Bill Burleson is a specialist at the Center for Health Promotion of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) where he works to reduce obesity. He previously worked to decrease STD and HIV in the gay and bisexual men’s communities at MDH, with the Red Door Clinic, and as part of the Rural AIDS Action Network. Bill is a long-time bisexual activist and a frequent speaker at conferences and college campuses throughout country on the bisexual experience and is the author of the book, “Bi America: Myths, Truths, and Struggles of an Invisible Community.” Bill joined the PFund board in the spring of 2007 after having been involved over the years with PFund as a volunteer, a grantee and a scholarship recipient. He is a Minnesota native and a Minneapolis resident, where he lives with his wife, Mariann.
Lupe Castillo Lupe Castillo has worked in Workforce Development for almost 10 years. Her ability to secure and share critical resources aids in providing much needed career services. Lupe’s skills include fundraising, capacity building, undoing racism initiatives and leadership development. She has proven leadership in PFund’s community conversations initiative, which led to the Communities of Color Endowment. Her commitment is reflected in her volunteer work, including a successful 2008 kick-off and current planning for the Racial Equity Leadership program that facilitates leadership development and funding to LGBT Communities of Color.
Lupe is passionate about social justice and intent on creating access and strengthening leadership in us all. Her advice for younger women of color, “Live in a way where no one can deny you are here.” Adelante! She and her partner, Angie Pabon, live in Minneapolis, while being inspired by family, thriving on organizing, and enjoying home. Claire Chang is associate vice president of grants and programat the Minnesota Community Foundation and the Saint Paul Foundation. Claire was drawn to her work in philanthropy because of her commitment to social change and social justice. In addition to joining the PFund board in 2007, she is an active member of other philanthropic causes, including serving on the board of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice. In addition, Claire volunteers with organizations that match her passion for health human development and a just society, including the Jeremiah Program, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.
Alicia Cordes is a communications and program consultant. She is passionate about social justice, and her professional endeavors and volunteer work in the community reflect this interest and commitment. Her consulting practice is shaped by many years of working with nonprofits, foundations and governmental entities. An active community volunteer, Alicia has served on the board of directors at Casa de Esperanza and the SpectrumTrust Multicultural Endowment of The Saint Paul Foundation. She also serves on communications and development advisory committees for OutFront Minnesota and The Family Place. She first became involved with PFund as a member of the governance committee before joining the board in 2009. Alicia has a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master’s degree from Baruch College (CUNY) through the National Urban Fellows program.
Jason Howard is a consultant and sales manager at a Twin Cities-based commercial printing company. He has been in the print and media industry for 17 years in production management, finance and sales roles. Jason has served on the board of his local Minneapolis neighborhood association as well as volunteering for organizations such as Minnesota AIDS Project, Project 515, Minnesota AIDS Ride and Theatre Latté Da. He volunteered on grant review and has been a member of PFund’s development committee for more than 8 years prior to joining the board in 2009. Jason grew up in a small Wisconsin/Illinois border town and earned his bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and an International Business Diploma from Handelshöjskole Syd in Sönderborg, Denmark, a Danish business school.
Lorrie Janatopoulos is the planning director at the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), a community action agency dedicated to eliminating poverty. As a member of the senior management team, Lorrie oversees community assessments, strategic planning and program development at AEOA, which consistently ranks as one of Minnesota’s largest nonprofits. She is a long-time community and political activist working primarily on issues affecting women, children and the LGBT community in Minnesota. Her grassroots organizing efforts were recognized with PFund's Power of One Award in 1997; she joined the PFund board in 2007. Lorrie grew up on the North Shore of Lake Superior and has lived on the Iron Range for 30 years. She lives with her partner, Sharon, in the woods, at the end of a dead-end road.
Dale Johnson has served as the artistic director of the Minnesota Opera since 1994, advising the president and CEO on all aspects of artistic planning. During the 1998 season, he launched the Minnesota Opera Resident Artist Program, which is a nationally recognized training program for young singers, pianists, conductors and stage directors. As Dale celebrates his 23rd year with the Minnesota Opera, the company has been internationally acclaimed for its daring programming and casting, its commitment to new works and the rediscovery of Bel Canto era masterpieces. He was instrumental in creating “Out @ the Opera,” the opera’s outreach effort to the GLBT communities. In November 2007, he helped coordinate PFund’s major donor thank-you event at the Minnesota Opera Center, and joined the board in 2008. Dale grew up on a dairy farm south of Youngstown, Ohio, and received his bachelor of arts from Mount Union College in Ohio and a master of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He lives in Minneapolis with his dog, Howard.
Cindy Kaiser is chief financial officer and vice president of operations at the Minnesota Medical Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises millions of dollars annually for health-related research, education and service at the University of Minnesota. Cindy joined the foundation in 1996 and is responsible for strategic planning, financial management, information systems and advancement services. Earning her public accountant certification in the state of Minnesota in 1990, Cindy has served on the leadership council of the Minnesota Society of CPAs, is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and was recognized by the Twin Cities’ Finance and Commerce publication as one of the Top Women in Finance in 2002. A native of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, she received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, majoring in business management and psychology. She joined the PFund board in 2005. Cindy and her partner, Cathy Fejes, have lived in South Minneapolis since 1985.
Diane Napper owns and operates Taurus Moon Graphic Design, LLC, a freelance graphic design business. She has been in the graphic design industry for 15 years and has worked for American Express Financial Advisors, ING ReliaStar and Starkey Laboratories. In 2003, she joined PFund on the communications committee, creating newsletters, brochures, event programs and other materials. She joined the board in 2006 and is currently the chair of the communications committee. She has also staffed Pride booths in the Twin Cities and Mankato. Diane grew up in Philadelphia, Pa., and earned her bachelor’s degree in International Business from American University in Washington, D.C. She is married and lives in Minneapolis.
Alex Jackson Nelson has over ten years of experience working in and for the LGBT community. He provided services to homeless and at-risk youth in the Twin Cities, working as a street-based outreach worker, before becoming the interim executive director at District 202. He is one of the founders of the Transgender Youth Support Network, established to educate social service providers on serving Transgender youth. Alex currently works professionally as a sign language interpreter. He provides consulting and training to service providers around the country on GLBTQ issues and best practices in working with marginalized youth populations. Alex has been a volunteer community member for Restorative Justice Community Action, has served on the Host Home Program Advisory Council and currently volunteers as a co-facilitator for the Gender Exploration Group for youth. Alex joined the PFund board in 2009 after serving as a reviewer. He lives in North Minneapolis with his partner Tamar.
Jaron Roering is a finance manager with US Bank in Minneapolis. His skills and expertise include auditing, accounting, investments and reviewing and implementing financial oversight procedures. Jaron has been a volunteer with PFund since 1998 and joined the board in 2008. He has served on the finance committee, staffed Pride booths in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester, assisted with signature events and participated on the grant review committee. He led the process in selecting PFund’s auditor. After growing up in rural, central Minnesota, he became a PFund supporter due to our focus on reducing isolation, especially in rural communities. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota-Morris and his M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas.
Roderic Southall is a native of Denver, Colorado, and moved to the Twin Cities in 1991 to be with his partner Juan Jackson. Roderic works as a consultant at the Metropolitan Council on the Central Corridor Light Rail Project. During the past 17 years, Roderic has worked to enhance Minneapolis’ livability. During that time he has participated in the founding of the Festival of Fathers, the Northside Arts Collective, Minneapolis MSAIC, and Minnesota Black Pride. He serves on the boards of the IRUWA, the African American AIDS Taskforce, Project 515 and, since 2005, PFund Foundation. He also directs Obsidian Arts and the Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration.
Shane Swanson is an estate and gift tax attorney in Minneapolis. He is PFund’s current board president. Shane’s involvement with PFund stretches back eight years, first as a volunteer on the development committee and then as a board member beginning January 2006. He is a graduate of Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Tex., and the University of Minnesota Law School. He and his partner, Jeff Brockmann, live on Loring Park in Minneapolis and are in the process of trying to start a family.
Bill Venne is a major gifts officer for the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. He is an active community volunteer and serves on the boards of Theater Latte Da, Project 515 Education Campaign. In addition, he is a regular evaluator for the Ivey Awards and the Minnesota State Arts Board. He is a past treasurer of the Twin Cities Gay Softball League. Bill served on PFund’s arts and culture grant making subcommittee before joining the board in 2007; he currently serves as vice president for development. A native of Hibbing, Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of St. Thomas.
Deb Williams is Ojibwe and active in Minnesota’s Two Spirit Community, including helping to organize the International Two Spirit Gatherings. Deb joined the PFund board in 2007 and is active on the grants and programming committee.
Kayva Yang has worked in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector locally and nationally over the past nine years. Most recently, she was a philanthropic advocacy manager of the National Gender & Equity Campaign with AAPIP (Asian Americans/ Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy) and prior to this, the Funders' Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities led by Hispanics in Philanthropy. She also worked at Loft Literary Center on donor-related activities. Currently, she serves on the social change fund committee of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota as well as the steering committee of Ananya Dance Theatre, a Minneapolis-based women of color dance company. She has also been a dancer with the company since 2004. As a strong advocate of social change and community building efforts, Kayva is honored to serve on the PFund board and its development committee.
