Wellstone Action!

Mohammed Abdi has been working with Somali Action Alliance since 2004, helping to organize a voter engagement campaign where they knocked more than 5000 doors, contacted more than 4000 thousand people and registered more than 1000 people.

Chris Brazelton participated in several other training groups similar to Camp Wellstone prior to campaigning for Minnesota's State House of Representatives district 19B in Wright County. For her, Camp Wellstone focused on "framing the message" for running a successful campaign. Chris

Some Camp Wellstone alumni become more active after they retire, as is the case with Gene Bullock, a resident of Poulsbo, Washington.

Walter Castellanos came to the United States in 2003 from El Salvador. He is the oldest of 4 children, raised by a single mother, who taught him to have strong values. Walter grew up in a country where Civil War was a part of his childhood, which inspired him to be an agent for social change.

Maureen has more than six years experience helping low-income and first generation college students find pathways to college and graduate school.

In March of 2008, five individuals from the organization Homeless Helping Homeless attended Camp Wellstone in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The group, led by Liz Clasen, was made up of Jerry, Rollon, Stacey, and Humphrey.  They attended the training to hone their skills as organizers and advocates in their community.

As a student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Marco was active in Chicanos/Latinos Unidos and mentored young Latino students.

Martha joined MEP in February 2008 as a Wellstone Fellow. She will be coordinating MEP's Native American civic engagement project. 

As a musician, producer, poet and lyricist Roy developed non-violent music and entertainment and was a contributing writer for the Whittier Globe community newspaper.

In her work with various community organizations, Erika has advocated, consulted, and facilitated in the following areas: School readiness, prenatal care, interpreter, children's special needs, reproductive health, domestic abuse, nutrition, lead testing and healthy living.

Kelly Lewis is an African American, dread-locked, lesbian golfer from Lafayette, Louisiana. She is an outspoken advocate for the communities she represents.

Karen is the co-coordinator of 2008 Wellstone Fellows Program.

Rena is committed to social justice for all of humanity and hopes to one day become one of Minnesota most effective organizer and leader representing her community, her city and the state of Minnesota.

Nasimiyu has a focus in social justice organizing.

Leah Nelson is busy with issue advocacy and volunteered for Barrack Obama's presidential campaign. She was active with the University of Minnesota Duluth's Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) and Make the U Fair, a fair trade coffee and sweatshop-free advocacy group. She also helped extend the efforts of Make the U Fair to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and University of Minnesota Morris. Leah is a 2007 Campus Camp Wellstone alumnus. 

Kristine Reeves has a passion for youth and minority political involvement, and through her work as Chair of the Democratic Party in Spokane, Washington, helped organize the largest caucus turnout in her county.

(Bio coming soon)

Lily was a leader in the struggle at the University of Minnesota to keep the General College open. The General College admitted students who faced disadvantages in the K-12 system such as working class, urban students, students with English as a non-native language, and students of oppressed racial backgrounds.

As a former coal miner, concern for our environment, love of the Applachian Mountains and Camp Wellstone has encourged me to be more active in my community.

Camp Wellstone alum Chad Shue knows how to stay positive when faced with defeat. He drew on the "invaluable" training experience he received at Camp Wellstone to help manage a friend's campaign for city council.

Alicia is most proud of recently working at the Young Womens Mentoring Program, a mentoring program for local young women of color. She wants to be an advocate and build confidence in brown girls so they recognize their potential as leaders in and out of their direct communities.

Deborah Torraine is an outreach/cultural worker, educator and writer.

Danielle has a strong interest in grassroots organizing and voter engagement efforts; more specifically her interests in community issues include the politicization of the judiciary and issues affecting urban populations such as education, health, and economic stability.