Stories for Good: Engage Winona Celebrates Lived Experience Leaders Graduates
On a drizzly Saturday morning in early June, the warmth in the room far outshone the weather outside. With coffee in hand and cupcakes on the table, a handful of community members gathered to celebrate something profound: the completion of their nine-month journey as the 2024-2025 Lived Experience Leaders (LEL) cohort at Engage Winona. The day was marked by big smiles, shared laughter, and a few heartfelt tears.
Since September, the 10 cohort members, each bringing firsthand lived experience related to the community initiatives they are interested in—have met regularly to build skills in community leadership, resilience, and advocacy. Through workshops on community resource mapping, relationship building, public narrative, capacity-building and more, each participant deepened their ability to use their gifts to support their goals.
Since 2020, 40 people have graduated from the Lived Experience Leaders (LEL) program. The leadership cohort provides training and supports residents from all backgrounds with leadership skill-building, personalized mentorship, and workshops on community engagement and leadership – supporting residents from all backgrounds to lead where they are. Shaped by community input, workshop topics have ranged from how to run for local office, to the basics of fundraising for a community project, to how to throw a neighborhood block party. Graduates are actively contributing to community life in many ways—serving on boards and commissions, leading projects in youth advocacy, accessibility, and cultural programming, and more.
What united the 2024-2025 cohort wasn’t a shared background or a singular goal, but a shared commitment to building a stronger, more connected Winona. Their work spans a broad spectrum: from local food to substance abuse recovery to mental health, queer-inclusive spaces, arts programming, and grief support.
One participant is focusing on creating sober, affirming spaces for the queer community. Another is exploring how craftsmanship and creative practices can honor human dignity regardless of income. Others are continuing their work on school advisory boards, or other community initiatives Despite their varied interests, the cohort repeatedly returned to a central theme: the strength and belonging they found in one another.
“The whole experience has been wonderful, meeting everyone,” said graduate Sara Copeland, who plans to offer community grief groups and compassionate response training. “I haven't felt really connected to the community for many years now, and I feel like being a part of this cohort has helped me push outside of my comfort zone and I found support where I didn't have any.”
Facilitator Sarah Johnson spoke to the deeper impact of the program: “The Lived Experience Leaders (LEL) cohort provides practical skills to leaders in our community who have invaluable, innovative insights into what can build a healthier, better connected and more resilient Winona. We are better together, and our LEL are a crucial part of building a community where everyone has what they need to be able to care for ourselves and each other."
To celebrate the graduates and keep the spirit of connection and support going strong, Engage Winona is hosting a community gathering on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Peter’s Biergarten in Winona. The event—Winona Together: Leading with Lived Experience—kicks off at 5:00 p.m. and is free and open to everyone. We hope you’ll join us for meaningful conversations, and the chance to meet the community leaders who are helping shape a Winona where we all have a part to play in our community.
Engage Winona is a 501c3 nonprofit cultivating stronger communities in southeast Minnesota by reigniting community participation through dialogue, support, and training. Our programs bring people together, spark ideas, and cultivate the conditions for a community where we all belong, connect, and contribute. In 2024-2025, Lived Experience Leaders workshops have served over 160 Southeast Minnesota residents. To learn more about Lived experience leaders and the free workshops, visit us at www.engagewinona.org/livedexperience leaders.
This story was originally published as a “Stories for Good” article in the Winona Daily News. You can read the article here.