Community

MNUFC was built around a clear set of core values: resilience, inclusivity, dedication, passion, teamwork and respect. At every home match, the L’Étoile Du Nord (Star of the North), presented by Target, is awarded at halftime to a community member who is actively embodying these values. We believe that by highlighting people who are making a positive difference in the area, we can help bolster their efforts and inspire more people to act in kind.

Past Award Recipients

Shennika Sudduth

Shennika Sudduth's journey in the human services field is marked by her unwavering commitment to uplifting and empowering youth, particularly those from the BIPOC community. Joining YouthLink as its Senior Director of Programs in December 2021, Shennika brought over two decades of invaluable experience and a profound dedication to her role. Shennika's mission at YouthLink is to build capacity, meet the needs of youth intentionally, and celebrate their successes. Under her leadership, YouthLink has strengthened its role as a catalyst for supportive services. the organization has significantly increased its capacity to support youth with mental and chemical health needs, decreased victimization rates, provided alternatives to detention, and eliminated barriers to housing, education, and employment. Shennika Sudduth's tireless efforts and profound impact on the community serve as an inspiration to all, exemplifying the power of dedication and compassion in creating a better future for our youth.

Date Honored: July 17, 2024

Lovell Williams Jr.

Lovell Williams Jr. served in the united states army from 1980 to 1987 as a 19 Delta Cavalry Scout. During his distinguished service, he was stationed in Panama, Germany, and Texas, with the 1st cavalry, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. His commitment to his country earned him an honorable discharge due to medical conditions that necessitated his retirement. After his military service, Lovell pursued higher education, attending Paris Junior College in Texas and Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. His thirst for knowledge and self-improvement was evident as he transitioned to civilian life. In 2021, he joined Touch Outreach, focusing on young people struggling with addiction and homelessness. Lovell volunteered tirelessly for almost two years until he had to undergo eye surgery. Yet, even now, as he awaits his return to the community, his spirit remains unbroken.

Date Honored: July 3, 2024

Kedir Kurfessa

The team at African Economic Development Solutions is striving to develop businesses within the African immigrant communities here in Minnesota. Director of Lending, Kedir Kurfessa works with his teammates on tackling disparities by providing entrepreneurship guidance, small business development, micro-lending, homeownership education, and more. AEDS fosters financial independence through cultural celebration among families and individuals around the region and looks to grow healthy, vibrant communities. They believe that access to key resources, institutional frameworks, and nourishing environments are elements to achieving financial success within marginalized communities.

Date Honored: June 22, 2024

Outfront Minnesota - Represented by Seth Goodspeed & Aliya Finman-Palmer

Outfront Minnesota is the state's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. Founded in 1987, for more than 35 years they have worked to secure landmark protections and victories for LGBTQ rights, including inclusion in the Minnesota Human Rights Act in 1993 and securing marriage equality in 2013. Outfront Minnesota builds power within Minnesota’s LGBTQ communities and addresses inequities through intersectional organizing, advocacy, education, and direct support services. Inclusion and belonging are Minnesota values—we know that the LGBTQ community is in every community, Outfront Minnesota works so that everyone across the state knows that you belong here. Outfront Minnesota was represented by their Director of Development and Communications, Seth Goodspeed, and Outfront Director of Educational Equity, Aliya Finman-Palmer, at halftime.

Date Honored: June 8, 2024

Ajani "AJ" Woodson

Ajani (AJ) Woodson is passionate about creating equal opportunities for people with disabilities by advocating for employment, inclusion and by spreading awareness. The 2023 Champion Candidate for Best Buddies Minnesota has made incredible strides in advocating for safe spaces where people of all abilities feel welcome. As a corporate services associate for Allianz Life for the past 13 years, AJ created and runs an employee resource group for people with disabilities called “Allianz Beyond,” as he knows that inclusion is the key to any team’s success. On top of additionally serving as a board member for the Golden Valley DEI Commission, Disability Hub, and Lifeworks, AJ is also a member of the Special Olympics Minnesota Basketball Team, and when he is not playing or hanging out with colleagues, spends his time volunteering for both SOMN and Best Buddies Minnesota.

Date Honored: June 1, 2024

Amanda Xiong

In Amanda’s journey towards building a vibrant and inclusive community her role within Capi USA as a community organizer is to engage community members and ensure their voices and input are heard and implemented. she enhances her life goals to bridge towards creating inclusive communities. amanda emphasizes unity in diversity, having empathy on yourself and others, to be kind, and creating equity. She is a beacon to her community and uses her platform in Capi USA to embody the true spirit of compassion, generosity, and civic responsibility.

Date Honored: May 18, 2024

Pahoua Yang

Pahoua Yang Is the Vice President of Community Mental Health and Wellness at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul. As a clinician, she has worked with diverse client populations in multiple settings. Pahoua currently serves on the Boards of Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota and Healthpartners Institute, and on the advisory board for the Morrison Family College of Health at the University of St. Thomas. Pahoua holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. her spare time is willingly and lovingly dedicated to her family and her Kindle.

Date Honored: May 15, 2024

Cortney Meyer

Cortney Meyer is using her teaching platform to highlight the transformative power of education in shaping not just academic knowledge, but also character development and life skills. As a mathematics teacher, Cortney is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, empowering students to recognize their potential, and encouraging them to push their boundaries, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and overall be resilient. Through every interaction, Cortney is spreading awareness of continuous education beyond the classroom, ephasizing the importance of curiousity and self-discovery.

Date Honored: April 27, 2024

Odell Wilson

As a community peace builder for Nonviolent Peaceforce, Odell Wilson works on a team that protects civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, builds peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocates for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity. Here in North Minneapolis, community peace builders have been introducing conversations around de-escalation and nonviolence in their pre-existing weekly conversations and mentoring sessions with younger youth. While living by the golden rule, Odell believes that being different is what makes a difference and that peace and leadership lives within everyone, we just need to see it within ourselves.

Date Honored: April 13, 2024

Kristie Royce

Kristie Royce has worked in Emergency Medical Services for over 23 years as a paramedic and a 911 dispatcher. In her current role as a quality specialist for hennepin ems, Kristie focuses on reliable, data-driven and performance measured components of prehospital care, and is passionate about high quality, inclusive healthcare. Kristie enjoys her time off by bowling and taking her family out to local roller derby bouts. she is a proud member of the Dark Clouds and is a 9-year season ticket holder! Kristie and her husband met in their emergency healthcare roles and are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.

Date Honored: April 6, 2024

Melanie Walby

Melanie brings stories to life through Pollen. Pollen is a design-led organization that uses art and story to challenge existing harmful narrative by imagining what could be instead of what is. It is a testament to the transformative power of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color voices, soul building and a rally cry to tip conversations around social justice into action.

Date Honored: March 16, 2024

Jill Evenocheck

For 50 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities have provided a caring & comfortable home away from home to families. This allows them to stay close to their hospitalized child, and benefit from the comforts of home without incurring hotel and food costs. Jill Evenocheck and her team at Ronald McDonald House Charities Upper Midwest, lodge up to 48 families each day. With the introduction of the pop tab program into Allianz Field, Jill and her team work valiantly to collect recycled pop tabs to help fund programing costs across the Twin Cities.

Date Honored: March 2, 2024