Making a Difference Recognition
Presented by the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative

In recognition and celebration of community members who positively influence the lives of Northfield youth, the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI), in conjunction with the Northfield News, presents the Making Difference recognition. Making a Difference is a way to celebrate and recognize the people and groups who invest in Northfield youth.

Carey Tinkelenberg
Carey Tinkelenberg is the June recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Tinkelenberg is the founder, executive director, and head coach of the Northfield Skating School. A Carleton College alumna, Tinkelenberg saw the need for a skating program in Northfield and opened the skating school in 2005. Participants range in age from 4 years old to adult.

Along with her commitment to the skating school, Tinkelenberg collaborates with the Girls Scouts, Northfield Dance Academy, and Shattuck St. Mary Skating Academy to offer additional youth programming. She is a board member of Northfield IceNow and a member of the Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative.

“Carey has the unique talent of building the children’s self-esteem and getting the most out of them,” said a parent who nominated Carey. ”Her love of the sport truly shows through her patience and dedication to help each student learn. We are lucky to have people like Carey to work with our youth! "

Lee Murray
Lee Murray is the May recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Lee has been an employee with the Northfield School District for the past 19 years. She is currently is an educational assistant at Bridgewater Elementary. Lee impacts others with her enthusiastic philosophy that “learning is exciting”. In nominating Lee for this award, a co-worker describes her as “an incredible role model for all of us and without a doubt very deserving of this recognition.”

During her tenure with the Northfield School District, Lee has also worked at Greenvale Park Elementary. She provides a variety of support to the students and staff at Bridgewater including managing the playground, working in the classrooms, testing coordinator and monitoring the parking lot before and after school. “I am honored to work for the Northfield School District,” said Lee. “I love my job working with all the students and staff. I couldn’t think of anything better to do.”

“Lee is an incredible person who works tirelessly to do the best job for the students of Bridgewater,” said Nancy Antoine, Bridgewater Elementary Principal. “She is a true professional and a gem to have on staff! "

The Ollin Ayacaxtly/Aztec Dance Circle is the March/April recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Ollin Ayacaxtly is a Northfield based traditional Aztec dance circle that integrates more than 20 students from Northfield Middle and High Schools. The Aztec Dance Circle provides local youth the opportunity to learn their history and culture and also use their creativity to make traditional outfits, shields and rattles.

The group started over a year ago with Jesus Torres and the Centro Campesino’s Youth Committee. Torres is the leader of the circle with the local assistance of Clarita Kell and the guidance of Susana de Leon in Minneapolis, and Aztec Dance General Chief Pedro Espana in Morelos, Mexico. The group has performed in different communities across the state and also participates in local events, special days for the Latino community and other traditional ceremonies during the year.

“The Aztec Dance Circle provides a wonderful opportunity for our Latino students to develop leadership skills, and work together to create an amazing dance performance,” said Marnie Thompson, Northfield High School Assistant Principal. “We could not be more proud of them when they perform for audiences locally and around the state. They are role models for their peers and younger students.”

Northfield resident Jim Christensen is the January/February recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Jim has been a mentor for the Connected Kids mentoring program since 2005. He embodies the true spirit of mentoring – the willingness to give of himself, expecting nothing in return.

He understands that when you first show respect to kids, it is very often returned. Even with an active schedule as a local business owner, college assistant athletic coach and involved community member, Jim has no problem finding time to spend with his young mentee. He will be the first to acknowledge that he gains as much from mentoring as he gives.

Students in the Northfield High School Focus 10/Social Studies and English class are the November/December recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

The Focus 10 class is facilitated by Sarah Swan-McDonald and Bubba Sullivan. The goal of the program is to help students get "back on track" academically and gain confidence in their abilities.  Another goal of the program is to introduce students to their role in the community as volunteers – now as a teen and eventually as an adult.

The class completed a unit on homelessness both globally and locally. “I was surprised at the number of homeless people in Northfield,” said one student. “I didn’t know there were homeless people here.” As a result, they put together fleece blankets for the Northfield Community Action Center annual Christmas Sharing Program and planned to assist with the set up of the program.

“Any opportunity we have to incorporate service into our program is an asset to our students, our program, and ultimately the community,” said Sarah Swan-McDonald, Focus 10 instructor. “Service gives our students a chance to share what they have to offer and to participate with their positive energy and enthusiasm. Once they really learn about any given need, they instantly want to do something to make a difference.”

Jorge Zuccolotto is the October recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.
Jorge is an exceptional community leader and positive role model for many Northfield youth. He volunteers time and energy to the Northfield Soccer Association and the Mexican adult soccer league, as well as serving as the head boys’ varsity soccer coach for the past six years. He has the unique ability to connect with youth regardless of social or economic barriers. A true mentor, Jorge encourages youth to be confident and strive to do their best.

“Jorge is loved for his loyalty, generosity of spirit, sense of fun and inexhaustible willingness to work for others,” said Simon Tyler, Assistant Boys’ Varsity Coach and friend. “In his capacity as a key soccer figure in Northfield, Jorge has broken down cultural barriers and brought people together in the Northfield community.”

The Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) is the September recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award”. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Founded in 1996, the NUY is among the longest-running youth-run youth centers in the country. Its mission is to empower and create a safe space and programs for youth. The Key, the NUY’s facility, is owned and run by the youth board, consisting of 13 young people, and assisted by Josh Hinnenkamp, NUY Executive Director. Membership is free for youth 12-20 years old.

NUY youth members are involved in creating, planning, and implementing a variety of programs, projects and events. Some of the programs facilitated by the NUY are Main Street Mentors, Skateboard Coalition, reading and writing workshops, cooking classes and weekly art projects. In addition, the Key is open daily as a safe, supervised place for youth to gather.

“The NUY creates a very respectful environment where kids come to be heard, to feel ownership and membership and to participate in programs that they design,” commented Sarah Kaul, NUY adult board member. “Being at the Key is like being in a tiny healthy community where people listen to each other, and help each other, and have fun doing it.”

An involved staff supports NUY youth members in gaining valuable leadership and organizational skills through civic involvement. As an example, this past summer, NUY identified a need and coordinated public meetings that brought together adults and youth to discuss substance abuse issues in the community and plan collaborative action steps to address these issues.

“The kids at the Key were prompt, responsive, mature, diplomatic and constructive. Their wisdom exceeds their ages,” said Dr. Jim Evans, who nominated NUY for the award.

The Cannon River Sportsmen’s Club has been a youth asset builder in the Northfield community for many years. The Sportsmen’s Club places an emphasis on providing meaningful experiences for youth and making them feel valued.
“The Cannon River Sportsman’s Club is a great partner in providing outdoor recreational opportunities to the Northfield community. Their work has enabled many youth to participate in camps, and programs that they may otherwise not have had the opportunity to take part in,” said Erin Mayberry, Recreation Program Coordinator, Northfield Public Schools, and Community Services Division. “It is their caring and compassion for youth that truly makes this organization stands out in the Northfield community.”

One example of the Sportsmen’s Club members’ dedication to youth is the “Introduce a Kid to Fishing” class. For three hours on a Saturday, members of the Sportsmen’s Club teach students about water safety, fish habitat, fishing equipment, and actual fishing. At the end of the class each participant is provided lunch and a tackle box full of equipment to continue practicing what he or she had learned. The classes taught by the Sportsmen’s Club offer youth the opportunity to learn a new skill and enjoy the outdoors. Members donate their time, knowledge and money to these youth activities.

The Cannon River Sportsmen’s Club provides support to a number of youth activities throughout the year including scholarships for youth interested in attending one of several camps at Eagle Bluff, an environmental learning center in southeastern Minnesota, and scholarships for special need students to attend an adaptive summer program through Project ABLE.

Pam Roberts is the July recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Making a Difference award. The award celebrates individuals and groups who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Pam has served as the Middle School Youth Center (MYSC) Site Leader since the fall of 2004. The MYSC, sponsored by the Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division, is a free, drop-in program open after school during the school year and throughout the summer months. Over 90 youth participated throughout the school year, with approximately 35 attending on any given day and over
50 participating this summer.
Pam has been an inspiration to the MYSC staff and youth. She leads with dedication and caring and engages college volunteers in daily activities as well as after-school tutoring.

Youth who attend the MYSC value the time she spends mentoring and treating each as an individual who has value. “Pam could be doing other things this summer, but instead she spends her time helping us stay out of trouble. She gives advice and puts a lot into the youth center so that we have a fun time,” said one Northfield Middle School student.

Pam works to foster responsibility and respect in the youth she interacts with. Working past her scheduled hours, she designs entertaining, meaningful and interesting programs and activities. She is respected by the Middle School staff and appreciated for her insights about middle school youth.

“Pam was concerned about a student in the after-school program this past school year and e-mailed all the student’s teachers to let them know her concerns and ask for help on behalf of the student,” said Barb Holm, Northfield’s Middles School Guidance Counselor. “Middle school staff responded and the student received the help needed.”   According to Pam’s supervisor, Susan Sanderson, Northfield Public Schools Community Services Youth Development Coordinator, the MSYC has become far more than a drop-in Center due to Pam’s positive and creative spirit.

“Pam has created an environment that is welcoming and supports the youth. She takes the time to connect with the youth one-on-one and believes they are an asset to our community,” added Sanderson. “Pam is continually looking for ways for the youth to share their gifts and talents with each other and the larger community.”