June 2025 News
A message from the director
Dear supporters,
At Engage Winona, we believe a thriving community is something we build together, not something that just happens. We started in 2016 as a volunteer effort, then became a nonprofit organization the following year because you, our community, shaped a vision for a vibrant future. You wanted to be part of communities where we all belong, connect, and contribute - right here in Winona County.
This year, Engage Winona is experiencing a particularly challenging funding landscape, as grantors adjust their strategies in the face of federal uncertainty. We anticipate a 25% shortfall in our budget this year. As part of our response, we had to reduce costs and end some contracts early. We are saying goodbye to Dan Wilson, who will close out his policy assistant role with us at the end of June.
Moving forward, we are asking for support to ensure that we can continue to build community participation through our programs, including Lived Experience Leaders, Winona Area Kitchen Table, Winona Together conversations, block parties, and a whole lot more.
With your help, we can continue building capacity in more than 1,000 community members this year. We can ensure that people who have faced challenges in our communities have a seat at the table in crafting solutions - and taking action to achieve them. And we can build stronger, more resilient communities that can weather storms together.
Throughout the summer, we are asking you to support us on a new level. If you’ve been a fan of Engage Winona, make a donation. If you’re already a donor, upgrade to a monthly gift. No gift is too small - a monthly gift of $5 helps support our core operations and ensure that we are available when you need us. Our goal for the month of June is $5,000 in community support, and we know we can get there together.
Engage Winona is committed to being here for the long haul, and we are doing everything we can as the situation unfolds. We are deeply appreciative of your support - you make it possible for us to bring the community together and cultivate a better future for everyone.
- Marcia Ratliff, Executive Director
Help us raise $5,000 this month!
After the Steamboat Days parade, swing by and join us on Sunday, June 15th from 2:30–5:30 PM at Two Fathoms Brewing for a H3O Jazz Jam to support Engage Winona!
Your gift makes an extra impact at this event: The first $1,000 will be matched by a generous donor, plus H30 and Two Fathoms will contribute proceeds, tripling your impact. Come for the tunes, stay for the cause! We’ll have homemade snacks for sale, craft beer on tap, and plenty of good vibes to go around. Come hungry, bring your friends.
If you can't be there, you can still help us reach our June goal of $5,000! Donate here today.
Winona Together is back June 10th!
What do communities and gardens have in common? Let's talk about it! Join us for June's Winona Together conversation on Tuesday, June 10 from 5–7 P.M. at Peter’s Biergarten.
This isn’t a gardening workshop—it’s a space to connect. We’ll be using “gardening” as a metaphor for what matters: building community, sharing stories, and strengthening our sense of belonging. FREE, no RSVP needed, all ages welcome.
United Way of Southeast Minnesota is our event sponsor for this evening! UWSEMN staff will be serving as volunteers, as well as supporting refreshments - we can't thank them enough! Another huge thank you to our community series sponsors, including Fastenal, Coca-Cola of Winona, Peter's Biergarten, and Winona Community Foundation for all of their ongoing support of the Winona Together event series!
Rooted in Community, Ready to Lead: Honoring the 2024–2025 Lived Experience Leaders Cohort
With deep gratitude, pride, and a few joyful tears, we celebrated the graduation of our 2024–2025 Lived Experience Leaders cohort on Saturday, June 7! Over the past nine months, this remarkable group of community leaders has walked alongside one another—growing, learning, and building community, together.
Over the duration of the cohort, participants explored how to lead with authenticity, how to tell their stories with clarity and courage, and how to sustain themselves to be able to be present in their community work. Along the way, they built not just skills, but deep relationships—fostering a community of support that many had long been seeking.
A graduate shared, “This program helped me understand myself and my work in a new way—as a community artist, someone who is deeply connected to others and can help shape my small part of the world in a meaningful and positive way.” Their words reflect what so many in the cohort discovered: that their lived experience and expertise is vital—and that leadership grows stronger when it’s grounded in community.
Facilitator Sarah Johnson spoke to this vision, saying, “The Lived Experience Leaders (LEL) cohort provides practical skills to leaders in our community who have invaluable, innovative insights into what can build a healthier, better connected and more resilient Winona. We are better together, and our LEL are a crucial part of building a community where everyone has what they need to be able to care for ourselves and each other.”
We are so proud of our graduates—their courage, their wisdom, and the community they’ve built together. And we know this is just the beginning! Join us on Monday, September 9 from 5–7 p.m. for Winona Together – Leading With Lived Experience, where we’ll continue to celebrate this year’s cohort, learn about their work and initiatives, and honor the leadership that grows from lived experience.
A heartfelt thanks to Miller Ingenuity for their generous support of this program and the powerful community it helps make possible!
Kitchen Table Renters Rights Event
Renting in Winona? Don’t miss the free Renters Know Your Rights Workshop on Wednesday, July 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. at Sobieski Lodge!
Presented by Engage Winona, Habitat for Humanity of Winona County, and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), this workshop will cover essential topics like rent increases, repairs, eviction protections, and more—practical info every renter should know. Free dinner and refreshments will be served, and kids' activities will be available. This event is open to all!
You're Invited: Summer Block Parties with Engage Winona
Get ready for some community fun, Engage Winona is throwing two neighborhood block parties this summer, and everyone’s welcome!
Maplewood Townhomes
Tuesday, August 5 | 4–6 PM
East End Rec Center (co-hosted with Winona Park & Rec)
Friday, August 29 | 3–7 PM
Both events are free and packed with all-ages fun—games, food, bubbles, and plenty of chances to connect with your neighbors. Local organizations will be there too, sharing info, resources, and ways to get involved in your community! Thank you to our sponsors and partners for these events: Winona Eagles, Winona Health, and the City of Winona.
SAVE THE DATE! Engage Winona's Annual Fundraiser October 21
Mark your calendar for an evening of connection and community! Join us on Tuesday, October 21 at The Parlour Room for Engage Winona’s annual fundraiser. It’ll be a night to celebrate the work we’ve done together—and look ahead to what’s next. More details coming soon!
We are seeking business sponsors for this event. If that's you or someone you know, please reach out to us at engage@engagewinona.org or 507-312-9133.
Thank you, Dan!
Dan's last day with Engage Winona will be June 30, moved up from December due to funding challenges. We are so grateful to Dan for his service at Engage Winona since May 2023. In his part-time policy assistant role, Dan was instrumental in getting the Winona Area Kitchen Table program launched, completing our move to 119 E Third St, and updating payroll processes as the organization grew. We will miss him, and we wish him well in his next adventures.