Lara Griffin is the founder of Grounded Practice Consulting, LLC, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm that specializes in work with youth-work professionals seeking to do meaningful work in the world. Lara provides customized support to youth-serving organizations to feel grounded in their values and connected to structures that support their work. The primary services of Grounded Practice include: data and evaluation, …
Julie Richards brings nearly 20 years of leadership, curriculum design, staff training/development, and program implementation through evaluation to conversations rooted in equitable family and youth development. Professional experiences across juvenile justice, children’s mental health, and public and private education, have given Julie the comprehensive lens necessary to help organizations create equitable and sustainable programming. She holds a bachelor’s degree from …
Elsa Swenson is the Program Manager of Home Free Community Program at Missions Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. She has worked with victim/survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse for 10 years providing legal advocacy, emotional support, and working towards …
Marius J. Massie is a nationally recognized trainer, organizational consultant, and founder of Maximum 1™, a framework ecosystem built to help leaders and teams stay steady, relationally strong, and effective when the work gets hard. With more than 20 years of experience across K–12 education, youth‑serving organizations, and leadership development, he helps teams see the invisible patterns that drive burnout, …
Katie Olson is the Director of Training in the Institute to Transform Child Protection at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Katie develops and implements training curricula focused on mandatory reporting, trauma and resiliency in legal systems, parent representation, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and practical skills for professionals in child welfare and related fields. She is also an adjunct faculty, …
Dr. Verna Cornelia Price has consulted for over 20 years as a human potential expert specializing in personal power, leadership and communicating across cultures. She is the co-founder along with her husband, Brother Shane Price, of the Power of People Leadership Institute and the founder of Girls in Action (renamed Girls Taking Action). Dr Verna began her career as a …
Adam Arnold, MA, LMFT, LADC, is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in St. Paul, MN. Adam works clinically with adolescents and children as well as survivors of spiritual abuse. He has worked professionally in school settings, summer camps, after school programs, arts organizations, athletic settings, day treatment centers, correctional facilities, and residential treatment centers. Combining his passions for healing and the …
A.J. has served in many roles within the youth services field, from juvenile justice officer, residential care staff to school administrator. Mr. Rinaldi has devoted nearly two decades to youth care and family services with a track record for creating successful behavior management systems and adding value to professional development. He is an independent certified coach, trainer, and speaker with the …
