Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Guest column by Tim Penny

What does it mean to belong to a place? At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, we know that having a sense of belonging is not merely a sentiment; it is a foundational element that drives economic growth, enhances social cohesion and nurtures a resilient and vibrant region. We have seen, through many examples across our region, that having access to resources can transform lives and strengthen the bonds that unite our communities, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends cultural, economic and social differences.

In Rochester, The Village Agricultural Cooperative began as an effort to provide gardens for families, most of whom are immigrants, to grow food. As their crops overfilled their freezer, many growers sought to increase their harvest for a profit. With the support of two Inclusive and Equitable Entrepreneurial Communities (IEEC) Grants from SMIF, The Village was able to obtain two greenhouses and double the acreage of their land from five to 10 acres. With an additional grant, The Village was also able to hire a distribution manager to locate markets and sell produce on behalf of the farmers. Farmers like Mi Moua and Pha Lee have been able to earn an income and give back to their community by growing crops at the Village.

“We are so happy and filled with joy to have a plot of land to grow our own food,” shared Mi Moua and Pha Lee. “We just purchased a home for our family in 2022 because we had access to land in Rochester. We are so happy and feel more at home now than before. We will be staying here for a long time.”

In Blue Earth, a group of community members have worked hard to make the community more welcoming. A Small Town Grant from SMIF supported welcome baskets for new homeowners. A second Small Town Grant supported a Welcoming Week bonfire, a Day of the Dead festival, an authentic Latin American band at Blue Earth’s Giant Days celebration and a program that allows businesses to translate official documents. For students like Briseyda Salazar, this has made a huge difference in helping her, and her family, feel a sense of belonging in the community.

“One of my favorite projects that I got to help with was the Day of the Dead festival,” shared Salazar. “People who don’t know about the Hispanic community got to learn about our culture, and those who do know got to remember all of our traditions so they are not getting lost.”

In Waterville, Brenda Novack, owner of Little Wonders Child Care, has taken full advantage of continuing education opportunities through SMIF to enhance her child care program. She has applied lessons from S.M.A.R.T. Steps to support body movements for healthy brain development, Conscious Discipline to address challenging behaviors with compassion and another SMIF Early Childhood training to better work with children with ADHD. At the trainings she also connects with other providers in the area and workshops challenges. These SMIF offerings have made her feel valued as a child care provider.

“Having SMIF offer these trainings to us, it shows that our profession is being valued, which is huge,” shared Novack. “It’s something that most people don’t acknowledge. So this is a positive message that says, ‘Hey, we value you and we want you to be able to fulfill your trainings that the state is requiring you to keep your license up to date.‘”

We are grateful for the unwavering support of our partners, donors and community members, who share our vision of a more inclusive and thriving region. Together, we will continue to build a future where everyone in southern Minnesota feels they belong, and where our collective success is rooted in the strength of our diverse and connected communities.

I invite you to read the full versions of these stories by reading our 2024 Impact Report at smifoundation.org/impactreport2024.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. You can reach me at timp@smifoundation.org or 507-455-3215.

Tim Penny is the president and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. He represented Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1982 to 1994.