Sprague, Diane_Director_Lifetime Home Project

Diane Sprague (MA 1980)

Director, Lifetime Home Project

Diane Sprague is the director of the Lifetime Home Project, which performs community outreach and education, practitioner training (including online), technical support and policy advocacy in three areas: accessible/universal home design, home/mobile telehealth and innovative boomer housing arrangements.

Prior to the Project's 2006 founding, she worked for the state of Minnesota - four years with the Minnesota State Planning Agency/Developmental Disabilities Planning Office and 25 with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.  She also worked for the Cuyahoga County (OH) Regional Planning Commission early in her career.

Diane's major work experience is in the affordable housing field, particularly supportive housing arrangements for seniors and persons with disabilities.  Her technical specialty since the early 1980s has been home accessible and universal design, with a background including: developing/coordinating MHFA's statewide home accessibility remodeling program for 14 years; developing/ delivering conference presentations, training and workshops on the subject; state/local inter-agency outreach; and writing about the field for diverse audiences.

Other major affordable housing efforts included: inter-agency work on Minnesota long-term care policy reform; creating/coordinating a rental subsidy demonstration for persons with mental illness; developing the state component for a national disability homeownership initiative; coordinating a rental rehabilitation financing program; and inter-agency policy work on supportive housing for persons with serious mental illness and other long-term disabilities. 

Since the mid-2000s, Diane has also developed a technical specialty in home/mobile telehealth.  She monitors emerging practices/technologies; develops/delivers community education, practitioner training and conference presentations; and does policy advocacy for the technologies' adoption.

Work Sector: For-profit

Areas of Expertise: Policy Analysis, Housing & Community Development

Keywords to Describe Your Work: Affordable housing, accessibly and universally designed home construction and remodeling, home and mobile telehealth, innovative boomer housing alternatives

Professional Associations, Boards, Volunteer Work: Governor's Task Force on Housing (2017-2018); Universal Design Institute (Asheville, NC)

Background Information:

LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/diane-sprague-01b3ab20/

Silver, Laura_State Program Administrator, Sr._MN Department of Commerce

Laura Silver (MS-STEP 2007)

State Program Administrator, Sr., MN Department of Commerce

I work in the Demand Efficiency/Conservation Improvement Program unit. My team's primary goal is to work with Minnesota utilities to develop programs and procedures to achieve 1.5% savings of retail energy sales annually.

I review, analyze, and summarize utility Demand Side Management (DSM) plans and annual reports. I also provide technical assistance and develop resources to help utilities reach their energy conservation goals and I prepare regulatory filings and data requests pertaining to Minnesota energy conservation activities.

I manage several research projects concerning the field performance of high efficiency technologies and the potential for achieving greater energy savings through enhanced program delivery methods.

I participate in stakeholder workgroups to improve conservation programming in the rental, low-income, and multifamily housing sectors and in meetings, workshops, and discussions concerning other issues pertaining to MN energy conservation efforts.

Work Sector: State Government

Areas of Expertise: Energy Policy

Keywords to Describe Your Work: energy efficiency, conservation, EERS, DSM, utility regulation

Professional Associations, Boards, Volunteer Work:

Background Information:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-silver-b40a317/

Henderson, Maren_Evaluation Specialist_Minneapolis Public Schools

Maren Henderson (MPP 2015)

Evaluation Specialist, Minneapolis Public Schools

I currently work as an Evaluation Specialist for Minneapolis Public Schools, where I design and conduct program and system level evaluations. In addition, I lead our Youth and Parent Participatory Evaluation programs, which empower key stakeholders to bring community voices and perspectives into district decision-making. Prior to MPS, I was the Legislative Liaison for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. I also worked in development for the Page Education Foundation, and as a Tutoring Coordinator at Humboldt High School in St. Paul.

Work Sector: Local Government (City or County)

Areas of Expertise: Policy Analysis, Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Social Policy, Program Evaluation

Keywords to Describe Your Work: K-12 education, program evaluation, youth participatory evaluation

Professional Associations, Boards, Volunteer Work: Jay & Rose Phillips Foundation Community Advisory Board member; American Evaluation Association member

Background Information:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maren-gelle-henderson-652a0325/

Hanson, Erik_Director of Economic Policy & Development_City of Minneapolis

Erik Hansen (MPP 2003)

Director of Economic Policy & Development, City of Minneapolis

Erik Hansen is the incoming Director of Economic Policy & Development for the City of Minneapolis.   He has over 18 years’ experience in community development work in the Minneapolis Saint Paul region, most recently serving as the Economic Development & Housing Director for the City of Brooklyn Park.  Erik holds Master of Public Policy and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota.  He is a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners and a certified Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council.  Erik serves on the Economic Development Association of Minnesota board. He, also, is a professional mentor at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Emerging Leaders in Community Development Mentorship Program.

Work Sector: Local Government (City or County)

Areas of Expertise: Policy Analysis, Economic & Community Development, Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Social Policy, Housing & Community Development

Keywords to Describe Your Work: Economic Development, wealth building, equity, housing, community empowerment

Professional Associations, Boards, Volunteer Work: Economic Development Association of Minnesota, American Planning Association

Background Information:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik3815/

Kilgore, Heather_Director_Saint Paul Public Schools

Heather Kilgore (MPP 2006)

Director, Saint Paul Public Schools Office of Family Engagement and Community Partnerships

Heather is the Director of Family Engagement and Community Partnerships for Saint Paul Public Schools, where she provides leadership for the department, works to fully engage and coordinate the services for families and communities of Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) to align to district vision and mission, and continue, develop, and maintain partnerships with businesses and community groups. Prior to this position, Ms. Kilgore was the Policy Director and a family engagement advocate and trainer at PACER Center in Minneapolis, and a pre-Kindergarten educator at a community child care center in Colorado. She has provided consulting, political strategy, grant-writing, and training services around Minnesota and the nation. Her public service career has also included leadership positions with the Ramsey County Citizen’s Advisory Council, local Parent Teacher Associations, and numerous boards and committees in her community.

Work Sector: Local Government (City or County)

Areas of Expertise: Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Social Policy, Community Engagement

Keywords to Describe Your Work: community engagement, program development, cross-sector partnerships, education, strategic planning, public relations, public advisory structures, advocacy, board service, board relations,

Professional Associations, Boards, Volunteer Work: Board Chair: Family Values for Life; 2017 Transformational Leader for Equity Award: Saint Paul Public Schools Office of Equity; Founding Member: National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement

Past Chair: Ramsey County Citizens Advisory Council (committee member 2006-2017); Governing Council Member: Minnesotans Standing Together Ending Poverty (MNSTEP); Neighborhood Leadership Program Coach: Wilder Foundation; Mentor: Humphrey School Domestic Mentor Program; Member, Benefit Committee: Teenwise Minnesota (board member 2004-2007)

Background Information: Adolescent parent, non-traditional college student

LinkedIn Profile Link: Yes, though it's out of date: linkedin.com/in/heatherkilgore