Envision Family
Envision Community brings together a unique group of organizations from across our community including homeless advocacy groups, housing providers, supportive service agencies, health experts, academic institutions, faith communities, and other groups interested in making Envision Community a reality.
Envision Leaders
Our leaders not only reflect the community with whom we work, but are members of that community. All Envision Leaders have personally experienced homelessness, and like so many in the homeless community, they have faced barriers to housing in countless forms including criminal records, evictions histories, poor credit, and struggles with mental health and addiction. These individuals are driven to serve as leaders of Envision Community because they know their work will help others in their community.
![Freddy Toran](https://envisioncommunitymn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Freddy_Toran.jpg)
Freddy Toran
![Junail Anderson](https://envisioncommunitymn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Junail-Freeman-Envision-Leader.jpg)
Junail Anderson
![Rome Darring](https://envisioncommunitymn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Rome-Darring-Envision-Leader.jpg)
Rome Darring
![Sherry Shannon](https://envisioncommunitymn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sherry_Shannon.jpg)
Sherry Shannon
Board of Directors
- Josh Bergeron, Tikun Collective, Ex Officio
- Ozuya Crow, Takoda
- Catera Ethridge, Ryan Companies
- Courtney Kiernat, PERIS Foundation
- J. Paul Seifert, Retired
- Frederick Toran, Envision Community
- William Walsh, Minnesota Design Center a the University of Minnesota
- Kyle Van Acker, Goodwill Easter Seals, MN
Architecture and Development Group
Tom Fisher
Director, Minnesota Design Center
Jacob Mans
Decentralized Design Lab
Geoffrey C. Warner
AIA, Alchemy Architects, Principal Architect
Tommy Schaperkotter
Decentralized Design Lab
Chris Wilson
Development Consultant
Research Team
Assists the Envision Leaders and serve as co-investigators on research studies. This group focuses on the intersection of housing, social-connection, and health.
Jon Aga
Stuart Grande
PhD, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Austin Watanabe
Alchemy Architects
Andrea Brown
Human Centered Designer
Blair Harrison
Minnesota Department of Health
William Walsh
MD, Hennepin Healthcare and Minnesota Design Center
Mageen Caines
Minneapolis Health Department
Lawrence (Ripley) Smith
PhD, Bethel University
Michelle DeVaughn
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Ashley Thorfinnson
Human Centered Designer
Tom Fisher
Director, Minnesota Design Center
Geoffrey C. Warner
AIA, Alchemy Architects
Want to join a working group? Click Here
![](https://envisioncommunitymn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/House_Icon_Web2.png)
Donor Family
We thank the organizations who generously supported the development of Envision Community:
- Bush Foundation
- Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota
- Cross of Hope Lutheran Church
- Dayton Hudson Endowment at the Minnesota Design Center
- Family Housing Fund
- Graves Foundation
- Head Count Lizzo Campaign
- Headwaters Foundation for Justice
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
- McKnight Foundation through a grant to the Minnesota Design Center
- Pohlad Family Foundation
- St. Odilia Social Justice Committee
- United Health Foundation through a grant to Hennepin Healthcare
We also thank the individuals who financially supported Envision:
- Julia Dayton
- Gretchen Musicant
- Jamie and Bill Walsh
- William Walsh Sr. in memory of Mary Cecilia Walsh
- Dori Wholey in memory of Doug Wholey
We thank the suppliers who generously donated materials to our prototype unit:
- Footprint Project – Solar Panels
- Panasonic Eco Solutions NA – ERV
- Simpliphi Power – Solar Batteries
- SIP Seal – Liquid Membranes and Sealants