COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
The ICC is composed of current AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members who serve in two capacities: ambassadors or members. Greater Minnesota service members have the opportunity to serve as an ambassador, while Twin Cities service members have the opportunity to serve with one of the five committees.
To learn more about how members are selected and why you should be on the council, click on Join ICC.
In addition to service members, ICC includes advisors who represent ServeMinnesota, the state's Commission on National and Community Service.
COUNCIL HANDBOOK
InterCorps Council of Minnesota Policies and Procedures Handbook
2023-2024 Facilitator Team
The Facilitator Team guides and supports the Council in its work to enact its vision. Each year the Council elects a Council Facilitator, Community Engagement Facilitator, and an Impact and Sustainability Facilitator to lead the Council in its work.
ELSA SKOGEN | Council Facilitator
Elsa is currently serving as VISTA Leader for MN Alliance with Youth, and as Council Facilitator for the ICC. They enjoy gardening, archery, and building dynamic hot wheels tracks in the yard and around their home with their toddler. Elsa is passionate about service and civil engagement as a way to restore and strengthen our communities from chronic systemic challenges and to sustain positive impact.
BOPHA THOMAS | Community Engagement Facilitator
Bopha is currently serving as a Literacy Leader through Literacy Minnesota. She creates resources for librarians to produce quality story times for her community. These story times promote early literacy and are the foundation for school readiness. Outside of her service day, you would find her at my sewing machine or curled up on the couch reading with some tea.
EMMA CELEBREZZE | Impact & Sustainability Co-Facilitator
Emma Celebrezze is serving as a Literacy Leader through Literacy Minnesota, working to develop a Distance Learning program at the International Institute of Minnesota. She is a historian by training and is passionate about making quality education accessible to all. This is her second term on the ICC, having previously served in 2020-21.
LANDRY FORREST | Impact & Sustainability Co-Facilitator
Landry is currently serving in her second term as a College Success Coach with College Possible. In this role, she supports first-generation and low-income students in tackling academic, financial, and social barriers in higher education. Landry is passionate about creating and implementing equitable admission and advising policies in higher education. In her free time, Landry enjoys cooking for friends and starting knitting projects she never finishes.
Community Health & Wellness Committee
MIKE HAYS | Project Team Connector
Mike is from Detroit Lakes and on a 2nd consecutive term with AmeriCorps as a Public Health Project Coordinator for Wilkin County Public Health. He has roughly 15 years of experience in Healthcare and Public Health starting as a Navy Hospital Corpsman where he specialized in Combat Medicine and Emergency Medicine, along with 8 years in mental health, and as a Patient Safety and Security Officer where he worked on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic before joining AmeriCorps. He also has a BS in Healthcare Management. His passions outside of work are reading and music.
ALEX LANGSJOEN | Council Member
Alex is currently serving with Math Corps. He is a native Minnesotan who recently relocated to Rochester to start a new life with his partner and their dog, Oliver. He lives a very active lifestyle and has many sport related hobbies, which include: basketball, curling, golfing, tennis, hiking, and biking. When he’s not participating in sports, you can find him watching our local Minnesota teams in the comforts of his living room (or at a nearby brewery).
ALEX SANCHEZ-RODRIGUEZ | Council Member
Alex was born and raised in Puerto Rico and moved to Minnesota last August. He loves reading, writing, cooking, and talking about hypotheticals. Alex is currently serving his first year with College Possible as a Flagship Access Coach helping high school students get into college!
COUNCIL MEMBER(S) NOT PICTURED:
Walter Taylor III|Heading Home Corps
Connection & Development Committee
HANNAH PETERSON | Council Member
Hannah’s education and experience have been in the areas of graphic communications and sustainable management. She is a lover of animals, a good book, and playing tennis. Her primary interests include protecting biodiversity and sustainable development. She is serving with Climate Impact Corps because she thought it would be a great opportunity to develop her skills and knowledge in environmental sustainability and serve her community. She wanted a role where she felt like she was doing something meaningful while also setting herself up for a fulfilling career. She has chosen to serve on the ICC to further expand her impact and get to know others in the various AmeriCorps programs throughout the state.
ZACH McCARTY | Council Member
Zach McCarty (He/Him) serves at Carver County Environmental Services as a Minnesota GreenCorps member, focusing on waste reduction, food rescue, and organics recycling within the county. With a background in Economics and Political Science, Zach joined AmeriCorps to assist the larger movement to create resilient, green communities in Minnesota that are accessible to all. He eventually wants to pursue a career in policy and outreach.
MEMBER(S) NOT PICTURED:
Amanda Thompson|TC Habitat for Humanity
Sarah Richardson|Community Forestry Initiative
Tina Davis|Reading Corps
Social Justice & Impact Committee
KATIE ALLARD | Project Team Connector
Katie is serving at College Possible in Saint Paul MN as a High School Coach. She works with Juniors and Seniors in High School to prepare them for College. Outside of work, she enjoys getting outside for hikes as well as staying in with a good book or a crochet project. She joined the ICC in hopes to connect with AmeriCorps members who are serving in many different sites across the state.
OVINI PATHIRANA | Council Member
Ovini is currently serving her first term as a Junior Navigate coach at College Possible. Ovini is from Sri Lanka. She brings a diverse perspective to her work with first generation students from low-income backgrounds, helping them navigate the complexities of college admissions. Ovini is a proud alumna of Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is passionate about helping and empowering others to achieve their dreams. Ovini loves to travel and discover new flavors.
MEMBER(S) NOT PICTURED:
Cindy Calloway|Heading Home Corps
Join ICC
WHY JOIN?
The ICC is a unique opportunity that allows AmeriCorps members across programs to network and collaborate with one another. As part of the ICC, members enhance their service year, grow their professional development and leadership skills, and connect to the AmeriCorps community as a whole.
HOW ARE MEMBERS SELECTED?
Each AmeriCorps program across the state of Minnesota elects service members to be their representative(s) on the ICC. The election of these members differs from across programs.
If you are interested in being your program's ICC representative, please contact your program manager/supervisor to learn about the election process.
COUNCIL HANDBOOK
InterCorps Council of Minnesota Policies and Procedures Handbook