by the opportunity to bring the level of community well-being up a notch through addressing systemic issues and shoring up the areas that are already assets in our region. Amy believes strongly in community and that people have the desire and the power to help each other when the right tools are put in their hands.
When it comes to hobbies, Amy enjoys anything creative and exploratory — stained glass, pottery, photography, household renovations, cooking, painting, getting lost in the woods, even raising chickens. Amy is also an ally for LGBTQ+ kids and families and on her own time occasionally facilitates a group for allies. She also administers a Facebook group to connect people to volunteer opportunities in Meeker County and serves on the board of her lake association.
Position: Youth & Community Program Officer
