Staff Spotlight

Every quarter we will highlight a Blandin Foundation Leadership staff in our “Staff Spotlight” section. This quarter we are pleased to put that spotlight on Angela Jenkins.

Originally from Grand Rapids, Angela provides advanced administrative support as a Training Production Assistant with Leadership. She comes to the Blandin Foundation from Wayzata where she worked as an Administrative Assistant for a local school.

Leadership Notes and News:

Roxanne DeLille, BCLP trainer, was selected earlier this year by Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College students, faculty and staff to receive the
2007-2008 Outstanding Educator Award.

All full-time faculty were eligible for the award. Selection was made through a balloting process that was open to all students and employees at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. To be recognized as a Board of Trustees’ Outstanding Educator, faculty members must demonstrate consistently exemplary teaching and provide evidence of their contributions to student learning.

New BRCLP alums reach out to community youth

Three Blandin Reservation Community Leadership Program attendees took their assignment very seriously when they were asked near the end of their primary training retreat last fall to take a leadership initiative back into their community.

Charissa Blue, Dinah Smith and Phyllis Littlecreek-Wilbanks decided to pick up on an idea that had long circulated, but never really got off the ground ­ creating a Boys and Girls Club for the Upper Sioux Community, located just outside of Granite Falls.

Two BCLP alums strive to create leadership opportunities for others

“A woman who enters politics changes; a thousand women who enter politics change politics,” – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet

That quote from Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is one that provides inspiration for two BCLP alums, who organized one of northern Minnesota’s most ambitious leadership initiatives for women, the Iron Range Go Run!

Homegrown Leadership

On its surface, Roxanne DeLille¹s life story wouldn¹t read like a textbook success story. She grew up with limited means, the oldest of 10 children in a family of mixed ethnic background, married young, became a parent soon after and even struggled with addiction in her young adult life.

While Roxanne¹s story might not be the textbook case study, it does offer an even more valuable lesson and illustrates a point she loves to make: “You never know where leadership is going to show up.”

Her life story also underscores the notion that communities can develop their own leaders with mentors who encourage and build leadership capacity as well as by fitting local talents with local leadership needs.

CL Online Survey Results:

Leadership Toolbox: Growing the Next Generation of Community Leaders

The following are tips alumni can utilize to grow and develop the next generation of community leaders.

Rural Pulse Results Are In…

Attracting and Retaining Business, Education and Health Care Top Alumni Priorities