Events

Katherine Meerse is Executive Director of Avenues for Youth, a nonprofit that partners with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. Katherine joined the Avenues staff in 2018, coming from Hennepin County Health and Human Services where, as Manager of Youth Education, she led the county's work to ensure education success for children and youth receiving county services. Her prior role as Initiative Manager for "Better Together Hennepin" led a county-wide youth development and teen pregnancy prevention program. 

Before joining Hennepin County, Katherine held leadership roles at Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. She has a PhD in US Women's History from the University of Minnesota and brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit and government sectors to Avenues.

An annual tradition! Bring your (Rotary appropriate) jokes for some good laughs in celebration of April Fool's Day. Can't find a joke? Never fear; Peggy Leppik has pre-approved jokes for sale

With the support of friends and family, Dan started PeaceMaker Minnesota in 1998. He was inspired in part by his college studies, experience in living with Franciscan priests in Siberia and his professional work in soliciting foundations.

While a student at the University of Minnesota, Dan participated in the Student Project for Amity among Nations (SPAN) study abroad program. He spent the summer of 1988 traveling Yugoslavia and writing a research paper on peace. After graduating from the University, he served as a Scholar’s Intern with The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia and was an assistant to the Executive Director.

In the fall of 1992, Dan joined the Franciscan Mission Service as a lay volunteer. From 1993 to 1995, Dan served as the Assistant Director and then the Acting Director of Caritas for the Asian Part of Russia. The organization, based in Novosibirsk, Russia, had eight employees. Their primary work was to oversee construction of a home for children, to distribute humanitarian aid and to provide food and assistance to the city’s population of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Upon returning  to Minnesota, Dan was hired as Catholic Charities’ Grants Coordinator and then Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving. Dan began working for Guild Incorporated in 2000 as Development Director. He started their fundraising program while working four days a week, allowing time to develop PeaceMaker Minnesota.

In 2007, Dan reduced his hours at Guild Incorporated, becoming their Major Gift Officer, in order to start working for PeaceMaker Minnesota on a part-time basis. In April 2018, Dan resigned from Guild Incorporated to work for PeaceMaker Minnesota full-time.

Larry Johnson and Elaine Wynne are a Golden Valley-based husband-and-wife storytelling duo, known as "The Key of See Storytellers," who specialize in children's stories, folktales, and, for nearly 60 years, promoting peace. They are active with Story Arts of Minnesota and frequently perform in the Twin Cities. Larry is a Vietnam War veteran and former medic. Elaine is a licensed psychologist and founder of the Veteran Resilience Project, which provides EMDR therapy to Minnesota veterans. Elaine grew up in Alaska and rural Minnesota, with a background in psychology and performing arts. Larry is a media literacy educator and author.

Leif Hagen grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and graduated from St. Olaf College in 1988 with a BA in German and French. His early career included teaching languages in Zug, Switzerland, and high school English in Gero, Japan. In 1992, he entered the financial services field as a financial planner with Lutheran Brotherhood, later joining LPL Financial in 2002. He now owns Achievement Financial in Eagan, Minnesota, offering financial planning and Medicare supplemental insurance services.

Leif has held multiple leadership roles within Rotary, including two terms as President of the Eagan Rotary Club, and serving as the two-year charter president of the MN Pride Rotary Club. His Rotary involvement includes leading a Group Study Exchange (GSE) team to Bangalore, India, hosting GSE visitors from Finland and Brazil, serving as District Conference co-chair, Assistant Governor for Area 2, and currently serving on the District Foundation grant committee. He is a Paul Harris Society member, a Major Donor, and has attended Rotary International conventions in Birmingham, New Orleans, Bangkok, and Hamburg. He will serve as Rotary District 5950 Governor for 2026–2027.

Leif lives in Eagan with his partner, Valdir Oliveira, and has three daughters — Kajsa, Svea, and Britta. He enjoys foreign languages, international travel, collecting art, and attending art shows.