Acooa Ellis, Mpp Email & Phone Number

ABLE Endeavors actualizes transformative impact, in partnership with mission-driven executives, political principals and nonprofit leaders. We build on our clients' expertise to identify barriers and co-create solutions that bridge the gap between strategic intent and impact. Ultimately, our approach helps leaders forge common ground among diverse stakeholder groups and embrace a "what's possible" mindset.

The Partnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities (PERC) is a newly-launched, cross-sector initiative designed to catalyze systems change focused on social determinants of health, determined collaboratively by Black, Indigenous and Latino/a/x people living in historically under-resourced communities.Leads efforts to raise funds from philanthropic partners at the local and national level to fuel community action planning.Serves as the public representative of PERC, directing external communications strategy and ensuring progress of various workstreams across multiple sectors.Fosters relationships with federal partners to increase collaboration with low-wealth, under-resourced communities as well as access to public resources.Responsible for expansion of PERC to new communities.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/people/acooaellis/#11b663be22db

Lead a 60-member department responsible for grantmaking, impact measurement, systems change and advocacy, along with a 24/7 resource helpline. Oversaw $30M+ in United Way-directed investments across the 9-county metro, including administration and disbursement of operating grants to more than 100 nonprofit organizations and coalitions annually.Responsible for devising and driving execution of the strategy to ensure a full, coordinated deployment of United Way resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Served as spokesperson for the organization with media, major donors, coalition partners and other constituents. Maintained effective Board engagement as staff to its Community Impact Committee. Shepherded the organization through the development and successful execution of a community building strategy aligned with its long range plan. Process included the sunsetting of three grant portfolios and reorganization of the Community Impact team.

Greater Twin Cities - Mn

Provided leadership, professional development and supervision to the Office for Social Justice, a team of grassroots organizing, public policy and communications professionals for the region’s largest comprehensive social services and civic impact organization.Led state lobbying efforts and the strategic deployment of grassroots/grasstops advocates to secure public investment in organization’s programs. Secured $12M bond appropriation for Dorothy Day Place Residence. Guided the social justice advocacy, community engagement and education of Catholic Charities clients, staff and stakeholders, including advancement of internal racial equity effort for the agency. Represented Catholic Charities in public forums, among media, lawmakers and community leaders.

Target Corporation

Drove collaboration among internal and external partners to devise legislative strategy to advance or protect company’s interests in 14-state region. Directly lobbied and activated over 1,000 employees in targeted legislator outreach on company priorities in states critical to business operations (Florida, Tennessee, Texas). The result was a $4 Million+ net impact to bottom line in 2015. Led change management for advocacy team through the evaluation of over 65 external partner memberships. Resulted in a deep, objective look at best practices for partner effectiveness, minimized risk of exposure, and fine-tuned political giving. Negotiated trade organization memberships throughout region to maximize value and ensure adequate legislative coverage on company priorities.

Target Corporation

Responsible for driving inclusion of women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, and military veteran business owners throughout company supply chain and across multiple business lines.Achieved unprecedented inclusion for Transportation and other areas with complex, high-dollar value contracts by creating a process for greater supply chain penetration. Achieved 56% inclusion for assigned business units, exceeding team's inclusion goal by 40%. Facilitated contract bid inclusion for over $100 Million in Target projects through individual supplier coaching and mentorship. Managed expansion of corporation’s Supplier Diversity initiative into Canada, addressed over 300 Canada-based entrepreneurs through technical assistance webinars, luncheon addresses and in-person meetings.

Led several critical interdisciplinary collaborations for Ward One, maintained intergovernmental relations to foster support for critical project goals. Brokered stakeholder agreement to facilitate City and neighborhood support critical to funding for a $13.6M mixed-use, transit-oriented development at highly-visible corner on Metro Transit Green Line. Created the community development plan that served as basis for the Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood, a cradle to career network of support for a 250-square block area within Saint Paul’s Frogtown and Summit-University neighborhoods. Established responsive customer service standard, along with the efficient and equitable delivery of City services for constituents through supervision of office staff, interns, graduate-level capstone student groups and management of the ward budget.

Established procedures to streamline and uphold project monitoring process and standards. Assisted with countywide stakeholder engagement process and performed analysis of quantitative and qualitative data with subsequent presentation of findings to elected officials, housing developers, and community development leaders.Participated in Request for Proposal review and award of $4 million for the Affordable Housing Incentive Fund.Provided technical assistance to and conducted follow-up with developers with regard to funding applications for housing and economic development.Conducted compliance monitoring of Housing Revenue and General Obligation bond-financed projects.Researched national best practices and organizational models for economic development of historic sites.Represented Hennepin County on Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development's West Broadway Alive! community steering committee.

Multi-Family Housing Development, Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Explored the use of economic models to assess the impact of Minneapolis' Corridor Housing Initiative. Participated in Request for Proposal process - prepared documents necessary, answered incoming questions about property listed for development, and evaluated developer presentations. Monitored CDBG, HOME loan files for regulation compliance. Analyzed the effects of condo conversion in Minneapolis on the supply of affordable housing. Subsequent findings assisted current Minneapolis Mayor and City Council in determining support for future conversions. Assisted the evaluation and ranking of competitive funding applications for Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Affordable Housing Trust Fund programs.Homeownership Preservation Foundation Facilitated broader awareness among the Homeownership Preservation Foundation's key stakeholders. Cultivated mutually beneficial partnerships between the Homeownership Preservation Foundation and community leaders. Worked with neighborhood organizations providing credit counseling on grant requests to strengthen proposals.

Master Of Public Policy, Social Policy; Community Economic Development

US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Fellowship

Bachelor Of Arts, Psychology; Sociology