As Founder and Executive Director of Northway Center LLC, Christy develops community-based initiatives focused on strengthening connection, resilience, and well-being in rural northern Minnesota. Her work brings together community partners and individuals with shared experiences to explore practical, accessible approaches to supporting those who serve and care for their communities.

Beyond the Call is a community-based initiative focused on strengthening resilience, connection, and overall well-being among veterans, first responders, EMS, firefighters, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and public servants. The initiative explores how non-clinical, peer-centered approaches can create trusted spaces for connection, reduce barriers to seeking support, and strengthen the networks available to those navigating the demands of service and caregiving. Through the fellowship, Christy is working to develop an adaptable model that can support rural communities and the people who serve them.

Seretha Lee is a community advocate, a housing commissioner, a public health fellow dedicated to advancing health equity through housing stability and systems change. Her work focuses on amplifying community voices, strengthening tenant protections, and bridging the gap between residents and decision-makers. She is passionate about creating spaces where lived experience drives policy, engagement, and sustainable community solutions. 

Seretha's community engagement project centers on educating tenants about their rights while connecting housing stability to public health and wellness. Through outreach events, conversations, and culturally responsive education, she works to empower residents with knowledge, resources, and a stronger voice within housing systems. The goal is to build informed, resilient communities where residents feel supported, protected, and equipped to advocate for themselves.

Roots of Wellness at 3 Branch Farm is a culturally grounded “farm-to-health” program connecting Hmong youth in rural Minnesota to hands-on farming and nutrition education. In partnership with North Branch Public Schools, students will plant, harvest, and prepare fresh produce while learning how healthy eating supports physical and mental well-being, integrating Hmong traditions and storytelling.

Derek Nicholas is a proud member of the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe and has been a Minneapolis resident since 2021. Furthermore, he is founder of Wiisinig LLC, an organization that focuses on revitalizing indigenous food systems amongst tribal communities. Through his leadership, Derek brings integrity, cultural values, and a forward-thinking approach to the initiatives he undertakes.  

Advancing Health Through Indigenous Food and Knowledge Systems centers on revitalizing and practicing Indigenous foodways and knowledge systems as a pathway to improved health, wellbeing, and community prosperity. Through a series of facilitated events, workshops, and gatherings, the initiative will create spaces where communities can come together to share traditional practices, stories, and teachings connected to food, land, and identity.

Jay Pee, BSW, LADC, LSW, CPRS is the founder and executive director of the Minnesota Hope Dealerz Organization, where he combines professional training and lived experience to support individuals and families impacted by addiction, homelessness, and trauma. A person in long-term recovery, Jay Pee holds a Bachelor of Social Work and is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Through Minnesota Hope Dealerz, he leads community-driven, peer-centered initiatives rooted in authenticity, dignity, and hope. Guided by the belief that connection and consistency fuel transformation, Jay Pee meets people where they are and helps them believe in what’s possible. 

The Minnesota Hope Dealerz Organization (MHD) Transitional Housing Program provides immediate housing stabilization for individuals experiencing housing instability and substance use recovery needs in St. Paul, Minnesota. The program offers five transitional housing rooms within a shared residence where utilities are included. Participants receive housing navigation support, connections to recovery services, employment assistance, and individualized stabilization planning. Housing serves as the foundation for long-term recovery and economic stability.

Princess Titus is an educator, community leader, and healer with over three decades of service in the Twin Cities. Her educational path includes a BA in Early Childhood Education from Metropolitan State University, multiple professional certifications in career development, fundraising, public health, and sound healing, and extensive training in community organizing. Her leadership has been recognized through honors such as National Philanthropy Day (2022), Black Legacy Leadership, and selection as an IDEA Fellow, and she is currently part of the M Health Fairview Accelerator Fellowship. She is a co-founder and Senior Engagement Officer at Appetite For Change, serves on the Steering Committee for Fostering African Americans in Total Health, and facilitates a Grief Circle for Parents of Murdered Children in the Twin Cities.

The Grief and Trauma Doula Training is a structured, community-based program that equips participants with practical tools to navigate grief and trauma and support others’ healing. Building on a successful pilot, the next phase seeks to finalize and expand the curriculum to include brain, child, and emotional development across the lifespan, with attention to how grief and trauma impact individuals from preconception through adulthood. The project aims to produce a finalized curriculum, professionally edited materials, recorded training modules, participant workbooks and facilitation guides, and to implement a fully supported pilot cohort of 20 participants, including a closing healing retreat. By the end of the project period, the training is intended to be fully developed, tested, and positioned for replicable use in community settings.