Thanks to Clothesline Laundromat and Block Portrait Studios for their support.
Neighbors, Inc. offers emergency and supportive assistance to low-income residents in Northern Dakota County. They serve more than 2,000 families a month and have nearly 500 active volunteers.
Conversation With the Executive Director
Last year Neighbors, Inc. welcomed a new executive director, Dawn Wambeke. We talked with Wambeke about the challenges and changes facing Neighbors.
What are the biggest challenges Neighbors is facing right now?
Neighbors has increased the level of hunger relief services nearly four times over as compared to pre-pandemic, and the demand exceeds the resources Neighbors has available. Our appointments for the week fill up within a matter of hours. The painful reality is that families are going hungry.
Over the past several years, in an effort to meet the demand, Neighbors has expanded services in many critical ways including:
- Increasing the number of food shelf appointments available.
- Launching distributions to six low-income apartments.
- Offering a weekly supplemental food distribution.
- Expanding our variety of culturally specific foods.
Learn more about food insecurity in Minnesota and the critical work being done to drastically reduce hunger in Minnesota.
How have things changed for Neighbors after the pandemic?
The low-income communities we serve have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The pandemic exacerbated preexisting social and economic disparities that existed prior to the emergence of COVID-19. The rising cost of living post pandemic has also greatly impacted the critical need for basic needs services such as food and clothing. Furthermore, the pandemic underscored the importance of economic stability.
As referenced earlier, Neighbors has taken many steps to help rise to meet the human rights needs of providing food for the families we serve:
- Our Clothing Closet Thrift Store has increased the free vouchers we provide; $23,447 in free clothing was provided over the past year, and we have plans to expand this in the future.
- Our Financial Empowerment Center will continue to grow and expand to ensure that we increase economic equity for our communities.
- Most recently, Neighbors was one of 17 agencies in the State of Minnesota to receive a Department of Employment and Economic Development Support Services grant to provide career and financial coaching services.
Our commitment to low-income communities is unwavering. The pandemic has shone a bright light on the inequities that exist in our society, and we are committed to working with our partners to create a more just and equitable future for all.
What are your priorities as the new executive director?
I joined Neighbors to serve as our executive director in June 2023. Our goal was to develop a three-year strategic plan. My top priority was to ensure that our strategic plan was highly inclusive and representative of our collective hopes and dreams. I am thrilled to share that together, with the tremendous commitment and dedication of staff, board, volunteers, and community, we did just that.
Neighbors’ board of directors approved our strategic plan in December of 2023. We are excited to share our four strategic priorities which are:
- Programming: Expand and integrate programs to better respond to the needs of our clients.
- Resources: Grow and diversify resources for current programs and future opportunities.
- Engagement: Increase participation and investment through greater community awareness.
- Culture: Foster a collaborative, supportive, and mission-driven culture.
Please watch for the launch of our strategic plan coming soon!
What brought you to Neighbors? Why did you want this job?
I have spent my 23-year career in small to mid-size mission-driven nonprofits. Neighbors is my fourth “work home.” I am inspired by the incredible dedication of our staff, board and volunteers, and the tremendous generosity of our community. The lens in which I view the work of our nonprofit community is to be on behalf of “humanity.” Neighbors has provided high dignity, basic needs human rights services (food, clothing, and connections) for over 50 years. The common thread in my career has been a focus on helping to lift communities out of poverty. Neighbors launched financial empowerment services (jobs, training, credit, asset building and home ownership services) approximately two years ago to deepen our impact. I am thrilled to join this incredible organization and to build upon Neighbors’ beautiful foundation.
Nonprofit work can be overwhelming, so what motivates you and excites you about this work?
My father was a human services director for 30 years. I “grew up” running around the courthouse on Saturday mornings racing chairs up and down the hallway. I do not see a sharp distinction between my personal life and my life’s work. I have always been incredibly energized by the mission of our beautiful nonprofits and the honor of working together to lift up our neighbors through our collective belief in the strength and resiliency of humanity.
I am inspired every day by the unwavering commitment of our dedicated and talented staff, volunteers and board of directors, to our community partners who provide enhanced resources and connections, to our incredibly generous donors who bring our mission to life every day. At Neighbors, we say the “skies the limit,” and that energizes me beyond!
What’s the best way for people to support Neighbors?
The great news is there are so many ways to support Neighbors! Here are a few to consider: volunteer, consider joining our board of directors, shop/donate at our boutique clothing closet/thrift store, donate food, financial donations, attend a Neighbors event and/or help spread the word about Neighbors in your community and within your great networks!
I wish to thank the community for their generous commitment and support of Neighbors. We look forward to working with you all on behalf of the communities we are honored to serve. To stay connected with Neighbors latest updates, please visit us at: neighborsmn.org or @NeighborsInc. on Instagram.
Thanks to Dawn Wambeke for sharing with us.
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