Lived Experience Leaders

Our flagship program amplifies and supports changemakers to create the change they want to see in their community. The program welcomed its first cohort in 2020.

Spring 2024 programs

Here are the upcoming dates for our ongoing Lived Experience Leaders workshop series, focused on community changemaking. All events are free and open to all, and refreshments are included!

Fri February 16, 6-8pm | Stammtisch: an informal get-together about community changemaking

Wed March 13, 3-5pm | Entrepreneurship panel in partnership with Red Wing Ignite and Project FINE

Tue March 26, 6-8pm | Workshop: Getting involved in local government

Tue April 16, 6-8pm | Workshop: Nonprofit boards and community roles

Fri April 26, 6-8pm | Stammtisch: an informal get-together about community changemaking

Tue June 4, 6-8pm | Workshop: Media and marketing for changemaking

All events located at Engage Winona, 119 E 3rd St. Details may change, so check our social media for updates!

Lived Experience Leaders deepens and diversifies Winona’s pool of community leaders.

The cohort program provides training and resources to amplify voices and support changemaking ideas of folks across Winona whose diverse lived experiences have given them unique and powerful expertise to create equitable change for Winona.

The program was designed with this vision of change: Diverse community members with lived experience owning their personal stories and journeys by reframing past challenges as gifting them with superhero talents to serve others in similar situations, and then receiving support to create community change focused on helping others with similar lived experiences, by providing mentorship, support, and addressing both the common and unique barriers to access and participation they face.

The cohort participates in immersive gatherings and workshops over 3-4 months. Each member then creates a plan for their community change project or idea (something they’re working on and want to grow, or something new), and is supported and resourced through the Leaders’ Incubator Lab with guidance, mentorship, materials, small financial support and connections, while continuing monthly group gatherings and checkins.

All participants receive a meaningful stipend that simply honors their participation, have opportunities to receive direct financial support for their project, are provided consistent participation resources like childcare and transportation, and receive ongoing mentorship, support and resources.

Is this for me?

Lived Experience Leaders is designed to meet you where you’re at. Some questions to consider:

  • Is there a part of your story or background that’s special – and may also have led to difficult experiences that have revealed a need for local change?

    • This could be: Race, ethnicity, gender, age, poverty, childhood trauma, loss, addiction/recovery, or many others

  • Do you have a vision for community change you would be overjoyed to see – and a passion to create it?

  • And/or have you started a community project, but encountered resistance or challenges you could use help with?

  • Have you tried to get involved in the community but didn’t feel welcome, or weren’t sure where to connect?

  • Have you felt – or feel – like a newcomer or an outsider in Winona?

  • Have you wanted, or looked for, a relatable mentor in Winona who has a similar lived experience?

  • Are you able to commit about 25-30 hours of time to a cohort leadership program across 3-4 months? Gatherings are scheduled at convenient times and locations, and participants are compensated and provided support for childcare, transportation and more.

  • Are you then able to commit time to developing a project or idea for community change, or growing what you’ve already created, over the next 3-4 months? You will receive mentorship, support and resources.

What is the program?

The program brings together up to 12 individuals from the Winona area with diverse lived experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. Each participant will be paid a stipend and provided financial and other resources to participate, and to pursue a community project of their creation. The program is designed and co-led by a team of diverse facilitators and coordinators.

LEARN: Community leadership workshops

  • Individual change: Unlock inner skills and capacities, develop a compassionate and sustaining heart for leading change

  • Community change: Planning, teambuilding, taking action, building power, overcoming challenges, managing conflict and politics, and more

  • Culturally competent: Design, skillbuilding, relationships

IMAGINE: Project, leadership, service role

  • Working one-on-one with each participant to imagine or develop an action for change, which could be a project or service role they’re passionate about, and rooted in their lived experience

CREATE: Develop, launch project or pursue role

  • Connections to relatable project guides

  • Consistent resources and support

  • One-on-one guidance

  • Small financial support

  • Train participants in telling their own story in ways that amplify their voice and generate support for themselves and their work

  • And more!

Interested?

Applications open annually in the summer. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming ways to get involved!

Thank you to our sponsors

Thank you to WNB Financial for sponsoring Lived Experience Leaders! Their sponsorship helps us provide supports like childcare, transportation, and technology to reduce barriers to participation.

Thank you to Merchants Bank and Eagles Club #1243 for their sponsorship of Lived Experience Leaders!