Ripple Effect Mapping - Highlighting Stories of Community Resilience and Local Leaders
In the Summer of 2024, Engage Winona proudly became part of the Highlighting Stories of Community Resilience project—an initiative led by the Blandin Foundation and the University of Minnesota Extension. This collaborative effort aims to celebrate stories of resilience while honing strategies that empower rural leaders and communities through innovative, cross-sector projects.
As part of this initiative, Engage Winona’s Lived Experience Leaders (LEL) program partnered with project staff to conduct a Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) evaluation. REM is an interactive process where participants create visual maps of a program’s ripple effects, uncovering the wide-ranging outcomes and influence it has on the community.
The findings from this REM process paint a vivid picture of the impact the LEL program has on fostering community resilience in Winona. These insights not only highlight the program’s role in inspiring meaningful change but also serve as a blueprint for strengthening supportive relationships to elevate community-led solutions and amplify voices that reflect the culture of the entire community.
A participant reflected on their experience “ LEL helped me find my voice, things I didn't know I had in me. It helped push me to be a leader. It made me reflect on my ancestors and their legacy of leadership.”
Read the full REM report for key takeaways from this evaluation and celebrate the stories of resilience that fuel transformative change in our community.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected community.