Ahmed (Meddy) Ali
My Name is Ahmed Ali but I go by Meddy. My family immigrated to MN when I was 10 years old and I grew up in Minneapolis and lived my whole life in Minneapolis. When I start my business in St.Paul, I did not expect the love that was poured on us by the community. […]
Karen McCauley
Karen has lived in the neighborhood since 2001. She is currently a co-organizer of The Midway Project, a weekly mutual aid site run out of Hancock Recreation Center. She also serves as the Family Resource Coordinator at Hamline Elementary, where her son attended K through 5. It was her family’s experience at Hamline Elementary that […]
Gary Laskowski
Laskowski applied for the board because, “I like being involved in things that make a difference.” Born and raised in Steven’s point, Wis., joined the Air Force and was an aircraft maintenance specialist. In 1991, he moved to Minnesota after retiring from the paper mill. He currently resides at Hamline Hi-Rise In addition to serving […]
Ilya Garelik, Co-Vicepresident
I have lived in the Hamline Midway neighborhood with my partner and 3 dogs since 2018 and have appreciated the sense of community and positivity that is inherent to the neighborhood. I believe in the power of community organizing and its potential to improve the lives of the people who live in it. I am […]
Rayford Dixon, Treasurer
I own and operate Rayz R Cuts barbershop on Snelling avenue, and I have been in the neighborhood for several years. Over the past year I have gotten to know the Hamline Midway Coalition by attending Board meetings and events. I am excited to use my can-do attitude and willingness to help out to support […]
Lucid Thomas, Tenant Organizer
Lucid Thomas is our Tenant Organizer. He has been involved in organizing since his undergrad and is currently doing Metro State University’s MAPL program. Organizing fuels his soul. He likes playing guitar, walking through the woods, and hanging out with his cat, Jack. Not just me… You too! See yourself as someone who wants to […]
Justin Lewandowski, Organizing Director
Get in touch! Not just me… You too! See yourself as someone who wants to make a difference in the neighborhood? Get in touch with us! Contact Us
Jenne Nelson, Executive Director
Jenne (she/her) is a lifelong educator and lifelong learner, with degrees in Secondary English Education and Teaching English as a Second Language. She spent the first part of her career as a high school English and debate teacher, including a six-month stint teaching in Hangzhou, China. In 2012, her love of education brought her to […]
Cole Hanson, President
Hamline-Midway is at a transition between the neighborhood my father grew up in and the one my 3-year-old daughter will someday live in. My name is Cole Hanson (he/him), and as a public health professional and community-based educator, I want to be one of your Hamline-Midway board members. As the current Board President, I work […]