In the weeks since the federal immigration enforcement surge began in Minnesota, daily life across the state has been upended, not randomly, but through a familiar pattern of disproportionately targeting people based on their place of birth and what they look like. Communities have rallied to defend, protect, and care for neighbors who have been targeted and harmed, while also grieving the devastating losses of Renee Good and Alex Pretti—whose deaths at the hands of federal immigration agents have seared this moment into our collective memory.

While border czar Tom Homan recently announced the immediate surge is ending, the harms unfolding now will not disappear when federal activity shifts, or the news cycle moves on. There are long term impacts to housing, jobs, schools, and local economies, and our communities need partners who are willing to stay, invest, and help rebuild the stability that every family deserves.

Beyond the profound human toll, communities across Minnesota have described daily life under Operation Metro Surge as feeling like a federal occupation, not a public‑safety initiative. Families who once moved freely through their neighborhoods have been altering even the simplest parts of life—grocery runs, school drop‑offs, commuting to work—because the influx of thousands of federal agents introduced fear and unpredictability into otherwise ordinary spaces. Due to heavy federal presence at schools and daycares, many parents adjusted work and care arrangements for their children’s safety. Schools across the state—from Minneapolis and Saint Paul to metro-area suburbs to Greater Minnesota communities—have reported sharply reduced attendance. Many have also instituted virtual learning options as students stay home to avoid potential encounters with agents. These conditions are not accidental; they are the predictable outcome of enforcement strategies that prioritize punishment and visibility over care, stability, and community well‑being.

“This fear doesn’t just cut off income, but the everyday connections that help families stay anchored in place—isolating families and disrupting the daily routines that keep neighborhoods, schools, and local economies strong.”– MUNEER KARCHER-RAMOS

Immigrant‑owned corridors that typically hum with activity, including Lake Street, the Midtown Global Market, Payne Avenue, and key Hmong markets and Somali community hubs, have fallen quiet as workers stay home and customers avoid public spaces. Some businesses have closed their doors—not because they want to, but because the people who sustain them no longer feel safe moving through their own neighborhoods.

This fear doesn’t just cut off income, but the everyday connections that help families stay anchored in place—isolating families and disrupting the daily routines that keep neighborhoods, schools, and local economies strong.

For hourly workers forced to stay home—whether due to lost hours or safety fears—missing even a few shifts can make covering rent or the mortgage nearly impossible, not because families are unprepared, but because decades of wage suppression, housing disinvestment, and exclusion from wealth‑building opportunities have left many households with no margin for disruption. In a state already facing a severe housing shortage, rising evictions, and widespread rent burden, even minor income gaps can quickly lead to eviction or displacement. This enforcement surge accelerates displacement that was already structurally baked into Minnesota’s housing system—especially for communities of color.

Closed Shops and Small Business Struggles

As daily life constricts across Minnesota, small businesses—especially those run by immigrant families—are feeling the strain. For many, this isn’t just about lost sales; it’s about seeing years of hard work and trust unravel. Owners are struggling to keep staff, as workers stay home for safety or to care for their kids. Some try to keep going with a skeleton crew, while others are forced to cut hours or close, knowing the risks are too high and margins too thin. Some have even described their shops as “hunting grounds” for federal agents, a reality that threatens both their livelihoods and the sense of safety they’ve built for their communities.

These disruptions ripple through local economies. In Greater Minnesota, many communities rely on immigrant workers in key industries like agriculture and manufacturing. Across the state, restaurant closures hurt suppliers, reduced market hours mean fewer customers for nearby stores, and entire business corridors falling quiet result in direct harm to collective financial security and culture. The effect is especially significant in Minnesota, where immigrant workers and business owners contribute a substantial portion of the state’s economy, generating $41 billion annually. These dynamics reveal how deeply Minnesota’s prosperity depends on immigrant labor and entrepreneurship—while public policy continues to extract economic value from these communities without extending safety, stability, or full belonging in return.

“Without immigrants’ economic participation and tax contributions, government debt at all levels—local, state, and federal—would be dramatically higher.”
– MUNEER KARCHER-RAMOS

Immigrants’ economic contributions add up nationally, too. Analysis from the Cato Institute shows that, from 1994 through 2023, immigrants in the United States have consistently contributed more in taxes every single year than the cost of federal, state, and local benefits they received. Over the three-decade period, immigrant communities generated a cumulative $14.5 trillion fiscal surplus, including $3.9 trillion in reduced interest payments on public debt. Without immigrants’ economic participation and tax contributions, government debt at all levels—local, state, and federal—would be dramatically higher. Cato’s analysis estimates that U.S. public debt would have reached at least 205 percent of GDP, nearly double its 2023 level. These findings underscore how essential immigrants are, not only to local economies, but to the long-term fiscal stability and prosperity of the entire nation.

While economic data helps quantify the damage, it is not the justification for dignity. Immigrant communities are essential not only because they generate revenue and tax base, but because they are central to Minnesota’s cultural life, civic health, and long‑term collective prosperity.

Rising Economic Costs Affect All of Minnesota

The massive economic fallout from Operation Metro Surge is no longer just a theory. Early reports reveal a dual crisis: soaring public spending and a rapid contraction of Minnesota’s local economies. Data compiled by North Star Policy Action shows the operation is costing taxpayers an enormous $18 million per week, while also driving a sharp drop in statewide economic activity.

According to the North Star Policy report, taxpayers are paying at least $9 million a week on ICE and CBP agent wages, while another $4.5 million disappears into lodging and meal costs. Detention expenses tack on another $1.6 million each week, and local police departments are shelling out around $3 million in overtime as they scramble to manage the upheaval sparked by federal enforcement. These numbers don’t even touch the bigger-ticket items—vehicles, damaged gear, munitions, helicopters, transfer flights, or the inevitable civil penalties down the road. The real cost to taxpayers? It’s almost certainly much higher than what’s reflected here.

The long-term economic damage of Operation Metro Surge may take years to fully surface. Reduced construction during an already severe housing shortage will drive up housing costs for everyone. Fear-driven cancellations of medical appointments will increase downstream health care expenses, while needs for mental health support will increase from heightened stress and trauma. Persistent school absences could depress educational attainment for an entire generation. North Star Policy Action’s analysis predicts the compounded impacts are likely to result in billions of dollars in economic damage to Minnesota.

What We’re Hearing from Communities on the Ground

Across the state, our grantee and community partners are describing a moment defined not only by fear, but by an urgent need for information, coordination, and support. Hotlines that typically field a steady but manageable flow of calls are now overwhelmed as residents seek guidance on everything from how to respond to federal encounters to how to protect family members if someone is detained. Legal aid groups and rapid‑response coalitions are expanding hours, adding staff, and partnering across networks to meet a surge in requests for rights education, safety planning, and assistance navigating sudden detentions.

“Across the state, our grantee and community partners are describing a moment defined not only by fear, but by an urgent need for information, coordination, and support.”– MUNEER KARCHER-RAMOS

At the same time, organizers are reporting an emotional landscape marked by exhaustion, grief, resolve, and—yes—hope. Faith leaders, neighborhood associations, and cultural organizations have stepped in to provide calm, reliable information and emotional support, often becoming the first call people make when they see enforcement activity in their community. Volunteers are coordinating transportation, interpretation, and accompaniment for court appearances that arise with little warning. And in Greater Minnesota, where enforcement actions intersect with tight‑knit towns and limited-service infrastructure, community groups are filling critical gaps—offering everything from pop‑up legal clinics to school‑based outreach to ensure families stay connected to the resources they rely on.

These frontline accounts reveal a collective response that is rapid, compassionate, and deeply resourceful—not simply as crisis response, but as community‑led infrastructure building in the absence of systems designed to protect them. They also underscore how much strain community-serving nonprofits are carrying as they work around the clock to keep people informed, safe, and connected. In this moment, their leadership is not only helping families navigate the immediate crisis—it is preventing fear from fracturing the social fabric that holds Minnesota’s communities together.

The Path Forward: Standing With Communities for the Long Run

Minnesotans have shown in unmistakable ways that when people are threatened, we show up for one another. The response we’ve witnessed—from neighbors stepping in to keep families safe, to rent support and mutual aid drives, to community organizations expanding their support networks overnight—demonstrates the deep well of strength and solidarity that defines this state. But communities cannot shoulder this work alone, they need partners who are in it for the long haul. The harms unfolding now will not disappear when federal activity shifts, or the news cycle moves on. They require partners who are willing to stay, invest, and help rebuild the stability that every family deserves.

Through the Vibrant & Equitable Communities program, McKnight is committed to being one of those partners. Throughout the operation, we have been supporting rapid‑response efforts that help families stay housed, access legal defense and know‑your‑rights support, and meet urgent needs like food, childcare, and transportation when daily routines have been disrupted. At the same time, we are investing for the long term—strengthening trusted community organizations, legal and social‑service infrastructure, and the support communities need to recover, organize, and shape what comes next. This includes standing with communities in Greater Minnesota, where enforcement actions intersect with tight labor markets, housing shortages, and limited social services, and where immigrant workers and families are equally central to the vitality of local economies, schools, and small businesses.

“Creating a future where all communities can thrive means investing in the people and places that make Minnesota strong, listening to those most impacted, and ensuring that our policies, our philanthropy, and our collective action reflect the Minnesota we know we can be.”– MUNEER KARCHER-RAMOS

We encourage other funders, institutions, corporations, governments, and those with resources to consider how they can show up in this moment—both now and over the long term. Continued investment will be critical to help communities stabilize, heal, and rebuild in the months and years ahead.

Immediate ways to help include supporting on-the-ground nonprofits and mutual aid through StandWithMinnesota.com’s database of local efforts and contributing to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, which is moving resources quickly to organizations meeting urgent ongoing needs across the state. McKnight has also created a resource hub that includes know-your-rights information, community resources, opportunities to support impacted Minnesotans, and powerful graphics to show your support for immigrants in Minnesota.

Minnesota’s path forward depends on a shared commitment to belonging and dignity—values that sit at the heart of McKnight’s mission. Creating a future where all communities can thrive means investing in the people and places that make Minnesota strong, listening to those most impacted, and ensuring that our policies, our philanthropy, and our collective action reflect the Minnesota we know we can be. That is the work ahead of us. And it’s work we undertake with resolve, knowing that when we stand with our communities for the long run, we move closer to a state where everyone can build a stable, joyful, and flourishing life.

“Future generations will remember not only what we did to protect our environment, but also what we did to protect our neighbors and the freedoms we too often take for granted.”
– BEN PASSER, MIDWEST CLIMATE & ENERGY PROGRAM DIRECTOR

The following is an excerpt from an essay by Ben Passer for Atmos Magazine.

If you work on issues related to climate and the environment, like me, you’ve likely heard a powerful phrase: This is the decisive decade.

The expression is intended to invoke urgency and ambition, and rightfully so. We are increasingly seeing the impacts of a changing climate: Extreme weather events are worsening and becoming more frequent. Heat waves and colder winter temperatures are putting immense strain on our already brittle energy infrastructure. My home state, Minnesota, saw its longest-ever air quality alert last year as rampant Canadian wildfires rendered our air unsafe to breathe for seven consecutive days. Minneapolis was even ranked among the most polluted major cities in the world during this time.

Fortunately, a record number of Americans recognize that these climate impacts are likely to affect them, if they aren’t already, and must be addressed. These beliefs are held across state lines and ideologies. The markets recognize this, too: Large-scale solar and wind energy remain the least expensive forms of new energy generation, even before subtracting the significant subsidies that fossil fuels continue to receive. If we were ever going to truly invest in a more sustainable future, the best time was several decades ago. The second-best time is now.

It’s true that this is the decisive decade—but not just for climate.

Our actions to address environmental impacts and protect communities rely on a functioning democracy in which folks can safely exercise their rights to peacefully assemble, speak their opinions without government censorship, and freely publish news and information: all bedrocks of the First Amendment. Without these, individuals and organizations would not be able to educate regulators and lawmakers on the issues facing their communities, such as air pollution, clean water, or energy affordability. Journalists would struggle to report the facts of the health, economic, and social impacts of environmental damage. And community members would be restricted from organizing in support of solutions that improve their quality of life and well-being.

In Minnesota, we have seen these fundamental freedoms tested in real time.

Over the last couple of months, Minneapolis and the entire state of Minnesota have seen an extraordinary presence of federal immigration agents engaging in actions that have not only disrupted our communities but also defied the rule of law and eroded the basic constitutional rights that the United States was founded on. Fortunately, ordinary Minnesotans have been standing up and stepping forward to peacefully insist that our constitutional rights be upheld. Their message is clear: This is not what a functioning democracy looks like.

Those of us who work on climate issues need to recognize that democracy is more than the ability to vote in free and fair elections (though that is, of course, an important right). A true democracy is a system that allows many people to hold diverse and different opinions; that preserves and honors independent institutions and actors, such as the judiciary, capable of behaving impartially and in accordance with the law; and that supports broad principles of civic participation, including the ability of everyday individuals to share information, engage in decision-making processes, and have a voice in policies and practices that affect them. Recent examples illustrate the importance of these principles: Nationally, a lack of broad civic awareness undermined the durability of climate-focused policy such as the Inflation Reduction Act; and in states like Ohio, concentrated power and a lack of transparency resulted in laws that cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars and prompted local leaders to build their own solutions.

Our experience in Minnesota should be a clear alarm bell for the rest of the country. If these harmful actions are allowed to continue and spread, and we normalize the unjust targeting of members of our community, we risk the collapse of the institutions and norms that are core to who we as Americans aspire to be. And if those institutions and norms collapse, we risk losing any meaningful ability to address environmental harms and advance positive solutions in our communities in the near-term.

It’s true that this is the decisive decade—but not just for climate. It’s also the decisive decade for the governance framework on which our work depends…

READ THE FULL ESSAY

“As we honor Alex, we hold close a simple truth: everyone just wants to make it home safely to their family, immigrant-Americans included. May his memory move us to build a country where every person’s life and dignity are respected and protected.”– TONYA ALLEN

Tonya Allen on LinkedIn, Saturday, January 24, 2026:

Today, we mourn. Again.

We awake to heartbreaking news of another shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

Right now, we know little about the circumstances of today’s shooting except the victim, our neighbor Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who cared for critically ill veterans that served our nation, did not survive. We do know he was surrounded by agents, pummeled by fists, shot at close range, and his character will be wrongfully maligned to cover his killing. No person, no community, and no country deserves what we are experiencing right now.

Enough is enough.

Enough is outrage. It is a boundary drawn in defense of human life.

The mere fact that many of us are living in a state of hypervigilance, anxiety, and fear for ourselves and loved ones is abnormal. Nothing about what’s happening in Minnesota is acceptable.

Enough is enough.

A community says enough when it chooses responsibility over resignation.

If you are like me, you are in tears, near tears, or just full of fury. You are exhausted, confused, and so deeply disappointed. Furious that our country and our democracy have come to this– another loss of life has occurred at the hands of our government.

This is not okay. I am not okay. I know many of you are not okay.

Enough is enough.

Enough is a cry of anger. It is a line drawn by love when loss has gone too far.

I went to bed last night bursting with pride to be a Minnesotan. Joining tens of thousands of Minnesotans who took peacefully and patriotically to the frigid streets to demonstrate pure love for our neighbors and our democracy. We showed America what it means to be American.

Enough is enough.

Saying enough is how a community declares that life matters more than endurance.

There comes a moment when enough suffering has spoken for itself, and the only moral response left is care.

In the midst of this horror, take care of yourself. I mean it. Breathe. Mourn. Gather with loved ones. Read poetry. Say a prayer. Listen to Nina Simone. Give your nervous system what it needs.

In love and solidarity from Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Tonya Allen on LinkedIn, Tuesday, January 27, 2026:

We are seeing an incredible outpouring of love for Alex Pretti and this community.

As one person who knew him put it, “Ms. Zielinski doesn’t think he would want to be known as a martyr. She thinks he would like to be remembered as a guy who enjoyed riding his bike, as someone who loved his family, and as a person who cared about health care, science, and research.”

“He was a really good friend, and a really good man.”

Alex deserves to be remembered in this light. Someone who chose service, compassion, and community every single day. No family should endure this kind of loss.

As we honor Alex, we hold close a simple truth: everyone just wants to make it home safely to their family, immigrant-Americans included. May his memory move us to build a country where every person’s life and dignity are respected and protected.

The McKnight Foundation is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Distinguished Artist Award, with two important updates.

First, nominations are now accepted on a rolling basis—meaning you can submit a nomination at any time throughout the year. By removing the nomination window, we hope to make the process easier and more inclusive for nominators, allowing them to submit their nominations when ready.

Please note: Nominations received by May 1^st will be considered for the current year’s award cycle. Those submitted after that date will automatically be reviewed for the following year.

We welcome and encourage nominations from across the state of Minnesota and 11 Native Nations that share its geography.

New for 2026: Nominations Will Carry Over

Starting in 2026, nominations will carry over to future years. You’re welcome to renominate someone each year if you wish, but the number of nominations a person receives does not increase their chances of being selected.

There’s also no need to organize “campaigns” of multiple nominators—the selection committee bases its decision on the breadth and impact of an artist or culture bearer’s artistic and cultural practice, not the quantity of nominations.

If you’ve nominated someone before 2026 and would like them to be considered in future rounds, please submit a nomination form that will carry forward.

About the McKnight Distinguished Artist Award

The annual McKnight Distinguished Artist Award recognizes artists and culture bearers who have made a lifelong commitment to artistic and cultural practices that are locally, regionally, and/or nationally significant. These artists and culture bearers have chosen to make their lives and careers in Minnesota, thereby making our state a more culturally rich place. First and foremost, they have produced creatively incisive art reflecting their particular and extraordinary point of view.

McKnight Distinguished Artists have also inspired other artists and culture bearers, earned acclaim from audiences, patrons, critics, and other arts professionals, and some have founded and strengthened arts organizations.

Note: Applications are only accepted online. No self-nominations. If you any questions about the nomination process, please email msalas@mcknight.org.

NOMINATE AN ARTIST OR CULTURE BEARER

I have seen first-hand heartbreaking and horrifying actions by federal agents who are supposed to protect us from harm. But you don’t have to live in our state to understand that if philanthropy — and every other part of our society — fails to push back with every tool we have, we risk setting a precedent for broader, widespread attacks on Americans’ civil liberties and freedoms.– TONYA ALLEN, PRESIDENT

Throughout this past year, leaders in philanthropy have wrestled with questions about how best to respond to the nearly daily threats to our democracy — and to outright attacks on how we treat one another with dignity.

As a foundation leader who has been responding to and living through events in Minnesota over the last few weeks, it has become apparent that foundations nationwide must act when our federal government has clearly crossed a red line. Other parts of society don’t have the independence or flexibility to act quickly and forcefully, but we do — and that means we have a special responsibility to lead.

As the head of a foundation based in Minnesota, I have seen first-hand heartbreaking and horrifying actions by federal agents who are supposed to protect us from harm. But you don’t have to live in our state to understand that if philanthropy — and every other part of our society — fails to push back with every tool we have, we risk setting a precedent for broader, widespread attacks on Americans’ civil liberties and freedoms.

Across community foundations, family and corporate philanthropy, and local and national networks, this is our moment to show what our sector stands for.

We need to call out the excessive use of force, the intense curtailment of civil liberties, and the ways these actions have attacked and undermined basic tenets of our democracy that we fought for and won exactly 250 years ago this summer. What is happening in Minnesota won’t stop here. It’s likely that more regions across the United States will be targeted soon, and the impact on civil rights, civil liberties, and democratic norms would be detrimental to our entire nation.

In the past few weeks, foundations and nonprofits in Minnesota have heard from hundreds of colleagues from across the country asking about the situation here, ways they can help, and advice for how to navigate similar situations they may experience in their regions.

In a nutshell, I tell everyone that our job in philanthropy is to tell the truth, share resources, and gather people across businesses, educational institutions, faith organizations, civil society, and other centers of people power to devise solutions and demand action…

READ THE FULL OP-ED

“Patriotism isn’t passive. If we love this country, then we must defend our constitutional rights and our neighbors. And we must continue to protest peacefully, assert our American privileges to hold government accountable, and demand justice for Ms. Good and all others who have been harmed by the reckless and chaotic enforcement activities we are experiencing across our state.”– TONYA ALLEN, PRESIDENT

This same spirit of duty and love of neighbor has shaped the broader response across Minnesota. Retirees have been organizing carpools so children can get to school when parents are too afraid to leave their homes, fearing racial profiling. Mutual aid networks formed to deliver groceries and essentials to families sheltering in place. And in the days after Renee’s killing, Somali women—members of a community under particular siege—stood on Portland Avenue all weekend, handing out sambusas and tea to keep people who were honoring her memory warm and fed in the freezing Minnesota winter.

If you walked down that street, where Renee Good was killed, during a recent protest, you would have seen children, mostly young and Latino, quietly observing from windows and porches—waving, making hearts with their hands, and holding signs that read “Thank you, MN.” This is who we are. A place shaped by many cultures, where neighbors look out for one another, where people raise families together, where the winters may be cold, but the communities are deeply warm. Our algorithms may reward outrage, but what I wish the country could see is the quiet, stubborn goodness on display in our streets.

And yet, Minnesota is not being targeted despite this strength—it is being targeted because of it.

Minnesota is the latest to be assailed because we are building a genuine, multi-racial, multi-faith community: from the Somali and Hmong communities that anchor neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, to the Latino and East African families revitalizing small towns across Greater Minnesota alongside the Indigenous and Scandinavian families that have anchored these places for generations. We’re proud to be a place where anyone—whether they were born here or chose to make their home here—can put down roots and build a better future for their family.

This is not just an assault on individuals or families—it’s an attempt to unravel the vibrant, diverse, and modern Minnesota—and America—we have built together.

And history shows us that assaults on pluralism succeed only when people decide it’s someone else’s fight, so now is the time to get off the sidelines.

Patriotism isn’t passive. If we love this country, then we must defend our constitutional rights and our neighbors. And we must continue to protest peacefully, assert our American privileges to hold government accountable, and demand justice for Ms. Good and all others who have been harmed by the reckless and chaotic enforcement activities we are experiencing across our state.

Renee Good should be alive today. The fact that she is not should be a wake-up call to all Americans.

Take it from Minnesota.

Cheryal Hills is a do-first leader, a fearless champion for rural voices, and the Executive Director of Region Five Development Commission.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a regionally-focused partner that provides community development, economic development and transportation initiatives in central Minnesota. Its programs use an inclusive, collaborative approach, with an emphasis on local foods, agriculture and creating a vibrant renewable energy economy in greater Minnesota. McKnight is proud to support R5DC’s work through our Midwest Climate & Energy and Vibrant & Equitable Communities programs.

McKnight Senior Program Officer Marcq Sung, who leads our Build Community Wealth strategy within the Vibrant & Equitable Communities Program, recommended Cheryal for a Courageous Character profile. Here’s what he shared:

“When you meet Cheryal or hear about her work, it quickly becomes clear why she stands out as a courageous partner. She leads with action, humility, and a deep commitment to serving others. Her courage shows in her willingness to address critical regional challenges head-on, embracing adaptability and creativity while focusing on rural and tribal voices. Cheryal leads by example, showing grit and a drive to make a difference. Her approach, shaped by lived experience and belief in relational connection, makes her a visionary leader and steadfast ally for equity and change—especially in regions where distance makes it harder to include all voices.

Through her do‑first leadership, Cheryal works across the everyday systems that make communities thrive—broadband, childcare, workforce, grocery access, transportation, clean water, and environmental stewardship—treating infrastructure as interconnected and focused on belonging and opportunity.

She pairs proactive, future-looking strategies with an equity lens by using food, art, and dialogue to build social cohesion across rural and tribal communities. The impact is evident both at scale and on the ground—from Minnesota’s largest rural solar project and local food hubs that bridge cultural divides, to hands-on efforts like teaching veterans to cook healthy meals and supporting women’s cultural exchange—measuring success by the quality of relationships and the tangible difference people experience.

R5DC’s approach, centered on community-driven solutions and equitable access to capital, aligns powerfully with McKnight’s strategy to build community wealth while creating environmentally resilient communities. By prioritizing equity and investing in local capacity, R5DC doesn’t just improve infrastructure; it creates lasting opportunities, fosters resilience, and sets a model for how rural development can advance both economic and social well-being.”

“Cheryal works across the everyday systems that make communities thrive—broadband, childcare, workforce, grocery access, transportation, clean water, and environmental stewardship—treating infrastructure as interconnected and focused on belonging and opportunity.”
– MARCQ SUNG, SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, VIBRANT & EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES

We sat down with Cheryal to learn more about how action, equity, and collaboration shape her fearless approach to addressing regional challenges and improving quality of life in rural and tribal communities.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

McKnight: Can you tell us about Region Five Development Commission? What do you do, and what is the shared vision and mission behind the work?

Cheryal Hills: We are one of nine regional development commissions across Minnesota, established by state statute. This organizational structure is unique in the entire nation, as we are set up similarly to a city or county, but by legislative mandate. R5DC receives less than one-sixth of our annual operating budget from local tax dollars. The legislation designates us as a planning organization with the ability to implement strategies that address regional critical issues.

Our focus is not on city or county-level economic development, but rather on stepping back to consider broader concerns. It is not about attracting businesses or developing industrial parks. Instead, our work centers on things like whether our region has broadband access, if we can attract a workforce by being a welcoming community, and if we have adequate childcare. We deal with significant challenges—ensuring we have grocery stores, transportation, and clean water. When organizations like ours address these issues from a regional perspective, rather than just at the local level, the nature of regional challenges evolves.

Other MN regional organizations have to pay attention to their place, listen to their people, and be extremely proactive in addressing their specific critical issues. When we know a workforce shortage is coming, organizations like ours start to think about strategies before it happens. We have to be preventative and forward-thinking, and it’s hard to hold both of those at the same time. That’s not the mission of most public organizations, so we’re extremely innovative and creative because we have to be. I don’t like planning very much—I like to get things done. Of course, we have to plan and listen to people, but it’s the doing that matters and changes people’s lives.

“Our mission is to impact quality of life. It’s vague and squishy, but you don’t just team with people, you come off your tails and get something done together.”– CHERYAL HILLS

In rural Minnesota, we simultaneously do it all. We use our resources to do environmental work, education, organizing, economic development. We have to be diverse. Our mission is to impact quality of life. It’s vague and squishy, but you don’t just team with people, you come off your tails and get something done together.

You figure it out—find a window when the door closes. That’s the mindset that’s different, I think. A hunger to be part of the solution. Get the hell out of the way if the partners have it under control and add value to the work where those leading partners determine its needed most. Bring the resources to them. Like daycare and housing: we don’t do that, we just get the funding so they can do what they need. Be a good partner.

McKnight: Are there any examples of R5DC’s work you’d especially like to lift up?

Cheryal Hills: Nationally, we are really known for our movement in local foods before it was a thing, when food hubs were just coming on to national scene. Our food hub has made huge impact in the Central Minnesota region, which can be extremely polarized. We have some of the most conservative counties in the state. Our local foods work is a tool to not only feed people. Access to food and art bridges cultures and helps people understand that difference is okay, to not see difference as a threat. In the winter, our local markets turn into lively gathering spots where you can pick up fresh food from nearby farms and unique local art, while enjoying music and watching folks cook together in the kitchen, chefs showing people how to make dishes that really reflect who we are and where we come from.

“Access to food and art bridges cultures and helps people understand that difference is okay, to not see difference as a threat.”–CHERYAL HILLS

Success in this work isn’t measured by how many pounds of food are given, or how many pieces of art are sold. Bridging and connection is not about typical transactional quantitative measurements. We’re trying to understand if our work is really making difference, and that requires deep listening, partnership, and flexibility.

McKnight: What does courageous leadership mean to you, especially in the context of rural communities?

Cheryal Hills: Rural places are complex and changing. Fear of change is a powerful tool that has been successfully weaponized against rural communities with a message that rural culture is being eradicated or changed for the worse. In these times it is important to courageously embrace change and resist being a soldier of tyranny, and instead to propose ideas, take action, and transcend power to those who want to lead in ways that embrace and make a difference. I know we can do better at creating rural Minnesota opportunities and quality of life for future generations.

Quality of life is more than a livable income – it includes affordable, attainable, accessible housing, food, child care, health care, education, clean water, air, and soil—and a sense of belonging. When we prioritize a nexus of benefits to more than just transactional gain, we win for the next seven generations.

“Quality of life is more than a livable income – it includes affordable, attainable, accessible housing, food, child care, health care, education, clean water, air, and soil—and a sense of belonging. When we prioritize a nexus of benefits to more than just transactional gain, we win for the next seven generations.”–CHERYAL HILLS

McKnight: What are some of the challenges and opportunities you’re seeing in your work today?

Cheryal Hills: Bridging difference has become even more important than when we became intentional about equitable economic and community development. Rural and tribal capacity building is still essential, and done well, it’s “ByForOf” for local truths and context. There are so many opportunities in the spaces of technology advancement and integration, improved mental health and workforce shifts in all industries. Rural issues are similar to those in urban places but nuanced due to distance and historic extractive behaviors… it’s the implementation strategies that differ.

McKnight: What drives you to do this work? What inspired you to enter the field, and what keeps you going?

Cheryal Hills: I typically drive about 30 minutes to work each day, and during that windshield time… I think about what I can do to make a difference in rural livelihoods for those of highest need, in ways that simultaneously honor environmental stewardship goals. I do this mental exercise each day, because I ride on the shoulders of some great women who expect nothing less. I hope to encourage others in the field of equity focused community/economic “doing” as has been modeled by many strong women who encouraged and supported me with many tools to be the “get sh– done” servant-leader I’ve grown into.

Related Video: Cheryal Hills and Region Five Development Commission supported a large solar installation at the Pine River Backus School District in central Minnesota.

Video funded by McKnight Foundation for Power of Minnesota. Filming by Credo Nonfiction with support from Clean Energy Resource Teams and Seiche. 

“My heart is heavy for loss of life of Renee Nicole Good—a daughter, a mother, a neighbor, a poet, a leader, a champion of democracy—and I mourn with her family and loved ones. I am concerned about what may come next for our community and state, and others across the nation, unless something changes.”– TONYA ALLEN

So much terror and so much pain are being inflicted in my state. Since the surge of federal immigration enforcement agents began in Minnesota, I’ve feared the tragedy we saw at 34th and Portland in Minneapolis.

My heart is heavy for loss of life of Renee Nicole Good—a daughter, a mother, a neighbor, a poet, a leader, a champion of democracy—and I mourn with her family and loved ones. I am concerned about what may come next for our community and state, and others across the nation, unless something changes.

Our community is carrying deep pain. I am as well. We have the right to care for our families and neighbors, to demand accountability of the government we employ, and to live our lives in peace and safety. As a state, time and again, Minnesotans have shown we can overcome the fear, hatred, and division being forced upon us.

“We believe in dignity, safety, and the rule of law. We will not accept the unjust targeting of our immigrant neighbors that rips families apart, government overreach that undermines constitutional rights, or violence and the senseless loss of life.”– TONYA ALLEN

We believe in dignity, safety, and the rule of law. We will not accept the unjust targeting of our immigrant neighbors that rips families apart, government overreach that undermines constitutional rights, or violence and the senseless loss of life.

While investigators must determine the facts of what happened, one truth is crystal clear: across Minnesota and the country, there is a pattern of federal agents acting recklessly and dangerously, creating an environment that threatens the safety of our communities and conditions where violence can occur.

We join the calls for a fair, complete, and impartial investigation of this awful tragedy, so the full truth comes to light, responsible parties are held accountable, and immediate steps can be taken to avoid future tragedies.

Minnesotans want an immigration enforcement system that is orderly, lawful, and fair. What we’re seeing instead is out of control and dangerous.

Right now, the best way to help make Minnesota safer is for ICE agents and their leaders to leave—stop inflicting harm through vitriolic narratives about our neighbors, terrorizing our communities with your presence, and creating conditions that lead to violence and the unnecessary and tragic loss of life. Leave us in peace so we can mourn, heal, and unite—displaying the full love and tenacity of Minnesotans.

“I’m honored to be joining the McKnight Foundation as it meets a moment of fear and division with clear-eyed urgency. From pushing the philanthropic sector to unite in advance to protect fundamental freedoms, to building on the spirit of ingenuity and shared purpose that’s long defined my home state of Minnesota, McKnight is an organization that is having a national and global impact through its place-based strengths and long track record.”

– THOMAS FRIEDMAN

McKnight is thrilled to announce that Minnesota-born journalist and best-selling author Thomas Friedman has joined our Board of Directors with a term starting in 2026.

Raised in St. Louis Park, a Twin Cities suburb, Thomas Friedman combines Minnesota roots with a decades-long career of turning problems into opportunities through sharp storytelling—distinguished by three Pulitzer Prizes, seven bestselling books, and 44 years at The New York Times. His enduring body of work reflects a propensity for examining the systems that gave rise to current issues, and creating a vision for the future rooted in dignity, abundance, and belonging. McKnight will lean on his experience and insights as we go all in on our mission to build a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive.

Since joining The New York Times in 1981, Tom has produced award-winning reporting that spans globalization, workforce development, foreign affairs, immigration, and democracy. As The Times’ foreign affairs columnist since 1985, his experience has informed several acclaimed books including “From Beirut to Jerusalem” (1989), “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century” (2005), and “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—and How It Can Renew America” (2008). Today, he writes regularly about clean energy in addition to his coverage of foreign affairs—moving the issues from niche policy conversations to kitchen table issues connected to jobs, quality of life, and community wellbeing.

In his decades-long career, Friedman’s mastery of making complex issues accessible has continued to captivate global audiences—which is exactly what we need to build solidarity across sectors, geographies, and divides in service of a brighter future.  The addition of Tom to McKnight’s board of directors reflects just one of many steps we’re taking to use all tools in our toolbox to bring about a more just, creative, and abundant future. With bold new leaders, a higher charitable payout, strong partnerships, and a new, community-and-planet sustaining office space, we are building a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

“For decades, Tom has helped us make sense of the forces shaping our world—from globalization and climate change to the fragility of our democracy—helping us see not just where we’ve been, but what we can build together. We are honored to welcome him to our Board at a time when his clarity and courage are so needed.”– TONYA ALLEN

“At the heart of Thomas Friedman’s work, you see a belief in our fundamental freedoms and our responsibility to protect them—and that is where we must anchor all of our work in this moment of challenge,” said Tonya Allen, president of McKnight. “For decades, Tom has helped us make sense of the forces shaping our world—from globalization and climate change to the fragility of our democracy—helping us see not just where we’ve been, but what we can build together. We are honored to welcome him to our Board at a time when his clarity and courage are so needed.”

“I’m honored to be joining the McKnight Foundation as it meets a moment of fear and division with clear-eyed urgency,” said Thomas Friedman. “From pushing the philanthropic sector to unite in advance to protect fundamental freedoms, to building on the spirit of ingenuity and shared purpose that’s long defined my home state of Minnesota, McKnight is an organization that is having a national and global impact through its place-based strengths and long track record.”

McKnight is a nearly 75-year-old family foundation with a 12-person board that includes fourth-generation family members. In more recent years, the board has evolved to include noted community members who bring valuable expertise and perspectives to help advance our mission.

“We believe Thomas Friedman will be an exceptionally strong partner contributing to our collective conversations and thoughtful debates,” said Ted Staryk, McKnight Foundation board chair. “In this complex and dynamic world, it’s critical that we have board members who can help us see beyond what’s immediately in front of us and also ground global and national developments and opportunities at the local, place-based level.”

About the McKnight Foundation: McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.