Insights Archives

Mental illnesses and poverty go hand in hand. Having a serious mental illness can lead to poverty; living in poverty increases the risk of developing a mental illness.

Immigrants are a critical resource in re-energizing the state's economic engine and growing our economy

Deborah Hutterer is the executive director of Faith in the City. She explores, coordinates, and implements strategies that assist Lutheran partners in promoting stronger and healthier city neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

Since well before it publicly launched in February 2008, Compass has been committed to looking at disparities of race, income and gender whenever possible. In many instances, the state and its regions may appear to be doing well until looked at through these lenses. Susan Brower shares her thoughts on the impact of income disparities in our state.

Mike Newman is vice president of the Travelers Foundation. He has been with the company since 1997. Prior to that, Mike worked in the nonprofit and government sectors. He has served on the boards of the Minnesota College Access Network, the Page Education Foundation, the Minnesota Association of Volunteer Directors, Dakota Woodlands, Minneapolis Red Cross, and Minnesota Children's Trust Fund, among others.

The Compass research team has been hard at work collecting, analyzing and uploading data for all 87 counties. The experience has been rewarding and eye-opening. We asked each of them what was most exciting about the creation of Minnesota Compass. Here, they share some of their insights into the process, and the project.

St. Paul is one of 21 communities recently awarded a $500,000 Promise Neighborhood planning grant from the U.S. Department of Education, to help communities gain the supports they need to be successful. The grant was the only one awarded in Minnesota and one of just two awarded in the Midwest. The Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood is coordinated by The Wilder Foundation (as is Compass), and we talk this month with Hamilton Bell, principal on special assignment from The Saint Paul Public Schools and director of The Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood.

Compass has added a host of disability data, looked at by age, race and income. Craig talks more about the findings.

Carolyn H. Roby, vice president of the Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota, shares her remarks from the Compass "Fact-based fundraising" brown bag seminar.