Meet the 2018-19 LeadMN Cabinet!

What interested you in working for LeadMN?
I was interested in LeadMN because it showed me that students could make a seismic shift in our community and higher education. I saw them inspire students to reach their full potential in their leadership through student empowerment. I loved what the organization stood for and its willingness to always meet students where they are. When you talk to students about LeadMN you will often hear stories of them finding an avenue for their passions.

What are some of the things that you have been working on and are excited to work on in the future?
First and foremost our work starts and ends with student leaders. All of the great projects we are working on come from courageous past student leaders raising curiosity within our current student leaders. When beginning the year we saw the wide-ranging support for food insecurity advocacy, I am excited to see what opportunities come about from that with May and Oballa taking lead! I am working on a personal project around engaging low propensity/non voting members. I am working with nearby colleges and a national group on this project with a video coming out within the next month!

What interests do you have outside of work?
If you have talked to me for over 30 seconds in the past two months you will hear me talk about my mixed martial arts training. Athletics is something that I enjoy and it keeps me in shape. I am doing Brazilian Ju Jiu-Jitsu, eventually moving into Muay Thai training and doing tournaments in the next 6 to 9 months. When I am not at the office or at crave, I am in my gym or watching movies with my girlfriend and our two cats Max and Eloise, yes I have our cats as a screensaver.

After attending P.S.E.O at Century College, Frankie Becerra transferred to a four-year institution in 2014. Being a DACA recipient and a first-generation college student, Frankie was misguided into believing that college was affordable. After a year and a half break from school, where he worked in management to pay off his student debt, Frankie returned to Century College.

During his year off, Frankie found his passions and pursued them, not knowing where that would lead him. He found passion in a Latinx advocacy group named “Movimiento Latino” where he knew he could make an impact. This is where the slogan “Moving as ONE to empower ALL” began. He joined student senate and championed civic engagement, which led him to LeadMN and an internship as an equity and inclusion intern.

At the 2018 Spring General Assembly, student delegates elected Frankie as the LeadMN president. He plans on using the equity and civic engagement lens he acquired during his internship in every aspect of his presidency. Currently, Frankie is attending Century College and the University of Minnesota for political science, eventually hoping for a business law degree and a master’s in business management.

What interested you in working for LeadMN?
LeadMN has so many things that made me want to work for it. LeadMN puts our students first. LeadMN changed my life, and the lives of so many others students, by showing us how to become productive leaders and bring change to our communities. LeadMN empowers two-year college students to become strong leaders, engaged community members, and successful professionals. I grateful to have benefited from this organization and I want to give back to our students in the same way others gave back to me.

What are some of the things that you have been working on and are excited to work on in the future?
I am currently working on the food insecurity campaign to help address this issue that is affecting many of our college campuses in Minnesota.

At my school, I saw so many issues that needed to be addressed and advocated for. I saw my fellow students struggle with food insecurity and I tried to find a way to end that. My Student Senate members took steps to create a food pantry at my campus, which has been a great resource for students. I am extremely passionate about food insecurity at our two-year colleges and want to make sure all of our campuses can provide food to students who are struggling with food insecurity. I LeadMN to spread this message to every college in Minnesota. I want every two-year college to join me in the fight against hunger at our community and technical colleges and I am ready to lead that fight.

What interests do you have outside of work?
I love being involved in my local community and to help the new comers to America. I volunteer and recruit youth who come to America between the ages of 19 and 24 to join job corps programs and to help them finish their education. I love long drives and road trips, cooking and hanging out with my girlfriend. I also do stand-up comedy during my free time to entrain.

Oballa Oballa was born in Gambella, Ethiopia and grew up in a Kenya Refugee camp. He moved to America in December 2013. Oballa served as SGA president at Boxelder Job Corps in South Dakota before attending college.

Currently, Oballa is attending Riverland Community College in Austin, MN. He is pursuing a degree in Human services and will transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work. At Riverland, Oballa was the former student senate public relation coordinator and student senate president. He was also the former LeadMN Southeast Platform Representative. Oballa’s work doesn’t stop on campus; he is also involved in his community by being a member of the Austin Human Rights Commission.

Oballa is extremely passionate about food insecurity at our two-year colleges and wants to make sure that all of our campuses can provide a food pantry for students who are struggling. Oballa and his Riverland student senate created a food pantry on their campus, which had been a great resource for their students. Outside of work, Oballa loves road trips and cooking. He also likes doing stand up comedy when he is in the mood to entertain people.

What interested you in working for LeadMN?
I didn’t know what LeadMN was when I first started college but when I saw the passion and determination that the cabinet and staff have for the organization I knew it was something I was meant to be a part of. I have always wanted to help those that need help. I remember seeing a car accident when I was a young kid and I asked my father who could help them. He told me a cop. Later on, I watched a friend get arrested by a cop and I asked my father who could help them. He said a lawyer. That same friend ended up in court and I asked my father who could help them. He said a judge. This thought process continued throughout college. While attending Anoka-Ramsey Community College, I noticed many issues, and this caused me to look for a solution, which led me to Student Senate. I couldn’t stop at Student Senate knowing there is something that is so much more. I need to be in the battlefields. I need to make a difference and that difference led me to LeadMN.

What are some of the things that you have been working on and are excited to work on in the future?
I have been working on training the next generation of leaders at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. I believe everyone is meant to be a leader if they are given the chance. My goal for this year is to create five “How to” videos. I want to create a valuable resource for our senates. Confidence and energy the key to success and I want to share that with our future leaders.

What interests do you have outside of work?
One of my main interests would have to be art. I love creating something from nothing. It is almost a form of meditation for me. When I pick up a pencil or paintbrush and I move it across the canvas it is mesmerizing. Simple lines can create some of the most beautiful works of art. I believe that art is also a way of communication. Some people can’t voice their feelings, but their art can make you feel their emotions. When I draw I focus on only the line that I am creating. Sometimes when I draw I have a moment where I forget my worries, I forget about school, bills and drama. For that split second nothing else matters but this one line that I’m drawing. It is a simple way to escape the worries of college. Art is one of the things that make me who I am today.

Honest, trustworthy, respectful and loyal: these are the words that best describe Ocean Lamoureaux. She is currently working on her Associate of Arts degree, with an Emphasis in Psychology at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC). She then has plans to transfer to Hamline to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.

Ocean’s main focus in life is advocating for those who need better options. This passion influenced her to become the Director of Communication for Student Senate at Anoka-Ramsey last year. She used her passion and motivation to make a difference for her senate and for LeadMN. When Ocean is not busy advocating for students, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family, friends, and her cat Batman.

What interested you in working for LeadMN?
What interested me in LeadMN is the uniqueness of how the organization is set up. The way that LeadMN makes connecting with other students is desirable for anyone wanting to make a career anywhere. I know I have personally made connections that have helped my family business, connections that without my work within LeadMN would not be possible. I am so grateful for these things, because without the students, I would have none of them.

What are some of the things that you have been working on and are excited to work on in the future?
OER, OER, OER, OER. Nuff said. But really, I have a passion for OER, and this year I am excited to try and find someone to carry the torch for me once I'm gone. I don't want it to disappear because it truly is a big issue and problem when students pay one of the highest tuitions in the country and still have to pay an average cost of $1400 for textbooks. Just saying.

What interests do you have outside of work?
Work. I like work. Sometimes I work too much. But when I do find free time, I like to golf a lot, play video games, I play a lot of basketball and hanging out with family and friends! I'm pretty simple!

Dillon Forcier began his career in student leadership his first semester of college. He joined his student senate at Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN and hasn’t regretted a second of it. At the 2017 Spring General Assembly, Dillon ran for LeadMN Governing Council Student-at-Large and served in this position during the 2017-18 year. He also served as the Lake Superior College Student Senate President during this time. At the 2018 Spring General Assembly, Dillon decided to run for the LeadMN Treasurer position because of his passion in student leadership and to continue his work around OERs at the Minnesota State system office.

Dillon started his career in real estate, property management, and hotel management in October 2017. He is now living in Hutchinson, acting as the ownership representative for the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites in Hutchinson, MN. He will be there for a year. Dillon hopes that in 2019 there will be another hotel built that he can represent.

Dillon has plans to attend either Hamline or one of the public four-year universities in Minnesota after this year. Dillon plans to double major in Finance and English, with a minor in Spanish.