MICAH’s Hero Award Recipients for 2021
Each year MICAH celebrates the individuals or organizations who work toward ending homelessness within MICAH’s mission to create and sustain a metropolitan area where everyone without exception has a safe, decent, accessible, and affordable home.
This year’s awards were presented at our annual meeting in December 2021.
La Shella Sims
Organizing & Advocacy
La Shella encourages people to use their God-given voice and power at every decision making table to ensure their needs are met - devoting much of her lifetime to advocating for equity and opportunities for others. She recently retired from her position as organizer at MICAH, has been a MICAH Board member, and continues to volunteer in the community.
No More Streets
Outreach & Advocacy
No More Streets is an outgrowth of the excellent work of Freedom from the Streets. Made up of people who are experiencing homelessness, have experienced homelessness, or at risk, they use their voice and power to change systems so the needs of others in the same position are being met in equitable & just ways, addressing the diversity of needed responses in our community.
Natividad Seefeld
MICAH Anoka Chapter Hero
Natividad Seefeld is living her dream – making Park Plaza Cooperative a safe, affordable place to live and raise a family. Park Plaza is a Resident Owned Community (ROC). Natividad has served as Board President since Park Plaza became a co-op on February 15, 2011. She is also the Vice President of the All Parks Alliance for Change.
Blair Harrison
COVID Response - Key Advocate
Blair Harrison’s tireless work with other staff at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Interagency Council on Homelessness assisted us in prevention and immediately addressing COVID-19 needs of people experiencing homelessness. She was the key advocate within MDH to address the COVID-19 response to people at risk and experiencing homelessness in 2020-21. She listened to people experiencing homelessness, providers, and advocates as MDH shaped responses to COVID-19 homeless settings.
Settled
MICAH NorthEast Chapter Hero
Settled is building Sacred Settlements, which are tiny home communities partnered with faith communities. They have been very active in the NorthEast area, including partnerships with Trinity Lutheran in Stillwater and Woodland Hills in Maplewood.
ISAIAH
MICAH St. Paul Chapter Hero
MICAH’s St. Paul chapter awarded ISAIAH a Community Hero Award for their work on the Keep St. Paul Home Rent Stabilization campaign. Their driven, dedicated staff and volunteers were able to organize the majority of the voter contacts in favor of rent stabilization.
Ally Supportive Services
MICAH South Chapter Hero
Ally Services demonstrates great success with the COVID-19 Trusted Messenger program in reaching out to people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, in providing truthful information about COVID-19 and vaccinations - helping coordinate vaccine clinics for over 100 folks to be vaccinated in Dakota County.
La Donna Hoy
Housing for All Chapter Hero
La Donna Hoy works day in and day out to help people lift themselves out of poverty as the Founder of Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) in the Wayzata and Plymouth area. Her philosophy, which has inspired many and guided IOCP for over 40 years, “I believe this is what we’re all called to do, to take care of one another, and it’s possible. You just have to find the good folks to help you get there.”