This group, composed of leaders of the largest community institutions, meets quarterly and provides key leadership to Northfield Promise. Champions are committed to using their “organizational muscle” to advocate for Northfield Promise and access resources to help achieve Action Team plans.

• Elizabeth Child, Rice County Area United Way, Director
• Krista Danner, Northfield Area Family YMCA Executive Director
• Natalie Draper, Northfield Public Library Director
• Gretchen Ehresmann, WINGS Board
• Mark Elliott, Northfield Police Chief
• Sandi Gerdes, Laura Baker Services Association Executive Director
• Clarice Grabau, Northfield City Council
• Joe Hargis, Carleton College Associate Vice President for External Relations
• Matt Hillmann, Northfield Public Schools Superintendent
• Ben Martig, City of Northfield City Administrator
• Rev. Rachel McIver Morey, Northfield Area Interfaith Association
• Hassel Morrison, St. Olaf College Vice President for Student Life
• Lynne Pederson, FiftyNorth Executive Director
• Lisa Peterson, Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO
• Rhonda Pownell, City of Northfield Mayor
• Julie Pritchard, Northfield Public Schools, School Board Chair
• Deb Purfeerst, Rice County Public Health Director
• Simon Tyler, Prairie Creek Community School Director
• Steve Underdahl, Northfield Hospital & Clinics Chief Executive Officer
• Scott Wopata, Community Action Center Executive Director

This group is composed of committed community partners, HCI board members and the chairs of the Action Teams. The committee oversees day-to-day efforts, assists with framework development, leads communications efforts and recruits members and stakeholders.

• Erin Bailey, Northfield Public Schools Community Services Director
• Carrie Duba, Northfield Public Schools, PreK-12 Systems and Instructional Coach, Northfield Public Schools
• Mark Ensrud, Northfield High School Guidance Counselor
• Kris Estenson, St. Olaf College Piper Center for Vocation and Career Associate Director (Steering Committee Chair)
• Meleah Follen, Healthy Community Initiative Youth Engagement Coordinator
• Candace Godfrey, Northfield Promise Alumni Coordinator
• Hope Langston, Northfield Public Schools  Director of Instructional Services
• Sandy Malecha, Healthy Community Initiative, Senior Director
• Rachel Matney, Accelerate Northfield Co-founder
• Connie Nelson, Retired Northfield Public Schools teacher
• Zach Pruitt, Healthy Community Initiative Executive Director
• Kristin Stets, Northfield Promise Connectedness Action Team Co-Chair
• Laura Turek, Northfield Promise Reading Team Coordinator

Action Teams are composed of individuals or institutions interested in the Action Team’s focus area. Each team is charged with developing a plan to help see community change in 1 or 2 of the Northfield Promise benchmarks.

Active Action Teams include:

• Ready for Kindergarten
• Reading
• Career and College Readiness
• Social-Emotional Action Team

Teams are open to anyone who is interested in being involved. Contact us to learn more and sign up!

Data Team members have expertise in evaluation and data analysis. They work with the Action Teams to review and analyze data to assist each team’s work. Data Team members also help compile data for the annual Northfield Promise Report to the Community.

Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) serves as the backbone for Northfield Promise, providing the staff support for Northfield Promise. For a list of HCI Board members and staff, visit here