About five years ago, I was lucky enough to move into the Kings Maplewood neighborhood of Saint Paul, after almost 20 years of living in Merriam Park. I have loved Saint Paul from the first time I came here, and now hope to repay my city and my neighbors by serving on the MacGroveland community council board. I have always lived in dense, diverse urban neighborhoods (in New York as a child and adolescent, and later in Denver), and those places have given me opportunities to learn how desirable density and diversity are for families and people from all parts of the spectrum. I am committed to preservation of the urban forest to promote livability. Thanks to many people who have preceded me, our MacGroveland community has evolved into a highly desirable place to live, with wonderful retail nodes built around old streetcar stops. MacGroveland will continue to evolve, and I want to be part of that process, by contributing my experience as an attentive observer of the urban fabric and as an advocate for trees, as well as historic preservation as a part of the mix. I spent most of my career working on issues involving troubled municipal bond issuances, which has given me insights on how municipal finance affects livability. You can always find me out and about, especially in Grids 1, 2, and 3, looking for the very best of MacGroveland.

I grew up on Stanford Ave. near Cretin and attended Groveland Park Elementary School. I left Minnesota in 1969 to go to Beloit College, marry, study at NYU, and then live until 2022 in Cincinnati, OH, where with my husband I raised three children, taught in mostly urban schools for 30 years, did community volunteer work including sponsoring refugees and serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for kids in foster care. In June of 2022 we moved to St. Paul where, much to my surprise and enjoyment, we live one block from my childhood home! I bring homegrown love for the neighborhood as well as experience and “new eyes” to the challenges and joys of MacGrove.

Hello Mac-Groveland neighbors! 

I’m Katherine Cairns, a 45+ year resident of Grid 2. My husband and I have raised our 3 children, cared for relatives, and attended school here. I have loved our Mac-Groveland “city within a city”- with most of what a person/family needs within a 15-minute walk/bike/drive. I am a community volunteer, small business owner (healthcare consultant), University of Minnesota and University of St Thomas alumni. I have volunteered/worked with statewide and community non-profit boards. In my free time, I like to garden, fish, fix things, head “up north” to the cabin, and hang out with our grandchildren. I bring to MGCC a passion to connect and engage the multi-generational residents of our neighborhood, to support area businesses, and to advocate for improved safety/health for our neighbors.

I am serving as a Grid 2 representative since 2020, and have been a member of the MGCC Transportation committee since 2018 (Chair of the committee since 2020). As a board member I will be inclusive and transparent in my role to facilitate the communication between you, the residents of MGCC, and the elected City officials. Inclusive actions and consensus building have been my primary professional activities during the past three years, and I am looking forward to leverage these in serving you and all our neighbors. As a Grid-2 representative, I plan to engage with a great number of you to better understand the diverse interests of the people in our community. I will also seek your support to act on the pressing topics of our time, such as racism, global warming and equity. So please join me to think globally and act locally.

My family has lived in the neighborhood since 2012. My boys play lacrosse and attend Circus Juventas—if you haven’t seen a Spring or Summer show, you should! They are amazing! We like to ski and snowboard in the winter and in the Spring and Summer, I plant a vegetable garden in my front yard and encourage my neighbors to help themselves. In my family, we believe that food is love and we have plenty to share. I am involved with MGCC because I like to know what is going on in the neighborhood and I am a big believer that democracy is hard work and relationships matter. I hope to see you around the neighborhood!

My wife, Hannah, and I live in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood with our dog, Lily. We immediately felt welcomed by our neighbors and have come to appreciate the genuine sense of community that makes this neighborhood so unique. We love taking walks through Mac-Groveland, enjoying its walkability, beautiful historic homes, and making stops at the many great shops and restaurants.

In my professional role, I lead strategic planning initiatives and enjoy bringing people together to solve problems and build for the future. I’m excited to serve on the MGCC Board by ensuring every voice is heard, increasing community engagement and access, and helping identify practical ways to make Mac-Groveland an even better place to live.

Macalester-Groveland has been my home for much of my adult life, with 30 of those years living right here in Grid 4 on Fairmount Avenue where I raised my two children. I am an avid bicyclist, getting out on the road most evenings eight months of the year. I am a big supporter of Saint Paul professional sports teams, as a season ticket holder of the Minnesota UFC, and a regular attendee at Saints games. In addition to having the privilege of serving on the MGCC board of directors representing my neighbors, I am a member of the St. Paul Neighborhood STAR Board, as one of three representatives from Ward 3 and currently serve as Vice Chair, and a member of the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee of the Metropolitan Council representing AARP.

Hi, I’m Meghan, your Grid Five Representative! You may see me walking my dog around Edgecumbe, wandering Kowalski’s, or at any of our St Paul Public Libraries. You may remember me as a barista at  Kopplin’s Coffee  from its original Hamline location, now the delicious  Cold Front . My first job was at Groveland Recreation Center in 2003.  I am a public relations and brand strategist by training. By trade, I have been implementing healthcare technologies and digital infrastructure platforms, systems, and apps since graduating from the U. Returning to St Paul, I am grateful member of Mac Grove since 2022.  

As a hobbyist gardener, I am learning to tame weeds and grow my patience. 

I am a passionate supporter of art, community, and preservation. Check out  DEMO  a non-profit promoting and  preserving Minnesota’s independent music.

To borrow from one of the best—Won’t you be my neighbor? 

Let’s get coffee… or ice cream!

I like to page through cookbooks and cooking magazines, read mystery novels, collect salt and pepper shakers, knit, and do the New York Times Crossword. Right now, I’m in the middle of perfecting Cream of Mushroom soup. How come no one before ever told me what a great herb Thyme is? Here’s a tip. If you want a substitute for cream, use oat milk. Soy milk doesn’t work. By the way, no one should ever, ever, do soup out of a can. No matter how lazy they are.

If anyone wants recipes (my own inventions) for dill pasta sauce with jalapeno (Minnesota Dill), bitter-sweet chocolate banana milk (Choc-O-Ban), or mustard mashed potatoes with smoked paprika (Mustar’ Mash), let me know. I’m thinking of creating a French Toast thing with black pepper, and jalapeno and red bell pepper bits. I plan to call it “The Freckled Frenchie.”

Oh, and I write opinionated opinion pieces to the Pioneer Press and Villager, and sometimes even get them published. Plus, I’m the worst gardener in the history of gardening. All my milkweeds went pfft. I can’t even get a weed to grow. Just kidding. The creeping charlie is doing just fine.

I first became involved with St. Paul’s district councils when my first child was on the way and I decided that it was a good way to help create the city that I want my children to grow up in. I love walking our tree-lined residential streets, getting coffee in our commercial nodes, and hopping on our bike lanes to get to other neighborhoods’ libraries. And I love teaching my two kids how to do the same even more. As a disabled person, though, I struggle with those spots in our neighborhood where not everything is as accessible for everyone as it could be. My goal as an Residential Representative is to fill those gaps and make this community one that works for ALL of our residents.

My name is Laura Hester, and I am a proud Macalester-Groveland resident. After living out of state for 7 years, my husband, John, and I moved back to Minnesota in 2017 and currently live on the same MacGrove street I grew up on as a child. We have two young daughters, and presently I work part time while raising our girls. My professional background is in education, and I firmly believe in the importance of both quality education for our children as well as the importance of community on the development of a child. Professionally, I have a Masters in K-12 Education Public Policy and I have worked on all sides of education, including: in the classroom, in administration, at the state department of education, and currently at an education nonprofit. I have a deep love for our MacGroveland community, and I would be honored to serve on your board of directors.

Bio coming soon!

I am a mom of two boys, a wife, a nurse practitioner by trade, and a native of Texas. I met and married my husband, who is from Stillwater, Minnesota, in 2010. During our first 11 years together, we lived all over the United States before finding our forever home, in our forever please – Saint Paul in the spring of 2021.

Having just made it through my fifth Minnesota winter, I can honestly say I truly love it here. I proudly consider myself a Minnesotan by choice.

I deeply value our neighborhood, our community, and our local elementary school. I am grateful for the opportunity to put down permanent roots here. As I continue building those roots, I feel a strong responsibility to give back to the community that has welcomed my family so warmly.

MGCC has been, and continues to be, an important place for me to learn, grow, and become more involved in our community. I enjoy listening and learning, and over the past year I have spent time gaining a deeper understanding of local government. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with neighbors, community organizations, The University of St. Thomas, members of the City Council, and the Mayor’s Office.

Through these experiences, I have learned that collaboration is essential to building a healthy, connected, and thriving community. I look forward to continuing to listen, learn, and foster meaningful relationships as I deepen my involvement in the community I proudly call home.

Brian Wagner, M.Ed. in Education Administration and Counseling, BA in Creative and Performing Arts. Realtor with Coldwell Banker Burnet, Prior career in higher education working at Walden University and Macalester College. Serves as the At-Large Business Representative for MGCC since 2018. Chair of the MGCC Community Building Committee, Member of the MGCC Inclusivity Task Force.  MGCC liaison to the Grand Avenue Business Association(GABA) and Secretary of GABA.  Co-chair of the Future is Grand Task Force – a collaboration between the Summit Hill Association, GABA and MGCC. A lover of dogs, quilting, gardening, and road biking. 

 I moved to Grid 4 of the Mac-Groveland District in September of 2022, but have lived in other parts of St. Paul. Mac-Groveland is our favorite spot in the Twin Cities for its tight-knit community, quality restaurants, shopping, and cafes, and the historic architecture accentuated by the natural beauty of every season. When I’m not grabbing a coffee at Roots Roasting or dining with Shelli and Mark at Carmelos, I’m most visible in the neighborhood while walking my two dogs: a Samoyed and a Bernese Mountain Dog. I’m the founder of a local media startup, called Ambit Media Company, and have joined the 2024 Grand Old Day Planning Committee. I love St. Paul and am invested in its continued success! 

I’ve lived, worked and played in St. Paul for more than 30 years. When my husband and I moved into our Macalester-Groveland house in 1993, we were immediately welcomed by neighbors near and far. Our two children were raised here and attended St. Paul public schools. Now that I’m retired, I’m enjoying giving back to the community that has given me and my family so much. As an active member of Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church and a participant in several local interfaith initiatives, I am looking forward to getting to know the hopes and dreams of all Mac-Grove faith communities. I’m honored to serve as the At-Large Faith Representative on the MGCC Board.  

Jerome Benner is a leader in government relations, community engagement, and urban development, currently serving as the Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations for the University of St. Thomas. With over a decade of progressive experience spanning local and regional government planning, private sector consulting, and stakeholder management, Jerome seeks to bridge the gap between large institutional interests and local community needs. He is a lifelong resident of the city, having lived in Rondo, Hamline-Midway, Summit-University, and now currently resides in Highland Park with his wife, Claire.

I tried to be clever in my MGCC Board Profile and I received a brutally frank lesson. I started with a little spiel: I represent landlords, the people who provide homes to one-third of Macalester Groveland’s residents. My husband and I married as college students in 1972. Our first home was the basement apartment of 1716 Grand Avenue. Cora S. Clark was our landlord. Forty-nine years later, we, like Cora, provide homes to college students and others in Macalester Groveland and Union Park. We live down the avenue in a house … Blah, blah, blah.

I thought it would be clever to use a picture to show the meaning of  St. Paul’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s first Core Value, Equity and Opportunity. I went to 1716 Grand Avenue for a picture with whomever I encountered. I told three women from Rosemount having tea at Sencha that, every person who enters Macalester Groveland is entitled to “fairness and justice” equity and opportunity without regard to what is owned or time spent, five minutes or fifty years. They embraced that concept and seemed happy to join my MGCC profile picture. I felt clever, until I looked at the picture.

A picture is worth one thousand words. I did not anticipate how it would feel to come face-to-face with my twenty-year-old self and acknowledge what “equity” and “opportunity” meant in 1972. OUCH! How do I reconcile the truth that the opportunities given to me because of the color of my skin, are opportunity costs for others with equal or greater mastery because their skin is darker? The picture showed that I don’t need an actuary to tell me any Earthling with a life expectancy greater than a sixty-nine-year-old has more of what some call “skin in the game.” The young women standing with me clarify who has most at stake in the decisions we make today.

“This mosaic of human experience exposes us to narratives that are not always comfortable and that sometimes challenge our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world, but we believe that understanding such history opens a pathway to a more inclusive, empathetic and informed future.” * I find hope in these words from Kent Whitworth, Director and CEO of the Minnesota Historical Society. My faith in people to act for the common good is the reason I serve on the MGCC Board. *Counterpoint: Historical Society seeks to tell Minnesota’s entire story. http://strib.mn/3Am59Je

I have lived in Macalester Groveland for over 12 years, renting a unit in a 1922 duplex. I work as a Product Manager, where I focus on planning, problem-solving, and working with people across teams. My work has helped me develop strong skills in listening, weighing different viewpoints, and helping groups reach practical decisions.

As a renter, I pay close attention to how neighborhood and city decisions affect housing, livability, and everyday experiences. I value being part of this welcoming neighborhood and want to help residents stay informed and involved. Through my role on the district council, I aim to represent renter perspectives and support practical, well-informed local decisions. 

Biography coming soon!