Suree Sompamitwong was born in Thailand and moved to the U.S. when she was 7 years old. She’s the executive director of Creative Healing Space — a nonprofit that promotes mental health, healing and all things creative — as well as a youth employment specialist at the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council. Suree wants to strengthen and empower the people in her community to be more healed and vibrant. She’s a past Growing Local: Emerging Leaders participant and a current Initiators Fellow. Suree has helped plan Welcoming Week in Worthington for three years.
Vibrant Communities
Welcoming Week in Glencoe with Kerry
Kerry Ward and her family are lifelong residents of Glencoe. Kerry is a Community Health Educator for McLeod County Health and Human Services and Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services, working with the community to improve the health and safety of residents. She chairs the grassroots community group Together we are Glencoe that plans local Welcoming Week events and other opportunities to advocate for welcoming and belonging in her community.
Southwest Minnesota communities are “All In” for this year’s Welcoming Week
Twelve communities across southwest Minnesota are wrapping up final details for their Welcoming Week celebrations. The Swift County Area will kick things off with a party in the park on September 8, with the rest of the celebrations in the region happening through early October. Welcoming Week events are free and open to the public. You’re encouraged to invite friends and family to attend an event happening near you!
Nonprofit Training Opportunities
We host workshops and trainings designed to support the growth and success of nonprofits that serve southwest Minnesota.
Southwest Initiative Foundation awards $400,000 in grant funds through the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund
Southwest Initiative Foundation recently awarded 16 grants totaling $400,000 through the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund to support local organizations that address community asset building, basic needs, health and well-being and restorative and responsive services.
Together We Thrive Grant Recipients
We envision a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. We bring people together to find solutions that benefit the entire region because we believe we’re better together. To do good work together, we recently awarded nearly $60,000 in grant funding to 17 partners across the region who help create belonging by: providing a strong foundation for youth to develop essential skills and resilience; fostering thriving communities by empowering them to prioritize mental wellness; and creating a sense of belonging through collaborative projects that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds.
