Cohort 6 (2023-2024)

Route 1

Marcus Carpenter’s (he/him) passion for farming, nature preservation, and the cultivation of emerging farmers comes from a deep seeded love for the earth and his foundational roots. He is the founder of Route 1, a company that works to increase food access, specifically within communities of color.

Envision Greatness

Brittany Clausen (she/her) is the founder of Envision Greatness, a racial justice consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and leadership training workshops, strategic planning, and coaching services. Her focus is to help purpose-driven leaders dismantle systemic racism in their communities by practicing mental wellness and executing inclusive action plans.

Sound Garden Arts

James Everest (he/him) is a composer, sound designer, and founder of Sound Garden Arts, a company that works to bring spatial sound composition and design innovations into the wellness sector, particularly in areas of assisted living/memory care and neurological health and recovery.

Anisa Hagi, LLC

Anisa Hagi-Mohamed (she/her) is a Somali-American educator, artist, community leader, and small business owner. She authored "My Diasporic Diary," a reflective journal for global diaspora communities, and creates products like cards, books, and posters, showcasing positive affirmations that celebrate Somali culture, language, and history for all to appreciate and learn from.

Live On Minnesota

Erik Halaas (he/him) has been an intrapreneur, moving projects from concept to reality, throughout his career. His company, Live On Minnesota aims to expand end-of-life options by building the first natural organic reduction facility in the state. Natural organic reduction, also known as “human composting,” is the process of transforming human remains into nutrient-rich compost.

Raices Latinas

Karina Kelton Marin (she/her) has years of experience connecting cultures and finding solutions to bring communities closer together. Her company, Raices Latinas connects the Spanish-speaking, Latino community to resources and information through their WhatsApp groups. They host a variety of cultural, health, and educational programs asked for by the community.

May Lee-Yang (she/her) is a writer, performer, and educator. She has received numerous grants for her work, including the Playwright Center McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting and the Bush Leadership Fellowship. May will develop a company that creates board games that amplifies the Asian American experience.

Diddit

Haggai Simon (they/them) is a marketing consultant, ADHD coach, and founder of Diddit, an app that leverages behavioral science to help students with ADHD stay on top of their homework and on track to graduate. Its features empower students by helping them build routines, neutralize distractions, and stay focused.

Creeble.Midwest Local News Initiative

Elizabeth Zalanga (she/her) is committed to developing solutions to the conditions that create inequities in society. She is the founder of Creeble.Midwest Local News Initiative, a digital news initiative utilizing a paid subscription-based app for Midwest print, neighborhood, and local newspapers to increase access, readership, and the long-term funding sustainability of local news organizations.