For 35 years, Southwest Initiative Foundation has been part of writing southwest Minnesota’s success story. The most recent chapter has been a hard one. A year ago, I could not
Connect Newsletter
Hutchinson community members Anthony and Kristi Hanson are here for good
Kristi and Anthony Hanson have three children – Samuel, Audrey and Jacob – and make their home in Hutchinson. You can find them at church, at the hockey rink, at
Charlie Rattler III shares his story of moving to Marshall
Charlie Rattler III was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He moved to Minnesota in 2009 and earned a degree in management at Southwest Minnesota State University. Charlie met his
Southwest Minnesota communities come together to advance racial equity
We know that vibrant and welcoming communities are a pillar of what our kids need to succeed, and a key to attracting and retaining community members in our rural region. As
Understanding the role of local government in racial equity
Last year, Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) recruited communities from our region to be part of a pilot program for advancing race equity. City administration, elected officials, educators and school staff
Connecting to new storytellers in southwest Minnesota
Andrea Duarte-Alonso joined the foundation in 2019 as part of a two-year Lead for America Fellowship. Based in her hometown of Worthington, she’s worked to build bridges in the community