Meet New HFJ Staff: Ewan Scotto, Duaba Unenra, and Elizabeth Zalanga

March 31, 2021

Earlier this month, we welcomed Duaba Unenra, Ewan Scotto, and Elizabeth Zalanga to our team.   Ewan Scotto is our new Communications Associate. They are a Giving Project Program alum who has spent the last three years…

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The Derek Chauvin Trial: a message of solidarity from Headwaters

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021Dear Community, We are about to witness the murder trial of the former police officer who is charged in George Floyd’s death. When the trial starts next Monday,…

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A Learning Year in Review: Tributaries February 2021

February 16, 2021

Inhale through your nose. Pause and count to four. Now, exhale and blow out your breath through your mouth. Notice if your shoulders are bunched up near your ears. Relax…

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Tributaries: November 30, 2020

November 30, 2020

As I write this piece, cases of coronavirus continue to rise, both here in Minnesota and across the country. Like you, I am managing so much uncertainty. My wife, my…

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White letters against a black backdrop spell out the words "Racism is a pandemic"

Tributaries: October 29, 2020

October 28, 2020

Recently, one of my board colleagues at Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice talked about the dissonance she is experiencing between her head knowledge and her heart knowledge. As I listened…

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Grantmaking Year in Review: an HFJ update

October 6, 2020

October 2020  Beloved Community,   The summer was full of pandemic, physical distancing, mutual aid, and righteous anger. Through it all, HFJ grantee partners continued to care for community, fight for liberation, and call out for justice across Minnesota. Sometimes with grace, sometimes with fury. Always with hope.  With fall settling in, many of…

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Tributaries: September 1, 2020

September 1, 2020

Being the president of this 36-year-old institution is the honor of my lifetime. But, like so many leaders, I often suffer from imposter syndrome. Who am I to lead this…

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The Transformation Fund: Rapid Response Grantmaking Continues

July 15, 2020

On Sunday, May 31st, Headwaters responded to the murder of George Floyd by setting up The Transformation Fund. We wanted to move money quickly to frontline organizations as they kept…

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Introducing Tributaries

July 12, 2020

July 13, 2020 I have written and re-written this first paragraph too many times to count. This post was supposed to be the inaugural piece for Headwaters’ new project Tributaries,…

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Here are the Summer 2020 Community Innovation Grant Recipients

July 7, 2020

Headwaters recently awarded Community Innovation grants, totaling $303,500, to 21 organizations. An ongoing partnership with Saint Paul-based Bush Foundation made the grants possible. The investments will help grantee partners and…

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