Erin Shay is the executive director of United Way of Northeastern Minnesota. This month, she celebrates her 20th year working for our organization.
Nonprofit work isn't for those who tire easily. The victories and struggles we face - of the individuals we serve, our own, and those of our region - come in waves, each felt as strongly as the next.
Growing up on the Iron Range instilled in me a deep love for this region and a tenacity that has helped me navigate the highs and lows to better serve our communities over the past 20 years with United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN).
In every step of this journey - from resource and marketing coordinator to executive director, from region-wide layoffs to our first $1 million raised, from a two-person team in a single room to a team of eight with our own food and essentials warehouses - I’ve had the privilege of working with inspiring leaders and passionate problem solvers.
Together, we’ve kept critical agencies afloat, created programs when none existed, and united communities to tackle pressing issues like veterans’ services, childhood hunger, and childcare access.
Along the way, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about the people of this region, our challenges, and our strengths.
The greatest asset of the Iron Range is, without a doubt, its people.
Each challenge has presented an opportunity to grow, build resilience, and learn. I’ve come to understand the vital yet often misunderstood role nonprofits play in building healthy communities, the intricacies of key industries, and the complexities of legislative processes.
Most importantly, I’ve learned how to listen to understand people and their unique life experiences.
In doing so, the experiences of the thousands of people we’ve helped and those who’ve helped us have shaped me in ways I never could have imagined.
Through it all, one thing stands out above the rest: gratitude.
I am grateful for the truly remarkable team I work with, the area partners who roll up their sleeves alongside us, and the opportunity we have each day to restore hope for those who need it most.
I often think of the local children we unite to help. Who among them will grow up to be the next trailblazer in our community?
Hope, gratitude’s constant companion, is what drives us. It’s the reason we wake up every morning and what helps us sleep at night.
There will always be more work than can ever be done. But the steadfast spirit of the Iron Range keeps us going.
It has been my humble pleasure to learn from, support, and collaborate with countless changemakers, all working toward the same goal: thriving residents and communities.
I’m proud to be from this area, honored to serve it, and forever grateful for your support along the way.