360 Communities Lewis House: A safe pathway for a survivor and her family For Charlene, the abuse was physical, mental, and emotional. Her ex-husband inflicted beatings that escalated over time and resulted in severe injuries, including a miscarriage. She knew she needed to escape, but that would not be easy. Legal constraints, financial insecurity, [...]
Getting help and giving hope: a 360 Communities story Melinda M is the first person in her family to graduate from college, earning her criminal justice degree with honors. She has worked as a correctional officer at Minnesota’s only women’s prison. Melinda is also a domestic violence survivor. These experiences have armed her with [...]
Creative ways to support the mission Community members, young and old, supported 360 Communities with financial gifts, volunteer hours, and creativity this past year. Their contributions lie at the heart of our mission and bolster our impact in the community. Volunteers bring passion and expertise, amplifying our reach and effectiveness. Meanwhile, donations fuel our [...]
Collaborating to reach unheard populations Kae Jae Johnson is the founder and executive director of Residents of Color Collective (ROCC) in West St. Paul. When Johnson moved to West St. Paul from Chicago in 2018, she brought with her decades of community organizing and nonprofit experience. “When I got here, there were no resources [...]
It's about connection a message from President & CEO Jeff Mortensen “360 Communities saved my life. I stayed in an abusive relationship for 12 years, and now I’m free and looking to inspire someone facing a similar situation to let them know that there is hope,” says domestic violence survivor Cheryl. “I am grateful to [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Rich Wirt 360 Communities honored Rich Wirt at the 37th Annual Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Luncheon with a Community Caring Award for his work to support abuse survivors. Rich has given 20 years of volunteer service at the Lewis Houses and the Rosemount Resource Center and Food Shelf. Last year, Rich donated 215 hours [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Tom Meaden Tom Meaden is a familiar face around the 360 Communities Rosemount Resource Center and Food Shelf, where he has volunteered since 2020. He lives in Rosemount with his wife, Cris, and their son, Jonathan. Tom Meaden spent a 52-year career in the grocery industry, 28 with Cub Foods. He’s managed [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Barb Little After working in retail for 30-plus years, Barb retired and knew that volunteering was what she wanted to do with her time. Barb Little started volunteering with us in July of 2022, and since then, she has become an essential part of our team. She is driven to give back [...]
Safe, affordable, stable housing is a foundation for having strong families and communities. But far too many Dakota County residents either lack or are at risk of losing this vital and most basic need of shelter. On any given night in Dakota County, there are more than 300 people who are homeless and without adequate [...]
Family faces homelessness Jasmine is an optimistic person and looks for the positive in every situation. But recently, she faced a crisis that has become all too common in Dakota County: the prospect of homelessness. Jasmine and her nine-year-old daughter moved from one apartment to a larger one in the same complex and became involved [...]
