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St Paul & Minnesota Foundation

@spmfoundation

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We envision an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive. Follow us on Facebook, Threads & LinkedIn!
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What becomes possible when people choose to invest in one another?

Across Minnesota, people are coming together to strengthen communities, create opportunities and solve challenges. The Power of Possible is a new storytelling series celebrating the people, partnerships and ideas that show what's possible when generosity meets action.

We're excited to share our first story!

Meet Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, executive director of @unidosmn. As a mother, artist, activist and immigrant, Emilia has seen firsthand how communities can create change when people share a vision and come together to act. For her, the power of possible lives in the collective strength of ordinary people working toward a better future.

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to read Emilia's story and share what the Power of Possible means to you. by @spmfoundation

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a month ago

Today is the first day of early voting in Minnesota! 🗳️

Early voting allows voters to show up at a designated location, fill out a ballot and place it into a tabulator — just like you would on Election Day.

Minnesota consistently ranks among the top states when it comes to voter turnout. Let's show up and keep that trend going!

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to find your nearest early voting location. MN State Capitol. Text reads: Early voting begins today. by @spmfoundation

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3 days ago

We're excited to announce the 2026 Bush Prize: Minnesota honorees! Congratulations to @familytreeclinic and @fyjmn_1 🎉

These extraordinary organizations both embody transformational impact through creative problem solving and community-led solutions that strengthen equity across our state.

In addition to the two Bush Prize: Minnesota honorees, six finalists were also recognized for their innovative contributions and commitment to advancing community-led solutions. Congratulations to @adcminnesota, Anishinabe Legal Services, @isaiahorg, Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming, @1roofcommunityhousing and @urbanrootsmn.

Read the news and learn more about the organizations at the link in our bio! Announcing the 2026 Bush Prize: Minnesota honorees: Family Tree Clinic and Fe y Justicia. by @spmfoundation

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4 days ago

Today we're excited to launch our new series, Impact in Action: Community & Economic Development 🌟

Our communities are nothing without their ability to work together. Whether harnessing resources, engaging with the community or implementing sustainable economic opportunities, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation seeks to invest in and partner on solutions informed and shaped by the people facing the greatest barriers to wealth creation, economic security and family-sustaining career pathways.

Over the next couple of months, we will be sharing stories from community leaders, donors and organizations about how they're supporting and addressing the needs of communities across Minnesota in impactful ways. Stay tuned!

▶️ Watch the video below to hear from our Community Impact Partner Kedar Hickman about our commitment to this work.

Read about our community & economic development impact at the link in our bio! by @spmfoundation

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5 days ago

2024 Facing Race Award recipient Ma Elena Gutierrez is a trusted community leader and bold advocate in Central Minnesota.

Ma Elena is the founding executive director of @fyjmn_1, a faith-based Latinx-led organization striving to make Central Minnesota a just and safe place for Latinx refugees and immigrants. Since being recognized in 2024, her work in community has only grown more important.

"During Operation Metro Surge, we had a lot of people come together to support us," said Ma Elena. "Taking food to the community, to the families, giving rides to the doctor, observing the areas...it didn't just hit the Metro — it hit the whole state and we were affected."

On October 28, we look forward to gathering together to celebrate 20 years of Facing Race, its recipients, like Ma Elena, and their impact in communities across the state. Please join us!

📆 Wednesday, October 28
🕔 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍St. Paul Event Center

Space is limited. RSVP at the link in our bio! Ma Elena Gutierrez quote: After the Facing Race Awards, people started to recognize our work and know me more...it seemed like I was hiding, and this award brought attention to others that there was an organizer in rural Minnesota working really hard and doing the work it takes to make a difference. by @spmfoundation

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6 days ago

10 years ago we honored Alfonso Wenker at the 10th anniversary of our Facing Race Awards for his efforts to build community and leadership opportunities at the intersection of race, gender and sexual identity.

10 years later, Alfonso now leads the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation's community impact work as Senior Vice President of Community Impact.

"It was really provocative for us to start this work 20 years ago," Alfonso said. "In a lot of ways, there's still a lot of work left to do. We've made important gains, celebrated incredible leaders and seen conditions change for our communities. At the same time, we know there is still a lot we have to face when we're having conversations about race in our state."

We invite you to join us October 28 as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Facing Race Awards, its recipients and their impact in communities across the state!

📆 Wednesday, October 28
🕔 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍St. Paul Event Center

Space is limited. RSVP at the link in our bio! Alfonso Wenker quote: I get to come to work every day and think about what it means to put race at the center of our work...to think about what's next in the critical work of advancing racial justice and how we can be creative, thoughtful and bring more people into that conversation. by @spmfoundation

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10 days ago

Last week we had the wonderful opportunity to visit with our friends and community partners in the Iron Range.

We toured the historic Hibbing High School Auditorium and the Hull Rust Mine View, met with community leaders and attended the Foundation-sponsored Sketches of Minnesota event in Chisholm, presented by @mnhumanities and @dangerboatpro.

Thank you to the Iron Range community for hosting us and showing our team your beautiful part of the state! Foundation staff inside the historic Hibbing auditorium by @spmfoundation

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11 days ago

💭 How do leaders hold a future vision in chaos?

In this episode of The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker explore what it means to hold on to hope — and even joy — when the future feels uncertain.

The episode also reframes imagination as a critical leadership practice. Chanda describes how she looks for patterns not in numbers, but in conversation, community and across experiences to better understand where solutions might exist.

Episode eight is streaming now!

🔗 Watch and/or listen at the link in our bio. Chanda Smith Baker quote: You can't create what you don't believe. by @spmfoundation

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13 days ago

Lace up your shoes — it's Twin Cities Marathon Weekend! 👟

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is proud to sponsor this year's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend. We're especially excited to support @twincitiesinmotion's Raise the Community Pace initiative, a transformative effort to more than double its annual charitable fundraising impact from $1 million to $2.62 million by 2028.

Best of luck to all the runners — we'll see you at the Mission Mile Cheer Zone this Sunday! Happy Twin Cities Marathon Weekend by @spmfoundation

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17 days ago

In Emilia's eyes, ordinary people have the power to make a difference when they have a shared vision, are willing to make courageous decisions about their conditions and are willing to change them.

That's Emilia's power of possible. What's yours?

📣 Share with us at the link in our bio!

#PowerOfPossible #Minnesota #TwinCities by @spmfoundation

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18 days ago

"The power of possible means that there's more work to do." 💪

Our President & CEO Chanda Smith Baker shares why the power of possible is energy-shifting and a catalyst for creativity.

What is your power of possible? Share your story with us at the link in our bio! taken in Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation by @spmfoundation

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19 days ago

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21 days ago