Rebuilding Together Minnesota Supports a Veteran in Need in Partnership with Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin, Accessibility Ramp

Last month, Rebuilding Together Minnesota partnered with Lockheed Martin to provide critical accessibility improvements for a Cannon Falls veteran, Terry, and his wife, Gwen. 

At just a mere 17 years old in 1973, Terry joined the military, celebrating his 18th birthday in basic training. He had learned from his father the importance of respect and a good work ethic, and so he set out to do his part for his country. 

He served 13 years with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, earning the position of Staff Sergeant and Radio Teletype Team Chief. Terry trained folks in the proper use of military radios, and also spent many years as a radio operator in the M.A.R.S. (Military Affiliate Radio System) program. He later retired after a career as a local maintenance electrician, and he and Gwen recently celebrated their 30th anniversary together.

Recently, Terry’s health has started to decline. After learning he would need to have surgery to amputate one of his lower legs, the couple began their search for access ramps so that Terry could be discharged and return home safely.

They found themselves in a tough situation, as so many of our clients have. Since he and his wife rely largely on Social Security to pay the bills, they struggled to find affordable access ramps. 

In an effort to get Terry’s care and return home handled in a timely manner, they decided on a rental ramp that required a quarter of his monthly income to maintain. They knew their situation was unsustainable, and then they heard about Rebuilding Together Minnesota.

Thanks to financial support from Lockheed Martin and at least 10 RTMN volunteers, our team was able to install a brand new – and most importantly, free – access ramp for Terry and Gwen. 

“A tremendous weight has been lifted,” said Terry. “I am so humbled and thankful for the Rebuilding Together Minnesota project, and because of them, I now look forward to staying safely and independently in our home for many more years.”

Every day, we see the very real impact our services have for our clients. Not only does this ramp support Terry and Gwen’s ability to remain independent and connected to their community, but it’s also one less thing they need to worry about paying for. We’re proud to support our older neighbors and veterans, and we thank Terry for his service!

Looking to the Future: Emily Ostercamp

employee headshot

We are thrilled to introduce Emily Ostercamp, our new Program Manager for Southwest Minnesota.

Emily previously worked with Rebuilding Together Minnesota on the programs team during her Americorps appointment, and we’re so excited to welcome her back. After finishing her appointment, Emily relocated to North Carolina and managed similar programming in the community of Wilmington. She’s since returned home to Southwest Minnesota, purchasing property in Jackson County.

After several years of progressive experience in managing programs, direct client support, project management, and volunteer support, we are excited to bring Emily’s expertise to our growing work in the Southwest area. You’ll see her around at local community events, networking with partners, and serving the needs across the five-county region.

We are confident that Emily will make significant contributions to our team, and we look forward to continuing to expand our service of Southwest Minnesotans with the no-cost modifications and critical repairs they deserve! Emily’s unique skills and enthusiasm for community service are a perfect match for our organization’s vision to keep more families in the homes and communities they love.

Welcome back to the team, Emily!

Galen Kauffman’s Retirement: Celebrating a Legacy of Service

Rebuilding Together Staff

It’s with both gratitude and admiration that we announce the retirement of Galen Kauffman from his role with Rebuilding Together Minnesota.

As a cherished member of the community and an integral part of our organization, Galen has profoundly impacted the lives of low-income homeowners across Southwest Minnesota through his dedication and unwavering commitment to safe and stable housing. His passion for service and community-building has set a remarkable example, fostering a spirit of cooperation that continues to inspire us all.

We are committed to carrying forward the values and dedication that Galen has embodied, ensuring that this legacy of compassion and community support endures for years to come. His contributions will always be a guiding light in our continued efforts to enrich the lives of those we serve.

We extend our deepest thanks to Galen for his years of service and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Students Consider their Future at our Workforce Development Summit

Workforce Development Summit

High school students face a difficult question that needs to be answered by the conclusion of their senior year: What happens next? For many, the traditional 4-year college path is an option that comes at too high a cost.

Thanks to the support from Thulani Jwaco and Jeff Trinh-Sy at Vuyo Community Partners, we held our very first Workforce Development Summit on March 17th at St. Paul College, where 54 students from 12 high schools in the Twin Cities metro area decided to spend their Spring Break learning more about the construction industry.

The Summit offered an opportunity for young adults from various backgrounds who were either already interested in working in trade fields, unsure of what they want to do next, or simply interested in finding out what other options exist a chance to take control of their future and decide what’s best for them.

“I’ve been told that the trades are not that interesting and pretty bad, so I wanted my own opinion on that,” said An Hoang, a senior at Central High School.

Students listened to a panel of speakers share their insights as leaders in the construction industries and had any questions about working in the field answered. The panel consisted of Martin Garcia of Four Brothers Construction, Marvin Smith of the National Association of Minority Contractors, Johnnie Burns of the City of Minneapolis Contract Compliance Division, and was led by the CEO of Makee Company, Lynn Pyngol.

Breakout sessions were held in workshop classrooms where students participated in hands-on learning experiences for three specific trades: carpentry, electrical, and sheet metal. The carpentry session was led by Heidi Wagner from Goodwill Easter Seals, and St. Paul College Instructors Keith Setley and Viang Paborriboon led the electrical and sheet metal sessions.

When asked what attending the event meant to the students, they told us:

“It’s an exploration day… I get to see other people get interested in it {trade work}. I get to see who I could possibly be working with in the future. Today I wanted to do this trip to talk to these speakers — I wanted to talk to the people who have done these things, people who are in the industry. I wanted to make connections,” said Kanyle Crawford of Gateway High School.

“It means taking a step towards my future, establishing connections. There’s amazing people who want the best for us, and I just really want to establish some connections so I can have an easier life and more fulfilling life,” said Hoang.

Here at Rebuilding Together Minnesota, we understand that revitalizing communities means investing in them, too. We’re delighted to see such enthusiasm come from the students who attended the event and are excited by what future opportunities exist to support young adults in our community entering the workforce.

We’d also like to thank St. Paul College for hosting and partnering in this event, Black Ladder Restoration for their sponsorship, and each of our panelist speakers and instructors for taking the time to share their knowledge with the students.

By coming together and sharing industry tips, best practices, and lived experiences, we have the power to set the next generation of contractors up for success. Together, we’re capable of creating a lasting impact on our community.