Collaborative Corner on the Move

By Jeannie Pederson

Pope County Family Collaborative Coordinator

On Tuesday evening, I had the pleasure of attending West Central Initiative’s Building Foundations for Tomorrow’s Generosity Event. Attendees learned some of the many ways they uplift our Pope County community and discovered how collective efforts foster a welcoming and generous community for all.

The Ripples of Good 2023 West Central Initiative (WCI) Annual Review, highlights many of the ways they contribute to the quality of life in the region. If you have a copy of the Review, on pages 16 and 17 you’ll find a focus on Glenwood and how we’re working to solve our child care crisis with their help. You can also find it on their website at wcif.org.

Their mission is serving to improve west central Minnesota through funding, programs, and technical assistance. Their vision is a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable world that starts here in west central Minnesota and they act on their values as they seek to embody them in all they do. They focus on neighborliness, generosity, empowerment and trend-testing. You’ll want to learn more about each focus area on their website.

Here are just some of the past and present programs/services that began with support from WCI through the Pope County Family Collaborative & Early Childhood/THRIVE Initiative: Minnewaska Area After School & School Age Summer Care, Outdoor Learning Center at the Starbuck Campus now enjoyed by Head Start and Lakes Area Enrichment Center children, has provided educators who share child development information and community resources for the Glacial Ridge Health System prenatal classes, educators and unique learning tools for the Traveling Tree House outreach to family child care homes and centers with a community presence at Pope County festivals, child care support and appreciation, BeKind as it works to build community connectedness through kindness and most recently, coordination of the Pope County Child Care Task Force, the Early Care Foundation of Pope County and the hiring of the Pope County Child Care Project Manager.

Thank you so much to WCI Director of Early Childhood, Nancy Jost and Early Childhood Specialist, Marsha Erickson for their continued support!

We learned so much more about the potential benefit of WCI that has and will continue to enrich our county through: 17 Rooms, Rural Belonging & Democracy, Ag, Climate, Safe Routes to School, Early Childhood, Component Funds/Estate Planning, Econ Development, Economy & Business and Live Wide Open.

Thank you to President Anna Wasescha and the wonderful WCI staff for sharing their knowledge and hospitality and to the local presenters, Starbuck Mayor Gary Swenson – Welcome and impact of WCI on our Pope County community, Trina Starker – Congressionally Directed Funding Award for Lakes Area Enrichment Center, County Commissioner Larry Lindor – Economic Development and John Dahlseng – Economic & Business.

Investing in WCI is a smart choice as in turn, they are working to make sure that every individual who lives in west central Minnesota can rise to their highest potential. They promote a sense of interconnectedness and interdependency. The West Central Initiative is the steward for this region and a good thing that makes Pope County great!