Welcome Staff!
We are excited to announce the new staff for the Folwell Neighborhood Association! You will be seeing our Communications and Outreach Associates around the neighborhood, supporting the events we are a part of and throwing, leading door knocking and outreach efforts and in all sorts of manners...
Mikile Baker
My name is Mikile Baker and I am excited to have been brought on to serve not only the Folwell Neighborhood Association but the people of Folwell. It is an honor to work in my community and with the beautiful residents of North Minneapolis. I have lived in North Minneapolis for over a year and prior to relocating to the area I would travel from Northeast Minneapolis to thirty-first and Penn to train at my current judo gym the renowned Doc's Gym. I am a twenty-six year old University student who attends Augsburg University where I am currently studying studio art and art history. Painting and charcoal are my forte and and passion and if I am not in the dojo or the classroom then I am most likely in front of the canvas. I believe that art can be both a tool for communication and expression and that it is something that everyone should be able to take part in. With a passion for the arts and volunteer work I currently serve with City of Lakes AmeriCorps where I teach art in the Minneapolis Public School District.
As a resident of North Minneapolis I want to bring attention to our awesome communities, neighborhoods, and community projects. To support and uplift new businesses as well as show continued support to the many institutions that we have here in our community such as Juxtaposition Arts, Cookie Cart, Venture North biking and cafe and many others. Folwell is a great example of that in its communal togetherness and residential pride and I am excited to work for a community that is dedicated to supporting not only its residence but its surrounding area!
You can reach Mikile at his Folwell email address mikile@folwell.org
Dani Tietjen
Hello Folwell, I’m Dani Tietjen! I have been a resident of Folwell for 16 years where I live with my husband and three kids. You may know me as an FNA board member, I am sad to leave the board but I am excited to work with you in this new capacity. I love the Northside because of the resiliency of her people and strength of her community. It feels a lot like my hometown of Detroit; beautiful and challenging, but not defeated. I moved to the Twin Cities to attend Concordia University where I graduated with a degree in Outreach Work. I love to travel and a spent year before college touring with a band doing youth and family ministry. After getting my degree I spent four years traveling as a Regional and National Events Director for Youth Encounter, a non-profit based here in the cities. After realizing my passion for storytelling and nurturing a creative and inspired life, I left my job and pursued a career as a public speaker/writer. The last 10 years I have spent traveling speaking, reflecting, and writing. I enjoy spending time organizing the Story Garden and other growing initiatives in Folwell and on the Northside. I am also very passionate about racial and economic justice, housing rights, and the healing for our collective bodies. I love being apart of this vibrant neighborhood and am humbled to be apart of the work building community power. If there is an hour to be spared, you would find me reading, cooking, biking, napping, or sharing a beverage with friends. Relationships are the foundation and heart beat of existence, and I look forward to investing in those relationships with you. See you on the block Folwell!
You can reach Dani at her Folwell email address danielle@folwell.org