David Mesta - Vice President
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I held a PC meeting to finalize the legislative agenda, and then met again during the January Conference to adopt the legislative agenda. I also met with the Chancellor with Axel and updated him on the legislative agenda that we approved. I met with the Governor's office to talk about the tuition cut, and also met with house Higher Ed staff members. I attended the Power In Diversity conference at St. Cloud State where I presented a workshop. I also attended the Academic Affairs Council discussing changes to the council. Additionally, I met with PC members in one-on-one meetings throughout the month.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have been getting students to run for open leadership positions. I have also been interacting with members from Normandale student senate to get more involved. I'm planning to travel to go to more campuses and begin recruiting more students to be involved.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest achievement was getting the legislative agenda approved and meeting with House members and the Governor's office on student issues. Presenting and attending at the Power in Diversity conference was another moment as I got to talk with different types of student leaders.
Ali Tomashek - Public Relations Coordinator
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
In January I have taken meeting minutes for Cabinet meetings, PC and GC meetings at the January conference, helped facilitate the legislative training game and get out the vaccine shark tank activity, this included choosing a campus winner to receive $500 in funding to support their ideas for getting more students vaccinated on their campus. I have been promoting our Advocacy Day and DC Summit legislative events, sharing star campus insights and ways campuses can contribute to the LeadMN Scholarship Gala during the Spring GA in April. I met with our College Affordability team to brainstorm ideas for our campaign this semester, attended a staff equity and inclusion training, participated in the first MN Voting Coalition Meeting with other campuses to share resources and the "Ask Every Student" framework that we can implement in our voter registration and civic engagement efforts next summer, attended St. Cloud State University's Power in Diversity Conference, and prepared a testimony about my experience with college becoming increasingly unaffordable to present in front of the House of Higher Education Committee.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
My plan to get students more involved with LeadMN is to communicate with campus leaders about our Star Campus Program in an attempt to boost submissions before the deadlines in March. I would really like to encourage student leaders to start planning their scholarship gala donations so we can get our silent auction organized and rolling out. Advocacy Day and the DC Leadership Summit are fast approaching, I would like to get as may students as possible registered for these events. Getting these students involved via their stories and personal experiences is the best way to connect our community together and fight for a brighter future. With this in mind, I plan to schedule multiple interviews with students to document their stories around college affordability, basic needs resources, transfer difficulties, and highlight their experiences filling out the FAFSA. I have been having these conversations with students since I re-enrolled back in school and I'm so excited to start collecting these stories as support for our initiatives here at LeadMN.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
It has been a quiet month, I'm getting back to the swing of things after winter break, but I'm feeling refreshed and ready to take on what the semester throws at me! April GA and the Scholarship Gala will be here before I know it! My biggest achievement in January would be facilitating the Legislative Training Game at our virtual January Leadership Conference. This was an exciting way to get to know students that are not in my area, hear their testimonies, and most importantly, prepare them for what testifying in front of legislators will look and feel like coming up next month, with quality, critical feedback, and positive encouragement.
Marcelus Ifonlaja - Treasurer
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
We have conducted fiscal committee as usual. From there we have a few outcomes : building our team for fundraising, getting up to date and TRACKING payments, finally the hoodies. To my knowledge everyone’s payment is now up to date and I had some time in January to connect about issues with bill.com and set all of that straight.
I’ve also enjoyed testifying before the higher education committee at their meeting and before my peers at the Power in Diversity conference.
On the equity side I have faltered. After the recent murder of another black man in his home by police, I made noise however I was unable to do as much as move this organization to do so much as to say something. Because of this, I have opted in to some development and am getting more involved with an organization that works to call people to action.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
Right now it’s all about the conferences. Advocacy Day is approaching, DC right after. We have to bring the vibes to our engaged students, while ensuring the structures we have enable new participation. It’s always been grassroots excitement that’s kept good leaders here.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest achievement this month is simply not falling behind , in these duties or my academics. Student leaders who have been at this for a while recognize the value of these times.
Caledon Johnston - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
The current progress I have made with the duties have been to submit the leadership report for January 2022 and have a 1:1 meeting with the Vice-President of LeadMN. I have unfortunately not been able to get in contact with the rest of the region to continue more of the duties.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
After having a 1:1 with the Vice President in January, it has been discussed that due to COVID and with everything still being virtual and with the region not responding back to communication, some of the duties that are required are unable to be done at the moment and possibly may not be done this year just due to dealing with this pandemic. This month I will still try to get in contact with the region, but it won’t be a direct priority anymore after not having any communication for the whole year so far. Due to this, I discussed with the Vice President that I might not be able to get a campus visit before the end of the year. What I will try to do though in the next couple months is that I hope to get student stories from around my own campus. I am also planning to submit my own student story before the end of the year.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Currently I have no update on any campuses in the region, there is currently still no communication. I will begin to contact our sister college MSCS Red Wing to see if there is anything different going on at their campus that they are doing that we don’t have going on in Winona.
MSCS in Winona currently has no updates except that we are trying to get our Hunger Free Campus Award Ceremony scheduled sometime soon.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I will be trying to get in contact with our sister college due to the regional colleges not being in contact. I will also be trying to get student stories from my own campus to get the students involved.
Ashley Hawker - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have been in touch and I'm building a relationship with DCTC, but I'm still waiting for Normandale to communicate with me. As a PC, I have been advocating for tampons and pads at SCC North Mankato, with the help of the SCC senate to get tampon and pad dispensers in restrooms.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have been in meetings with Faribault SCC senate and DCTC and Inver Hills senate meetings and they brought up some student issues that have been easily fixed with help of talking through and communicating. I will continue to spread the word about LeadMN and encourage students to join.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
South Central North Mankato raised funds to buy the campus cupboard a new fridge. Faribault campus is getting more students involved in senate. DCTC and Inver Hills did welcome week. Normandale is a big campus and busy so I still haven't heard from them, but I understand. North Mankato SCC And SCC Faribualt had a culture food night, having students try something new and learn new things about different cultures.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
Spreading the word about Advocacy Day, and sharing how much fun I had at conferences. I am hoping students see my joy and passion and how much fun I have at conferences, and this will get them to come along and experience with me. I'm also asking students about personal experiences and troubles they face.
Amona Donald - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have arranged to schedule a MetroWest region meeting with the College Senate President and our GC rep plus alternative.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I am organizing a Meet the Senate Breakfast Event where we will have a table sharing information and ways to get involved with LeadMN. We will also be pushing for advocacy day and other events that are coming up.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Currently, Minneapolis College has decided to purse "Growing Student Life" as a goal and we are preparing for various events to grow club members and support various initiatives across the college.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I am still taking time to talk to peers in my classes when we are able to share announcements. I am sharing it across discussion boards that available in classes and drafting notices to send it all via D2L
Chelsea Birasa - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Worked with the Outreach Manger on engaging students to attend COVID-19 Listening session. Attended the 2022 Power in Diversity Leadership Conference
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I am organizing a COVID-19 Listening session and clinic for MState Moorhead campus. I am also planning on organizing an Equity Training workshop for students and staff at MState. I will be meeting with the Northwest GC rep to plan on connecting with other student senate on other campus to have one as well
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
The MState Moorhead campus will be having a blood drive on 2/22 and a food pantry.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
Utilizing different platforms to send student reminders of upcoming events to be engaged in. I am organizing a COVID-19 Listening session and clinic for MState Moorhead campus where different LeadMN scholarship opportunities can be shared. I am also planning on organizing an Equity Training workshop for students and staff at MState. I will be meeting with the Northwest GC rep to plan on connecting with other student senate on other campus to have one as well. And collecting student stories.