30 Days In: Finding My Place in Minneapolis

Reflections on a new role, a city that keeps showing up, and the power of community.

It only took Day One for me to know I’d made the right decision. The next 30 days confirmed it.

In my first month as Director of Partnership Network at Meet Minneapolis, I’ve met community leaders and business owners, learned from colleagues across the organization, and attended more events than I thought could fit into a single month. Along the way, I’ve heard stories of resilience and collaboration that stayed with me long after the events ended.

A different kind of impact

I’ve spent much of my career in technology, building strategic partnerships and programs. I’m proud of that work. But over time, I grew disconnected from the endless cycle of “on to the next thing.”

I first encountered Meet Minneapolis more than a decade ago through Techstars and the Target Innovation program. When I saw the Director of Partnerships opening, I knew right away this was the opportunity I’d been looking for.

Jumping into the deep end

I joined during a difficult and consequential time for our city, so I got to work right away. I listened before making assumptions and learned from my team, our partners, and the broader community.

Minneapolis wasted no time showing me where to start. One invitation led to another, and every experience pointed to the same truth: People in this city care deeply about one another, and they keep finding ways to show it. Here are a few moments that shaped my first month:

• Dinner Du Nord. Community building doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with neighbors, friends and strangers alike, sharing a meal. It’s easy to talk about connection in strategic plans. It’s another thing to create the space where it actually happens.
• The Great Northern’s 10th anniversary preview. With opening remarks from Andrew Zimmern and a preview of Rooted: Stories from Minnesota’s Farming Future, the evening was a reminder that what makes a destination distinctive isn’t just its attractions. It’s the people, traditions, and ideas that give a place its character.
• The “Bee” mural at Orchestra Hall. A new mural, part of our initiative to welcome visitors to the Convention Center district with public art, was unveiled with Flight of the Bumblebee performed from the rooftop. Attendees received a gift bag that included honey from the Minneapolis Convention Center’s own plaza beehive. It’s a small detail, but it captures something I’ve been discovering all month: There’s often more happening behind the scenes than you’d expect.
• Cedar Riverside and Little Africa. On an internal equity learning experience, community leader Halima Ainte educated us about Somali migration and how Cedar Riverside became a center of East African life. Then we explored Saint Paul’s Little Africa corridor and its vision, shaped by African entrepreneurs. I left with a deeper appreciation for these neighborhoods, plus at least five new varieties of coffee and tea from my neighborhood market, Holy Land.

What these 30 days have taught me

A shared meal, an art unveiling, a conversation about advocacy, lessons from neighborhood leaders. These were very different experiences with one common thread: people show up. They share what they know, find common ground, and help one another move forward.

That has me thinking about our partners. How do we create more opportunities for you to learn from one another, share what works (and what doesn’t), and tap into the expertise and resources available through Meet Minneapolis, both here at home and around the world?

The best ecosystem leaders create the conditions for people to connect. They make the introductions and open the doors. You, our partners, are already doing the hard work of building businesses and creating experiences that make this city and region worth visiting, working and living in. My job is to help unlock more ways for you to grow together, so the value of partnership multiplies through the connections you make with each other.

Here’s to the next 30, 60, 90, and beyond

I’m still learning, listening, and figuring out where my team and I can have the greatest impact. What gives me confidence is seeing how many people are already willing to roll up their sleeves and invest in the place they call home, celebrate their neighbors and invite travelers to discover.

I look forward to helping create more of the spaces and connections that allow all of that to flourish.