Our Work

Grasstops works with nonprofits & community groups overcome the following barriers to impacting public policy:

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Distance

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Time

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Knowledge

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Money

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Access

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Contact Us!

Grasstops, Inc.
550 Rice Street
St. Paul, MN 55103
(612) 756-1313 info@grasstopsinc.org

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Board and Staff Pages

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Copyright 2008 Grasstops, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the following for donating their time and talents to our efforts:

Web Site & Design:
Orange Dream Designs

Web Hosting:
Spinutech

Accounting Assistance:
Amy Joslin

Program Evaluation:
Chad Ramaker

Ask about how to contribute your time/talent for current Grasstops projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff
Anne

Anne Bomstad Miller- Executive Director

anne@grasstopsinc.org

612.756.1313

 

As co-founder and director of Grasstops, Inc., Anne Bomstad Miller has overseen the inception and development of Grasstops while guiding the vision of the organization.  Through Grasstops, Anne has had the opportunity to serve many organizations with their public policy efforts. Her recent projects include lobbying to fund the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and advancing the efforts of the Minnesota Youth Advancement Act; advocating for effective student support services in schools with the Minnesota School Social Workers Association; and assisting Restorative Justice organizations compare the costs of their programs to the traditional justice system in order to make the case to legislators for renewed funding. Anne has also provided numerous advocacy trainings to nonprofit organizations including the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota.

Previously, Anne assisted the MN Chapter of NASW by serving as P.A.C.E. (Political Action for Candidate Election) Coordinator. Through P.A.C.E. she encouraged member involvement in political campaigns and assisted in endorsing candidates. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member in the school of Social Work at St. Olaf College. Anne has a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration in community organizing and advocacy and is a licensed graduate level social worker.


Erin

Erin Anderson-
Policy Advocate

erin@grasstopsinc.org

763.228.5689

Erin was born and raised in Minnesota. She went to The University of Minnesota Duluth where she got her BA in Psychology. While she was attending UMD she was a volunteer through AmeriCorp at the Duluth YWCA. She worked with children through the GirlPower program and the Grant Collaborative. The programs help children, especially girls, develop important life skills. During graduate school Erin interned with then Duluth City Council President Roger Reinert. SShe worked with Councilor Reinert on communication with constituents, developed and passed resolutions, and kept records. Erin also worked as a Field Coordinator for the Patty Wettering for Congress campaign in 2006. During the campaign she worked with volunteers, organized phone banks and door knocks and helped raise funds. In December of 2006 Erin graduated from the Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership program at UMD. She then worked at Neighborhood Housing Services of Duluth on special programs. In 2007 she moved to the Twin Cities and worked as the Legislative Director at Minnesota ACORN. Erin advocated for Paid Sick Leave policies, minimum wage increases, and helped pass a the Minnesota Subprime Foreclosure Deferment Act of 2008 through the House and Senate.


Willow

Willow Kreibich-
Policy Corps Director

willow@grasstopsinc.org

612.270.5988

 

Willow Kreibich first came to Minnesota to attend Macalester College where she attained an MA in Environmental Studies. After a successful career in the Environmental Education field she returned to her roots in New England. During which time Willow attained a Masters in Environmental Studies with a focus on Advocacy in Organizing and she worked in the nonprofit sector implementing a state funded grant program designed to preserve and protect working landscapes in Maine. Willow returned to Minnesota in the spring of 2008 to be with her husband, Josh and has been exploring ways to continue her work on helping communities become more self sustaining. During the 2009 legislative session she was a fellow with Grasstops’ Policy Corps and enjoyed experience so much she remained with the organization to help insure that there is a Policy Corps for sessions to come.

Policy Interns

Interns

Kara Skahen, Abby Windmeier, Jana Klein, Tamara Moore

Board of Directors
Mary

Mary Nienow
Mary Nienow is currently working as a researcher for the Minnesota Senate on the Health and Human Services Committees. She was a community organizer for a state-wide multi-issue child advocacy organization. After completing her MSW at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, she started a lobbying and advocacy consulting organization, Grasstops, to provide public policy assistance to nonprofits and community organizations. She serves on the board of the National Association of Social Workers-Minnesota Chapter.  She is an adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota in the Social Work program.  She has presented several times at the NASW Annual Conference on "Implementing Advocacy into Everyday Practice" and received the NASW Early Career Excellence Award in 2006. Mary is married to Jeremy and is the proud mother of a very spirited five year old daughter.

Carla Furuchi

to come


Michelle

Michelle Humphrey

Michelle Humphrey currently works as a first grade teacher in North Minneapolis.  Previously she has taught in Brooklyn, New York and Chicago.  Prior to teaching, Michelle worked in Social Services for over 6 years in Minneapolis, first as a case manager to truant youth, than as a supervisor of a homeless youth drop in center.  She has also served as a Community Relations Consultant for the Minneapolis NAACP. Michelle has a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters degree in Elementary Special Education from the University of Staten Island. 


Alan

Alan Peterson

to come

Melissa

Melissa Reed

Melissa Reed is a Government Relations Representative for the City of Minneapolis where she lobbies on issues related to public safety, public health, housing and foreclosures and regulatory matters at the state and federal level.

Ms. Reed holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Women's Studies and Ethnic Studies, and a Master's Degree in Public Policy with concentrations in Women and Public Policy, and Lobbying and Advocacy from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs.  She is an active volunteer and board member of several local nonprofit organizations.