A Year of Community, Shared
January 2026 News
Dear community,
The past few weeks have been difficult for many of us in Minnesota. Many people are experiencing fear, uncertainty, and stress. At the same time, many people are also stepping up to offer care, support, and action in ways that align with their values and core beliefs. When communities are stressed, they show their strength -- people coming together, refusing to be torn apart.
In that spirit, we're excited to share our 2025 Annual Report next month. It tells a story with a familiar theme: staying grounded through tough times and moving forward with care. Save Wednesday, February 25 in your calendar, and find details at the bottom of this newsletter.
We’re grateful to everyone who made this work possible, and we can’t wait to share more!
- Marcia Ratliff, Executive Director
Community Builders Book Club
Our Community Builders Book Club is back! We kicked off our second season on January 7 with Eric Liu’s You’re More Powerful Than You Think.
The book club meets monthly at 4:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, now through May, at Winona Public Library. Our next gathering is February 4, when we’ll take a closer look at This Is Where You Belong, by Melody Warnick. Everyone is welcome, and reading the book is not required. You can learn more, register, and request your copy of the book here—we’d love to have you join us!
Lived Experience Leaders Workshops: Entrepreneurship Edition
Have you ever dreamed of starting a small business? Join us this winter for a three-part workshop series all about small business and entrepreneurship! Presented by the Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center in partnership with Engage Winona, these sessions are designed to give community members practical tools, fresh ideas, and meaningful connections as they explore starting or growing a business.
Tuesday, February 17, 6-7:30 p.m. — Business Funding Made Simple: What Lenders Want & How to Prepare
Tuesday, March 10, 6-7:30 p.m. — Essential Legal Basics for Running a Business
Tuesday, March 31, 6-7:30 p.m. — Good Food, Smart Business
We’re grateful to the SBDC, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, and Target for making this work possible! This series is part of our Lived Experience Leaders program, which supports emerging community leaders and entrepreneurs.
All workshops will be held at theWinona County Historical Society. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. You can learn more and register here.
Celebrating Creative Community Leaders
Art can be a powerful way to build and engage a community. Our Creative Community Leaders program gives emerging artists access to mentorship and a stipend to implement a small community arts project, and in February, we're excited to recognize the work of our 3 participating artists for 2025-2026!
Join us to celebrate artists Carrie Frederich, Co, and Kris Hipps on Friday, Feb. 20. This evening will showcase their creative mini-projects and include a short program at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and all are welcome. Learn more about the event here.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Save the Date: Annual Report to the Community
You are invited to join us for our Annual Report to the Community on Wednesday, February 25 from 4-6 p.m. Stop by for this open-house style gathering, with a short program at 5 p.m. where we’ll share highlights from 2025 and what’s ahead in the year to come. We’d love to celebrate with you!