Events

Not a meeting to be missed! The Golden Valley Rotary Club members will have a discussion on membership, dues, public relations, leadership opportunities, grants, and future projects, etc. You'll definitely want to attend this Rotary meeting to contribute to the important Club conversations.

Alisha Weis, MSW, LGSW, Advancement Director and Bridget Glass, Housing Locator, will discuss PRISM's Housing Services.

Alisha Weis, Advancement Director, has over 7 years of experience in program development, management, and fundraising. She received her MSW from Augsburg University in 2019. Alisha is a member of the PRISM leadership team and oversees the Advancement department, including the Grant Coordinator, Volunteer Manager, Community, and Business Engagement Manager, and Advancement Coordinator. Before her time at PRISM, she worked at a youth homeless shelter in Minneapolis, where she oversaw the intern and volunteer program, as well as the 24/7 crisis call and text line. Alisha and her husband live in Columbia Heights with their two dogs and cat. In her spare time, Alisha has a ceramics studio in her basement, where she makes functional pottery.

Bridget Glass, Housing Locator, graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Family Social Science with an emphasis on Leadership. Since graduation, she has been working at emergency shelters in Dakota and Hennepin counties for those experiencing homelessness - both youth and adults. Before joining PRISM, she served as a Housing Stability Advocate in Minneapolis, finding stable housing for unhoused folks and addressing barriers along the way. In her free time, you can find Bridget enjoying loved ones, dogs, poetry, yoga, music, and nature. She believes all beings are inherently valuable.

J. Drake Hamilton is Fresh Energy’s senior director of science policy. An expert in climate and energy policy at the state and national levels, her responsibilities include scientific analysis and policy development of clean energy solutions to global warming that will maximize economic opportunities. J. represents Fresh Energy at the global climate summits and witnessed the historic 2015 Paris Agreement. She also showcased Minnesota’s nation-leading deep carbon reductions at the 2017 Bonn Climate Summit, and in 2021 in Glasgow she brought Minnesota and the Midwest to the global stage with our bold climate actions. She gives more than 50 invited presentations each year to businesses and civic organizations. Her recent business audiences have included 3M, Medtronic, Target, and the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable. J.’s frequent media appearances include television, Minnesota Public Radio, and business press as well as the Washington Post and New York Times. J. earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in physical geography from Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis on climatology and water resources, and was formerly assistant professor at The George Washington University. Hamilton serves on the advisory board of the Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth College. Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine named Hamilton “one of Minnesota’s 100 influential people who make things happen.” J. also grows organic peaches, pears, apples, and plums that have won blue ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair.

No Meeting - Winter Break

Happy Holidays!

No Meeting - Winter Break

Happy Holidays!

Jaime Belden is a dedicated teacher from Robbinsdale, Minnesota and co-founder of Future Roots Project. Starting in 2013 with the belief that all children deserve a high-quality education regardless of the situation in which they are born into. She has been dedicating herself to improving the quality of education in Central America by providing teacher trainings that promote literacy, critical thinking, creativity, and social and emotional development. While supporting the most impoverished schools, teachers, and students, she has been actively promoting peace in high conflict communities by investing in basic literacy education.

In 2018, Hamline University awarded her the First Decade Award for her outstanding accomplishments in the field of Global Studies. Her specialization in global education and in-depth cultural knowledge allows her to effectively analyze the transnational issues of education inequality and illiteracy. Putting into practice key concepts of cultural competency, awareness, and sensitivity, she is able to successfully collaborate with local leaders through powerful cross-cultural relationship building.

https://futurerootsproject.org/

Can't join in-person? Hop onto the Zoom!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81415966386?pwd=aDRGSDBhMzJnQTMzUjlTNzMwL0VEQT09
Meeting ID: 814 1596 6386
Passcode: 230035

For over 35 years, Marshall H. Tanick has represented clients in a wide variety of legal matters, with emphasis on employment law; constitutional law, including defamation, privacy, and other communications; education law; animal law; pet law; land law; and business disputes. He was named to Minnesota Lawyer’s class of Attorneys of the Year for 2019.

Marshall will present on the topic of “A Short History of Black Legal Rights in Minnesota”

Not a meeting to be missed! The Golden Valley Rotary Club members will have a discussion on membership, dues, public relations, leadership opportunities, grants, and future projects, etc. You'll definitely want to attend this Rotary meeting to contribute to the important Club conversations.

Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist, City of Golden Valley

Ethan Kehrberg was a longtime resident of Golden Valley and currently works as the Sustainability Specialist for the City. He oversees the recycling programs for the City, works on implementation of the Energy Action Plan, and helps with other sustainability initiatives for Golden Valley.

Mary Kornmann is the instructional coach at Meadowbrook Elementary. Before this role, she taught Second grade at Meadowbrook for four years and taught Kindergarten, First grade, and Second grade in Robbinsdale. Mary lives in Golden Valley with her husband, Paul, and their spicy two-year-old daughter, Grace. They are expecting their second child in late April, so Mary welcomes any advice on managing two kids! When she's not playing or painting with her daughter, Mary loves to travel, learn new things, read Liane Moriarty books, and rearrange her home.

Natalie Sawatzky has served as the principal of Meadowbrook Elementary in the Hopkins School District for the past three years. Before that she served as an Assistant Principal (five years) and School Counselor (11 years); all at Meadowbrook! Natalie and her family live in Golden Valley and her children proudly attend Hopkins Schools. When she's not at school, she enjoys reading, learning, and watching her children participate in youth sports.  
https://meadowbrook.hopkinsschools.org/families/principal

Ms. Tester has a longstanding interest in children who come in contact with the legal system as victims, offenders or witnesses. She has her MA in Child Psychology and received her JD from Harvard University. Ms. Tester joined the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in 1993 and has spent her entire career as a trial attorney in the Child Protection Division. For the past eight years she has exclusively handled cases that fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act and facilitates ICWA trainings around the state as part of the Children’s Justice Initiative. Ms. Tester is on the Proof Alliance Board of Directors, the largest organization in the country focused on preventing prenatal alcohol exposure and supporting those impacted by it.

Jerry Rubino is a conductor/teacher/pianist/coach/singer regarded for his diverse musical interests, engaging artistry, and passionate enthusiasm for performing arts. Jerry founded and directs VOICES 360, is on the staff of the Wesley Balk Institute for the singer/actor, and teaches voice and piano at MacPhail Center for Music. He is a busy choral arranger and conductor working with the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Chorale, Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, Voices of Experience, Nautilus Music Theater, the Hal Leonard Corporation, and Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church.