In preparing to join the Minnesota Children’s Alliance team, Katie Rojas-Jahn spent time reflecting on what makes her tick. It all comes down to her belief in the power of people in a community to create their own vision of health and well-being. Throughout her ten years in the nonprofit sector, this belief has guided Katie in the work of building systems and services that are responsive to community strengths, needs, and expectations. She is thankful to all the teachers in her life – parents, professors, colleagues, and friends – in setting her on this path. Katie completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a B.A. in Chicano Studies and Spanish Studies.
As a data enthusiast and relationship builder, she brings to the Alliance her experience in program development, training and collaborative learning, assessment, partnership cultivation, and advocacy. Katie’s goal is to share these skills in the collective task of creating a world where children can live their fullest lives, growing up in the comfort and care of their heritage(s), languages(s), and connection to people and place.
By the way, her favorite Spotify station is secretly “Summer Hits of the 90s” and you’ll often catch her singing when she thinks no one is watching. She’s also in pursuit of uncovering her grandmother’s secret combination of cinnamon and cloves to make the perfect applesauce.