Highlighting Connie Lewis, Board Chair of Small Sums

One of our nonprofit clients, Small Sums, is dedicated to outfitting workers experiencing housing instability with the required work items needed to start and keep a new job. They are working on a strategic plan with us. March is International Women’s Month so we wanted to showcase their Board Chair, Connie Lewis, one of the many powerful women leaders we have the honor to help. 

“I am retired but remain excited by the work I do every day.  I value the opportunity to work with an organization doing direct service as well as one that is working for public policy changes.  The work allows me to be part of helping people that are in need now as well as working to make policy changes that build a more just future for everyone.” 

Connie Lewis hails from a small farming town in southwestern Minnesota. She has lived in St. Paul most of her adult life and has two adult children.  She’s been married to her husband for 37 years. Highlights of her career were working for Paul Wellstone during the time he served as Minnesota’s US Senator and serving as an executive at the Planned Parenthood organization in this region. She is currently involved with two Minnesota nonprofit organizations as board chair of Small Sums and board co-chair of Clean Elections Minnesota.  Small Sums helps individuals experiencing housing instability with required work items needed to start and keep a job.  Clean Elections does policy work on voting rights and campaign finance reform. 

Q: What exciting events have happened since you have begun as Board Chair this year at Small Sums?

A.  I love working with Small Sums and know the work matters to people trying to overcome barriers to starting and keeping their jobs.  I’m excited about an innovation that our Executive Director, Andrea Kish-Bailey has introduced – Community Days.  Community Days are an opportunity for volunteers to share their skills with our workers – skills like interviewing for jobs, setting up a LinkedIn page, resume support, headshots and haircuts. I loved being part of the community day and enjoyed doing mock job interviews with workers.  It is a great way to engage the community and supplement the support given to our workers.

Q: How do you show up as a woman in your work? 

A I try to show up as someone who is kind and listens to people. I like working in teams to solve problems and accomplish goals.  I hope I help create an atmosphere in which everybody feels respected and an important part of the team.  I encourage those I work with to step up to be leaders when needed.

Q: Who is your shero?

I have several! 

• Planned Parenthood staff:  I had the opportunity to work at Planned Parenthood for a dozen years. The people I worked with are sheroes.  These are people that go to work each day, facing protestors blocking their way but determined to provide sexual and reproductive health care to all seeking that care.

• My daughter, Kelsey: She’s inspiring to me. She has embraced sobriety and has created a sober community around her. An important part of life for everyone is facing the hard stuff we all experience - I really admire that she has faced her problem and is now helping others as well. 

• Andrea Kish-Bailey, ED of Small Sums: She is an incredibly effective leader who has spent her whole career working in the helping profession – whether to help people facing food insecurity or homelessness, etc. I admire her skill, determination and immense compassion. 

Q: What lessons have you learned that can help other female leaders? 

Trust your instincts and do your homework.  Remember that everyone has a story and deserves respect. Creating an atmosphere that honors each person allows good things to emerge. Don’t be discouraged by mistakes, or things that didn’t turn out as you’d hoped.  We don't always get it right and the most important thing is to keep going.  Go onto the next thing building on what you’ve learned from the experience.  And remember to embrace change and new ideas without fear. 

Q: What does justice look like to you?

Everybody has the same chance to create a life that works for them - that means gender justice, economic justice, and racial justice. We all have a responsibility to step up and help create a world that works for all and work at keeping it.  Senator Wellstone captured justice in the words he often spoke:, “we all do better when we all do better”.   

Q: What are you most excited about with SS in the coming year?

I’m very excited about the strategic planning work we’re doing with Collectivity. We’re looking at our organization in a more in-depth way than ever before. The enthusiasm for the process is shared by staff and the board.  We’re all eager to map out our future, meet the challenges and the opportunities so we can continue to be there for people that face daunting life circumstances as they move into the workforce.

Want to be part of a Small Sums Community Day? Their next one is on June 13, 3-7 PM  (Follow them here!)