"Building together is a great way to connect with people, and it helps preserve traditions and knowledge, and also creates a more self-sufficient, sustainable, and joyful community."
Carmel DeMaioribus, co-Founder, and current Board Treasurer of Duluth Folk School
" We were in a time of great flux – and still are – when we decided to apply for a Recovery Capital Loan. We wanted to be able to create an environment where we could do our complex and often difficult work well and support our staff doing it."
Veena Iyer, Executive Director, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
"We focused our board to see what our needs were, but also giving us a path to achieve the goals we have in place as an organization. "
Alison Edwards, Co-Artistic Director of PRIME Productions
"In our cohort gathering, we learned that sustainability is more of a journey than a destination. As the leader of our organization, I will put my focus on investing in the right people, establishing great partnerships, raising unrestricted funds, and implementing programs that will help our communities flourish."
Habon Abdulle, Executive Director of Ayada Leads
"Propel has been there for us in many important moments: they’ve connected us to other organizations, helped us troubleshoot technical issues, and worked with us and our board to feel sure about how we wanted to grow strategically. "
Rodolfo Gutierrez, Executive Director of HACER
"I wouldn’t be where I am without Propel. The team has been patient and thoughtful as we build out a plan for where I need to grow, and what I need from my board, and vice-versa, in order to create a stronger and more resilient organization."
Christy Potts, Executive Director of The L.I.S.T.E.N. Center
"Our communities of color and immigrant communities deserve high quality journalism so they can see themselves reflected well. It is important for the public narrative around these communities to chronicle how they are transforming the state in terms of day-to-day life, elections, and more."
Mukhtar Ibrahim, Editor of Sahan Journal
"I keep thinking about how in the first few weeks of programming, one of our youth taught me that grass is sweet-tasting, and that’s why the horse was eating it. There is something so important about being connected to a place, especially after what our kids have been through during the pandemic and following the murder of George Floyd."
Kenatia Gilmer, founding Board Member
"I knew Propel had the support we needed when it was time for us to grow,” Bryand said. “This organization isn’t about me; it is about our leaders, and I want us to have the skills and tools we need to grow."
Monica Bryand, founder of Urban Bird Collective