Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Conner.
Hi Melanie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Coming to Rainbow Village in 2017 truly was a “God thing.” I have always had a passion for doing work that empowers women. As CEO, I want to ensure that families experiencing homelessness have the confidence to take the first step on their journey to self-sufficiency. But that’s not all I want. I want all families to have access to affordable childcare, health care, and economic independence to break free from poverty and pursue their dreams. My focus is on helping the families and the organization evolve and be purpose-driven.
Drawing on my extensive experience obtained through my work with corporations, government, and nonprofits, I feel that I bring a broad perspective to the table and I work to impact lives by providing a safe place to live, a caring, supportive, and qualified staff, and the resources and training that they need to improve their quality of life.
I value spending time with my family, and I am keenly aware it is a privilege that I try never to take for granted. I have been married to the love of my life for 31 years. I am the mother to two tall, dark and handsome adult sons and one little fur baby.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Two major challenges for our organization are:
1. More demand than supply – there are many more families in need than we have the capacity to assist.
2. Affordable housing options – When our families are ready to move on to the next point of their journey, they are faced with barriers such as the need to make three times the rent in income to qualify for housing. While many of the families can afford to pay the rent, the requirement that only 30% of your income can be used for housing is outdated. With the sky-rocketing rental costs in the area, that is no longer a viable option not only for the families we serve but for many people in the community including teachers, police officers and other essential workers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rainbow Village?
Mission: To transform the lives of families experiencing homelessness by providing help, hope, housing and healing in order to instill initiative, self-development and accountability that will foster meaningful growth in the lives of all who encounter Rainbow Village.
Vision: We strive to be change-makers who are moving the needle towards ending homelessness through educational, support-driven, compassionate programming that embraces unique paths and sustainable progress.
Rainbow Village started as a small ministry of Christ Episcopal Church in Norcross in 1991 in a duplex serving two families experiencing homelessness. Since that time, we have expanded our footprint to include a 2.5 acre campus in Duluth with 30 individual apartments, a Family Service Center, and a Community Center that houses an after school program, space for life skills classes, a fully equipped kitchen and dining hall, and a playground.
We recognize that homelessness is a traumatic experience and that in order to heal, it requires both guidance and time. For our residents, the journey to self-sufficiency requires working through years or in many cases, generational traumas. These traumas are related to homelessness, poverty and for many, domestic violence. Safe, affordable housing is the foundation for the healing process. But what we offer is so much more than housing. Residents of Rainbow Village Aspire program have a safe community where dignity, self-respect, and hope are restored. We strive not to work for our families but rather with our families and to truly listen to their personalized needs and guide them to wholeness.
Our Success Team guides families toward economic self-sufficiency utilizing an individual-centric model that takes different goals and starting points into consideration. This tool allows residents to see their progress and build confidence in the continuation of their work in their own journey. The staff works collaboratively with the adults in the family to help them increase their income, decrease debt, and increase savings.
And we could never forget about the children! Our youngest members of the community who are not enrolled in other afterschool programs are enrolled in the Rainbow Village Academy. The Academy provides academic enrichment social skill development and serves as a safe haven for children from elementary to high school age. The Academy also supports our children during digital learning days, school breaks, and summer camp.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
There is so much more that I could say about Rainbow Village! It is truly a passion and it is where I find my purpose. I would be more than happy to share more information if requested.
Contact Info:
- Email: mconner@rainbowvillage.org
- Website: https://rainbowvillage.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowvillageinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowVillageInc/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RainbowVillage1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
