Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Woodbury, as a farm kid before it was a suburb. My wife and co-founder, Melanie, grew up in Minneapolis and Frankfort, Kentucky.
Why did you want to become a police officer?
I was recruited out of graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where I studied the social factors leading to criminality, particularly those impacting women.
While I enjoyed research, my passion was solving real problems for real people, working directly with affected populations.
What did you focus on in your work?
During my first 20 years with the MPD, I worked with people exploited in prostitution and trafficking — first as a street crimes officer in North Minneapolis, later as a nationally recognized expert on human trafficking. In 2018, I became MPD’s first liaison dedicated to homeless and vulnerable populations, emphasizing hands-on, relational work.
You co-founded Involve MN, a nonprofit that provides 14,000 meals weekly to people living in poverty and homelessness. What motivated you, and what is your mission?
Our mission is to combat hunger, food insecurity and the numerous indignities of being unhoused. We provide meals, basic needs, mentoring and navigation.
Currently, we prepare and distribute 14,000 meals weekly to shelters, drop-in centers, withdrawal management centers, re-entry facilities, encampments, and the streets across the metro area.
The vision for Involve MN emerged from my work as a human trafficking detective, where I saw that many people impacted by trafficking also experienced homelessness.
I noticed significant gaps in professional engagement with these people. Outreach was inconsistent, and support systems often weren’t flexible enough to meet the dynamic needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Food services for unhoused people were also lacking. Community interest was strong, but professionally prepared, safe, and consistent meals were rare.
Many in need couldn’t access meals that were available due to schedules, transportation, or barriers like sobriety requirements. Involve MN was created to fill these gaps, meeting people where they are, whatever their circumstances.
You retired from MPD and now work full time with Involve MN, operating kitchens at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis and the Food Center downtown near HCMC. What types of meals do you prepare, and who is your clientele?
Our clientele are primarily individuals facing homelessness, food insecurity and housing instability.
We are dedicated to providing chef-prepared, nutritious meals tailored to meet their needs in a warm and welcoming environment.
To enhance this experience, we recently hired Mary Henrikson, our new head chef for the Food Center, who brings her expertise from Mucci’s Italian and In Bloom.
The Food Center has long provided meals in downtown Minneapolis. What is your vision for its future?
We want the Food Center to be a welcoming haven for all — a place to gather, enjoy warm hospitality and a delicious meal, and a space where anyone can return to find someone or to be found.
The Food Center is ideally located due to its proximity to key services, healthcare, housing and transportation.
Beyond the three meals currently served daily, we are committed to making the center a welcoming, warm navigation hub where community, case managers, social workers and healthcare professionals can connect.
Finding and connecting with clients is one of the main barriers to connecting people with healthcare, housing and mental health services.
We want to maintain an open door for everyone. Just last week, neighbors affected by an encampment fire came to the center, found connection with the community and access to services, and had a safe, warm place to stay by evening.
Looking ahead, we will reopen the food shelf in January 2025 with an expanded vision to provide not only food but also essentials such as hygiene products and clothing. The Food Shelf will be open on weekends to accommodate working people.
We are also excited about our plan to open a small café or diner in the building street front on Park Avenue across from HCMC. This diner will serve delicious, creative meals under a “pay as you can” policy, fostering community, where everyone is welcome, and no one is turned away.
What do you think is missing from the currently available services for people living in poverty and homelessness?
While emergency and long-term shelter and housing are critical, other needs often go unmet. People need consistent access to quality, nutritious food provided with dignity and care. Except for the Food Center, downtown Minneapolis is a food desert for those in need.
Additionally, many shelters require people to leave during the day, which creates significant challenges for those with limited mobility or transportation. There’s a need for safe, service-rich and dignified spaces where people can spend their days.
How does your work now relate to your work with the Minneapolis Police Department?
My time at MPD, particularly in encampments, profoundly shaped my approach. It underscored the importance of building relationships and being present with people to effectively serve those in need.
I developed a clear understanding of the systemic gaps in our response to poverty and homelessness.
While these challenges are significant, small gestures — like remembering a name, offering support or providing a meal prepared with care — have profound impacts.
What can people do to help support your mission?
Like anything, this work comes at a cost, as it prioritizes high-quality service, premium ingredients and professional preparation to ensure every individual is treated with dignity.
We deeply appreciate financial support, as we receive no external funding for our work at the Food Center.
We also invite supporters to join us for a meal and experience the hospitality we cultivate firsthand.
Witnessing our mission in action is the best way to understand the difference Involve|MN makes in individuals’ lives daily.
