Residents Driving Change: The Community Solutions Grant Program

What would it look like if every community had the resources and support to be in charge of their own change and transformation? The Voices and Choices for Children coalition has been working to drive equitable processes for improving childhood health, educational, and economic outcomes, as well as improving the representation and leadership of communities of color and American Indian communities across the state of Minnesota by partnering with parents, state agencies, non-profits and community stakeholders. In our eighth episode, we learn from three coalition members who believe in walking the talk of centering the dignity of children and their communities by unapologetically addressing implicit bias that exists in the fundamental mental models that have driven the system in which we live in. They share their coalitions experience passing legislation to invest in their community, the importance of persistence when shifting mindsets, and the hope that they have for the future the Community Solutions Grant Program and the children living in the state of Minnesota.  Guests include:Dianne Haulcy, Senior Vice President of Family Engagement, Think Small - MinnesotaBharti Wahi, Executive Director, Children’s Defense Fund - MinnesotaMay Losloso, Senior Organizer, Children's Defense FundHost: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village NetworkProduced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child WellbeingMusic By: Morgan Breland