Henri Mingo - Public Relations Coordinator
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
It has been a busy past few months! This month we had Advocacy Day where students from across the state came to talk to their local legislators about issues impacting students. It was awesome seeing so many new faces at this conference. On the same day, we had the Free College Rally and Free College hearing. I worked to prepare testimony and got to speak at the hearing. I also got to make the social media graphics and a poster to advertise the event which was a super fun project for me. Some students had questions about scholarships at the conference so I made sure to make myself available for any of these questions as we approached the opening of the scholarship applications. The next week we got to travel all the way to Washington DC to attend the Student Debt Relief Rally! This was an incredible opportunity and it was so amazing to be able to carry the voices of Minnesota Community and Technical College students all the way to our nations capital. Our President John, student leader Elaina and I were 3 of the 42 people who got to enter the Supreme Court House and listen to the oral arguments.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
This upcoming month is a really important time to start talking to students about running for LeadMN Cabinet since the application just opened. I plan to talk to folks who may be interested about any questions they may have, and explain what kind of work the Public Relations Coordinator role entails. I always really enjoyed coming to LeadMN events when I was a student senate leader and being on Cabinet means you get to be fully immersed in LeadMN in a whole new way. It is truly an incredible opportunity to develop your skills as a leader and push yourself in ways you never knew.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
Going to Washington DC to rally for Student Debt Relief was the most exciting thing I have done this month if not this year. Truly an incredible opportunity.
Sylvester Jah - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
For the month of February I attended the LeadMn GC meeting representing Metro west as outline by the bylaws.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
One way that I plan on getting students more involved with LeadMn in the upcoming months is by encouraging them to share their story and be more engaged with matters that would benefit not just them but others as well.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
For the month of February, students from all across Minnesota gathered at the capital to protest and persuade MN state legislators to invest in higher education by sharing their personal stories and challenges face while pursuing higher education. As part of LeadMn, NHCC senators met with Lawmakers and were able to share on while an investment in Higher in Minnesota is an investment in its economy.
Alexis Nordling- Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
February was a very productive month for LeadMN at DCTC! Karina V. was extremely helpful in helping us to get petitions signed and flyers posted on campus for the #FreeCollege Rally at the Capitol. DCTC was well represented at the LeadMN leadership conference and capitol rally on 2/20+21. We continue to collect petitions for the bill on campus.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
On 2/15 Jarred V and I hosted the Free Pizza For Free College event at the DCTC student Life Center, and it was a huge success for spreading awareness about LeadMN on campus and informing people about the Free College Bill. LeadMN is now working together with our Student Senate and Wellness Club to help educate and advocate for student rights on campus.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
I am going to be working with Karina to reach out to Normandale college and other colleges in our region this March.
Jon Decent - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
We have registered to attend for both advacy day and Washington D.C. On Hibbing campus. I will be attending the virtual GC meeting February 3rd.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
We are going to be interviewing students and talking to them about basic needs mental health, fasfa being offered to senior high-school students, and free college and what not having student loan debt would do for students.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
We are having weekly meetings I have been in regular contact with Hibbing eveleth and at least talked to all 6 schools senate in our region trying to reach out and do what I can to help the meger.
Heather Muenter - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
As I have only been recently elected as GC, I held my first introductory meeting February to establish contact and exchange information with both the GC Alt and presidents of other campuses. Unfortunately, only President Meouchy and GC Alt Wynn (both out of the Riverland region) were able to attend. Despite relatively low attendance, lots of information was covered, and I felt I was caught up to speed by the end of the initial meeting. In terms of progress specifically outlined in the LeadMN Bylaws (outside of executing the last regional meeting) I have attended the last two GC meetings, and am making progress in beginning the process of proposing revisions to the LeadMN Bylaws in relation to the 2/3 majority rule to pass a voted decision, as two of the six campuses in the Southeastern region do not have functioning student senates, thus making the achievement of quorum much more difficult. Campus presidents that did not attend are being followed up with, and effort is being made to establish contact across the board!
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
The first steps I'm taking are focused on finding ways to connect with and/or establish a direct and consistent line of communication with the campuses that have historically been either absent from meetings or don't have a fully functioning student senate. The hope is that opening up communication will allow us to work with these campuses to either create a student senate at their location which then would allow those regions to participate as outlined in the bylaws, and/or work together with their campus officials to find ways to garner student interest and involvement at their respective locations , potentially even moving to create a general 'Riverland' region so that there can at least be some representation of the regions otherwise not present. Potential for 'shadowing days' was discussed; this would include student senate members shadowing members participating in their respective LeadMN roles, generating more transparency as to what these positions entail/look like and possibly garnering more student interest in holding said positions.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Limited communication from both Redwing and Winona has created an opportunity to reach out and connect with their campuses/representatives! The 'Free Pizza for Free College' event in Austin is gaining some traction; the primary discussion which was had centralized around the certain limited communication and about navigating the inability to reach quorum with two campuses not having viable senates, and how this could be addressed (rotating senate, etc.); ideas from the GC meeting following the regional meeting in terms of multi-campus representation will be brought to the next regional meeting in March to address some of these concerns, the goal being to propose amendments at that meeting and draft a copy with the revisions intact.
Noelle Bauer - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Recently we have moved forward with working on our plans for the Advocacy Day Rally at the Capital.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
In the upcoming month of February we are going to be tabling at different campuses to create awareness around LeadMN. We plan to reach a new audience and are very excited to share more about the organization.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
We have been boosting student life on campus. Clubs and organizations are starting to host events and have open meetings. Campus life is coming back, and there is so much life!
Anthony Wallace - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Last Thursday I was asked to speak with multiple leaders around Crow Wing county that formed the organization called Blue ox academy and some of the things that we touched bases on is how can they have the community and also the technical College it was me and two other students. Some of the issues that I talked about is how the area is becoming more multicultured and how businesses around Crow Wing county need to and will start recognizing other coaches coming into their business and one employment and how to deal with situations amongst African-American Caucasian Hispanic Asian.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
Speaking to students during free time, walking down the hallway and telling them what leadership is and what part they can play by being a part of leadmn.and how leadmn has helped multiple students across Minnesota with teaching them how their voices can be heard. And also when there's a student that's having trouble with talking to someone finding the right person I volunteer my time with helping them out finding the right person to address an issue with.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
I haven't really had any type of dealings with other students leaders from other colleges or with our PC rep there's a lot of things that she doesn't even discuss with me so can't really answer this question in a fair way.