New Year, New Leader - A Discussion with Ellen Reed, Executive Director of the Mississippi Park Connection

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Ellen ReedEllen Reed comes to the Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) as a leader ready to "get her feet wet" – so many ways to say that she is going to "jump right in" to take the organization to new heights. We talked about the accomplishments of the MPC in the last 16 years, her goals for the essential organization and how storytelling can enhance the contributions of a nonprofit leader.

Q:  Congratulations on your appointment as Executive Director of the Mississippi Park Connection. As a starting point, how do you plan to build upon the achievements of the MPC?

A: It is such an honor to take on the role of Executive Director at Mississippi Park Connection (MPC). Over the past 16 years, MPC has grown into a robust nonprofit organization serving the community and beyond through collaborative programming, partnerships, and education. Growing from a one-person staff, led by the incredible Katie Nyberg, MPC is now composed of a gifted team of ten highly qualified professionals dedicated to connecting people to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, the national park located in the Twin Cities.

Building upon MPC’s achievements brings its own challenges, as the organization has already achieved so many successes in its history. For example, Mississippi Park Connection helped revamp the Mississippi River Visitor Center at the Minnesota Science Museum in 2016. Through the Plant for the Future campaign, MPC and its partners have planted over 18,000 trees in the park. Approximately 200,000 students have learned about the river through youth education field trips and programs. Topping that is going to be quite a feat! But with the support of all those who love the river and park, we can accomplish even more.

One way I see that happening is by expanding programming and engagement throughout the entire 72-mile park corridor and connecting people from all over to the Mississippi River. We are fortunate to have a national park right in the heart of the Twin Cities, and this river is one of the greatest in the world. If every person who experienced the Mississippi River at the park developed a passion for protecting it - whether they live here or elsewhere - imagine what we could accomplish!

Q:  Are there new initiatives, programs, or events you want to introduce to MPC in 2024?

A:  The upcoming year will bring growth not only in programming and education, but also in the MPC staff. We are hiring a new program manager who will help expand our ability to deliver programs throughout the entire corridor of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area from Dayton to Hastings, while also strengthening programs and events in the metro area.

In Summer 2024, we will be launching Paddle Share 2.0, which will improve the user experience and access for the self-serve kayak rental program MPC manages in partnership with the City of St. Paul, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Three Rivers District, City of Brooklyn Park, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and the National Park Service. Paddle Share connects people to the river through a kayak sharing system in the Twin Cities metro area that lets you rent a kayak, paddle, and safety equipment so you can paddle to a destination downriver. By investing in upgrades to Paddle Share, more people will be able to get onto the river.

Q:  What are the most significant challenges you foresee in 2024, and how will MPC plan to address or mitigate their impact?

A:  As the charitable partner to the National Park Service, we bridge the gap between what the park needs to serve the community and what it receives through federal funding. When the park is faced with budget shortfalls or government shutdowns, it is our role to support however we can by remaining agile and responsive to the park’s needs while also being steadfast in delivering excellent programs for the many communities we serve. To address this challenge and plan for potential volatility, we rely on individuals who love the park to support MPC through annual membership gifts and contributions. Steady support from members ensures we have program resources in both times of uncertainty and stability.

Q:  Your online bio mentions your strengths in storytelling and communications. I really like that you've listed storytelling. Please tell us how you’ll apply these strengths in your role.

A:  When I was a young student, I struggled to pass my history tests. Memorizing dates and names proved to be nearly impossible for me and history became something I disliked. One night, my grandmother found me scribbling facts from World War II on index cards, holding them up, and failing to find the right answer. She took the cards from me and said, “I can tell you what I remember from 1942…” and told me stories about her time as a young woman experiencing war. The dates began to have context, and the names took shape as people. The stories brought history to life in my mind and from there I developed a passion for both history and storytelling.

We connect with the world through storytelling. It’s where the connection begins. We begin to actualize the abstract and contextualize the unknown.  I’ve used storytelling to encourage people who have never kayaked the Mississippi River to take the leap and try it. I tell them about my first time kayaking the river and how I was afraid, but also afraid to tell anyone I was afraid. I describe how the water moved and how it felt on my feet. I tell them how the kayak reacted when I got in, and how long it took for me to get a feel for the paddle. I’ve shown them a photo of me on the water, with my eager-yet-still-anxious smile, and then the victory photo of me at the end of my paddle - completely dry and giddy with a sense of accomplishment.

Ellen kayaking - this looks like peaceful and reflective time we all could use!

That is how I use storytelling in my role. I hope I can inspire others to find their connection to the river through the many stories we have to tell about it.

Q:  Is it a priority for MPC to enhance community engagement and outreach efforts in the new year?

A:  Absolutely. Connecting with the community is what we do.

Q:  Please tell us about ongoing or new partnerships or collaborations MPC will consider with local organizations, businesses, or government agencies to support your 2024 goals?

A:  Partnership is at the core of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and therefore is at the core of MPC. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is designated as a partner park, which means it accomplishes its purpose through partnerships with land managers, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and fellow agencies. Within the park’s corridor, there are hundreds of partner organizations we work with and many more beyond its boundaries. As we expand programming and engagement throughout the region, MPC will look to further strengthen existing relationships with our partners and will actively seek out new partnerships so we can work together to connect more people to the river.

Q:  You’re going to be a fantastic leader. How may we stay current with your news?  

A:  So many ways:

●        Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter at parkconnection.org

●        Become a member of Mississippi Park Connection at parkconnection.org/membership

●        Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin