2011 Home Dedications

Mound - Dec. 17, 2011
The holiday spirit was in evidence at a dedication in Mound on Saturday. Homebuyers Toni and Youa felt very welcomed as volunteers, neighbors, Mound city council members and Mayor Mark Hanus gathered for the event. The Rt. Rev. Brian Prior, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota offered a prayer to bless the house. EpiscoBuilders committee chair Jim Bizal and Episcopal Community Services director John Estrem spoke about the coalition’s goals to promote more affordable housing in the west metro area. The family cooked eggrolls and wontons for all the guests and the kids made themselves at home, coloring and playing with a train set in their new bedroom.

Shakopee - Dec. 17, 2011
Three families came together with staff, volunteers and sponsors to celebrate two Habitat homes in Shakopee and one in Jordan. Several representatives from the Builder’s Association of the Twin Cities, which sponsored and built one of the homes, attended. COO Mary Schumacher and TCHFH Board member Cindy Gehrig presented each family with a Bible and framed Golden Rule. Also, members of two churches who worked on the homes presented each family with quilts and cookbooks.

St. Paul - Nov. 17, 2011
Two homebuyer families gathered together with over 50 sponsors, volunteers and staff members at a joyous dedication in St. Paul. The program was started off by St. Paul Deputy Mayor Paul Williams. The deputy mayor congratulated the families and spoke about Habitat’s efforts to revitalize St. Paul’s neighborhoods. Other speakers echoed the mayor’s words, including Habitat president Sue Haigh, Travelers Insurance representative Sandra Stoddard and Habitat board member Tanya Bell. Prayers, including one where guests laid their hands on the wall to bless the house, were provided by Jim Richards, a volunteer from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. Click here to see more images from the celebration.

Minneapolis - Nov. 17, 2011
Neighbors, sponsors and volunteers came to welcome Hindiya and her family of nine to their new home. Site supervisor Tony Beckstrom told several stories about the construction of the house and working with Hindiya and the volunteers. Tony also said he was thankful the house was finished even with setbacks such as the May 2011 tornado in North Minneapolis. Hindiya and her family members thanked the volunteers and sponsors. Mike Viland, a volunteer from primary house sponsor General Mills, spoke about General Mills’ commitment to “nourishing lives” and presented the family with a gift basket. City councilmember Diane Hofstede and Habitat COO Mary Schumacher also congratulated the family on their new home.

West St. Paul - Oct. 27, 2011
The 2011 Women Build homes in West St. Paul and Columbia Heights were dedicated on Thursday night. Members of the youth group from Advent United Methodist Church in Eagan performed two songs from their production of “Makin’ Room,” a musical about Habitat for Humanity. The youths raised $1,200 in donations for Habitat at the musical’s two performances this summer. Allyson Knudsen, Women Build Co-Chair and Darlene Lewis, a city council member from West St. Paul, shared their thoughts about the Women Build program. Site supervisor Anna Morrison and Chief Operating Officer Mary Schumacher also congratulated the families and welcomed them to their new homes. The Columbia Heights Women Build home will have volunteer opportunities available through December 3rd. Visit VolunteerHub to sign up to help complete the home.

Minneapolis- Oct. 27, 2011
Children’s laughter filled a home in North Minneapolis as more than 70 family members, sponsors, volunteers and community members (and one kitten) gathered to dedicate three homes sponsored by Thrivent Builds. Site supervisor Eric Weatherman spoke about working with the volunteers and families. Homebuyer Katherine Scott thanked the sponsors and volunteers, saying that she admired their willingness to give back to the community. Perry Jacobson and Chris Larson spoke on behalf of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Katie Topinka from Sen. Al Franken’s office read a letter from the Senator to the families. Pastor Dave Mohn from Holy Nativity Lutheran Church shared two prayers, one from the Christian tradition and one from the Lakota Native American tradition. Habitat president Susan Haigh also welcomed the families to their new homes, especially the homebuyers' 13 children, and wished them all bright futures. Click here for more photos from the event.

St. Paul – Sept. 17, 2011
Representatives of the Holy Hammers, an ecumenical coalition of north suburban churches, gathered in St. Paul on Saturday to dedicate the 17th house they have built and sponsored to date. Pastor Leesa Soderlind blessed the home during the opening and closing prayers, and site supervisor Rhonda Thorson thanked the volunteers. On behalf of the Holy Hammers, Jim Fruehling reminisced about the eleven weeks the coalition spent working on the home, while Dave Yarusso presented the family with an album of photos of the home being constructed from start to finish. Habitat homebuyers Abiye and Sefanit spoke about the opportunities that the new house will provide for their family. One such opportunity was clear to everyone present: the home will give their two young boys a clean, safe place to run, jump, and play. View more photos from the event here.

Minneapolis – Sept. 15, 2011
On a cool fall night, Alemayehu and Tenaye and their two children welcomed guests into their beautiful new home in Northeast Minneapolis. During the program, Rick Person and Dan Franklin of Westminster Presbyterian Church provided the opening and closing prayers. J. Forrest spoke on behalf of the Edina High School Class of 1991, which decided to honor its 20 year reunion by sponsoring two build weeks. He shared stories about building both in snow and 100 degree heat. Jenni Wilken of Wells Fargo and site supervisor Dave Madzo thanked volunteers and wished the family well. Also present were Sandra Anderson, who made the new home possible by donating the lot from her old house, and City Councilman Kevin Reich. View photos from the event here.

St. Paul – Sept. 13, 2011
Nearly 70 people, including sponsors, neighbors, government officials, and volunteers, gathered to celebrate the new homes of enthusiastic homebuyers Melkamu Libargachew and Aster Awlachew and Yohannes Ayele and Nebabit Woldegebreal. Rev. Bonnie Wilcox and Rev. Hans Dahl from Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church prayed for blessings on the families during the opening and closing prayers, and Tom Young and Todd Readinger spoke on behalf of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the major sponsor for each of the homes. Collette King reminisced about her first completed project as a site supervisor, while fellow site supervisors John Reagan and Erik Johnson shared their own stories about working with the volunteers and families. To see more photos from the event, click here.

North Minneapolis – July 21, 2011
On July 21st Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity dedicated the Entrepreneurs House in Minneapolis, the new home of Mardiya and Osman. The house was a community service project for the Twin Cities entrepreneurial community, composed of a group of companies, investment firms and other businesses that serve the entrepreneurial community. Clarke Porter, Entrepreneurs House Steering Committee Chair, was in attendance to share his thoughts on how this rehabbed house was a labor of love for all involved in the process. To see a few more photos from the event click here.

Hopkins – June 25, 2011
Mary Lynn Staley, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Board Member, and Dave Hoover form Cargill were in Hopkins on Saturday morning to welcome Habitat homebuyer Rahel to her new home. Pastor John D.F. Nelson from Gethseman Lutheran Church provided prayers to open and close this celebration. View photos from the day here.

Jordan – June 25, 2011
On a rainy Saturday, Ilya and Irina welcomed guests into their home for the dedication of this house in Jordan as well as two more in Prior Lake. Pastor Steve Thompson of Hope Lutheran Church, Jordan entertained guests with his guitar playing while the children of homebuyers Abdifatah and Qamar sang along. Board Member Tom Naughton presented a gift of a framed “Golden Rule” plaque to each family. View photos from the day here.

North Minneapolis – June 16, 2011
Six new Habitat homeowner families gathered in the sunshine on Russell Avenue North in Minneapolis to celebrate their new homes. During the program they were welcomed with opening prayers by Father Leo Tibesar of St. Francis Cabrini Church, remarks from Jenni Wilken of Wells Fargo, a Multiple Home Sponsor, and Jill Harmon, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Board Member. Site supervisor David Michaelson reminisced about the journey of turning these construction sites into homes. Wells Fargo was a sponsor of several of the homes involved in this dedication. View photos from the day here.

Saint Paul – May 26, 2011
Community members, family, friends and volunteers gathered in St. Paul to dedicate two homes—one on Fuller, and the other on Mississippi. The beautiful weather, matched by the kind words made by Habitat staff, volunteers and sponsors, made it a wonderful event. Anna Morrison supervised the site on Fuller and reminisced about remaking this previously foreclosed house into the beautiful structure it is today. Andy Barnett, the Director of Community Involvement also spoke about the promising new redevelopment that will take place in this part of St. Paul in the next few years. Members from Travelers were also at the dedication and welcomed the families into their new homes. View photos from the evening here.

Brooklyn Center – May 14, 2011
Six new Habitat families gathered in Brooklyn Park to celebrate their new homes with family, friends, volunteers, city officials and Habitat staff. Lynda Bouley, site supervisor for three of the homes being dedicated, shared kind words about the homebuyers she has come to know during their time on site. Homebuyer Aklilu Burayu expressed his joy for finally being able to move into a new home. His family of seven has been sharing a one-bedroom apartment for five years as they’ve waited for a home of their own. West District Council Member, Jeanette Meyer and North Central Regular Crew member, Edward Nieman also spoke to welcome the families to their new homes. View photos from the day here.

Shakopee – March 31, 2011
Abdi, Shukri and their family were welcomed into their new Shakopee home by Habitat staff, Delta Air Lines employees and Shakopee Mayor John Schmitt. Delta was a Keystone sponsor of this home and provided volunteers for many weeks. Site supervisor Erik Johnson reminisced on the time he spent with the Delta employees and the confidence they gained in their construction abilities as the weeks passed. Abdi and Shukri’s children felt right at home in their new house as they colored, ate cake and searched for monsters in the upstairs closets. View photos from the evening here.