By Laura Grevas
Like many Minnesotans, Stephanie Andrews felt compelled to act during the turbulent summer of 2020.
At that point, she had been dropping off donations periodically for a few years and was always impressed by the Eagan pantry’s volunteers.
“It felt like a super easy way for me to do something and I was just intrigued” she said. “When I really decided that I might want to get more involved was after George Floyd was killed and Open Door had a weekend food drive, saying it was one of the few things around the Twin Cities that was happening and in person.”
Stephanie, her husband and two children volunteered. The second day, she and her son returned.
“It was one of those things where you didn’t know what you could do, and this was something we could do,” recalls Stephanie. “I was so sweaty and so tired and so grateful that I had the chance to be a part of it. So then when I got the chance to fill a hole that was happening in the board in terms of HR and equity expertise, I couldn’t say no to that.”
Since joining The Open Door Board of Directors in early 2021, she has used skills developed in her role as the Talent, Learning and Evaluation Director at The Bush Foundation.
In addition to her experience in HR, management and equity work, Stephanie’s job at the Bush Foundation has given her a broad outlook on operational excellence in regional nonprofits.
In her role, she asks questions like “Who are the nonprofits that are doing amazing things in this region? And how do we identify and support them?” she explained. “I feel so lucky to then get to work with The Open Door and be like ‘Oh, these are the kinds of things we are looking for.’”
After weathering the pandemic and transitioning into a larger building, Stephanie sees more opportunities for The Open Door’s future.
“How do we develop better partnerships with other organizations? … So many food or hunger relief organizations kind of stop at a pantry and food shelf. We can always learn more about how [to] spread the word about what we’re doing and help other organizations think a little more creatively about how to really serve the people that are around them,” she explains. “Those are some of the conversations that we’ll keep having.”
In terms of equity, Stephanie says the board is seeking to bring an inclusive lens to their conversations and thinking about how best to center the client’s voice and lived experience in the agency’s work.
“Equity starts with knowing people and understanding that your experience is probably different than the person across the table from you. Sometimes in ways you can see, and sometimes in ways you can’t.” She adds, “There’s always more you can do …. I think we’re still figuring out the right approach to take on the board.”
In her free time, Stephanie enjoys tennis, outdoor music and picnics. And reading–especially on a rainy day, perhaps while savoring a toasted bagel–with cream cheese (her favorite food).
Stephanie and her husband live in Eagan and have two college-aged children. The entire family still volunteers at The Open Door.
“So many of my memories have to do with food, it’s just such a gathering space,” she says.
“I think that the thing that probably has been most transformative for me about being involved with The Open Door in any capacity is just understanding all the assumptions I used to make about what hunger looks like and where hunger lives. And I love if people volunteer, I love it if they donate, but I really just want people to understand [those] in their community and recognize that you never know,” she says. “Giving people the dignity and respect to have access to healthy food. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of.”
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