Otteson's Advocacy Journey Began at Community Action

January Newsletter

Helping People. Changing Lives.

Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

Rhonda Otteson outside of the Minnesota State Capitol Building at 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul.

Rhonda Otteson's Advocacy Journey Began at Community Action

It seems like Rhonda Otteson has it all together.

She’s the Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. Rhonda is a regular presence during Minnesota legislative sessions.

This year, Rhonda's advocacy helped get nearly $1 billion in funding for various housing programs throughout the state.

She has owned her home for nearly 20 years. She has her bachelor and master’s degrees. She has two beautiful college-educated daughters.

Rhonda is also well-known and respected throughout the state for her advocacy. But, her life wasn’t always this nice and tidy.

Unfortunately, Rhonda began her adulthood well acquainted with poverty and faced plenty of struggles like a lot of the people she now advocates for and works to shelter.

“I was definitely living in poverty, definitely low income,” Rhonda recalled. Living paycheck to paycheck was a normal situation for her.

Still, she believed she could move beyond her circumstances, and she did, but it took dedication, a lot of long days and nights, and Community Action to do it.

Position for You

Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) is in need of a Transit Director for its Prairieland Transit System for Nobles County. The position has annual salary of $52,000 to $62,400. The selected individual will work out of SMOC's Worthington office The agency also needs part-time and substitute bus drivers, along with a Prairieland Transit System Operations Coordinator. Find a list of all of SMOC's available positions on its website at smoc.us. Apply Now.

Volunteer

Northwest Community Action's Little Brother/Sister Program seeks mentors for youngsters between the ages of four to 14. Mentor are selected and matched with a child who will meet with their mentor, at least once a month, to share fun activities. Free group activities are offered to program participants. To volunteer as a mentor call Northwest at 218-528-3258 or emailing the agency at mwaage@nwcaa.org.

Minnesota Community Action Agencies are nonprofits. They can accept donations from individuals, businesses and foundations, which are tax deductible. Donate to Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency as the agency works to give residents facing economic and social challenges in its service area opportunities to better their lives.

Nothing can replicate poverty, but hosting a poverty simulation can enlighten your community, organization or nonprofit about the difficulties households in it can face. MinnCAP can facilitate and design a poverty simulation to bring poverty's challenges to the forefront. Contact MinnCAP to discuss hosting a simulation.

Research Indicates Guaranteed Income Program Benefits Recipients

The Results of the People’s Prosperity Pilot were studied by the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania, and findings on St. Paul's People's Prosperity Pilot reveal connections between the receipt of unconditional cash and improved financial health, sense of self, and economic mobility.

Don't be shy. Do you have a question about Minnesota Community Action Partnership or a Community Action program or service? This is the place and time to ask.

MinnCAP has access to some of he best Community Action program experts in the nation. We'll do our best to find an answer to any questions you have

Ask MinnCAP

Three Rivers Community Action

Home Stretch Workshop

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 and

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

FREE | Home Stretch workshops are 8 hour classes that give consumers an in-depth look at the entire homebuying process. The workshops will help you with

determining your financial situation; understanding credit, credit issues, and even finding special programs just for first-time homebuyers

Minnosta Community Action Partnership | 100 Empire Dr., Suite 202, St. Paul, MN 55104 | minncap.org