HOST COMMITTEE
Building on Dreams Host Committee
The Building on Dreams Host Committee is an advisory group that helps Avenues for Youth to reach new networks and provides guidance and support for the event. The Committee consists of the nine members below. Together, they provide significant input into many aspects of Building on Dreams from the theme and venue to the speakers and program and so much more.
2024 Host Committee
Bianca Cervantes, Collections Specialist, Thomson Reuters
Bianca Cervantes has worked at Thomson Reuters for almost 4 years, and has been involved with Avenues in some form for about 3 years. Bianca fell in love with the program immediately and wanted to help as much as possible. She has sponsored holiday gifts for a youth, hosted for Building on Dreams, and in her spare time she even teaches JA to local schools including her sons! She is married with 2 kids and 3 dogs and 1 cat. Bianca says, "We are a full house, but full of love as well. I grew up on the east side of Saint Paul, and coming from parents of migrant workers, we have always had an urgency to help those in need. I am looking forward to many years of helping out!"
Connie Sutton, Project and Event Manager
Connie Sutton is a former Project and Event Manager for US and International companies specializing in turn-key solutions, manufacturing, and mass communications. She is retired and resides in Maple Grove. Connie is an avid cook and artist. Connie also also the Mother of Avenues' very own, Kevin Kjonaas.
Missi Odden, Account Representative, Graybar
Missi Odden is an Account Representative with Graybar. She has been volunteering for Avenues since 2017. Missi‘s early experiences with youth, including babysitting starting at the age of 10 years old, sparked her passion for youth. In her free time, Missi practices yoga. Her favorite title is “mom.”
Molly Leutz, Organizer, Moms in Action - MN
Molly Leutz is the volunteer state lead for Minnesota Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Her gun violence prevention advocacy brought her to Avenues for Youth in spring of 2022, collaborating on a CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) cleaning and greening project at the Minneapolis Avenues location. Inspired by that ongoing partnership, Molly is thrilled to join the Host Committee for Building On Dreams. Along with her volunteer advocacy work, she is a freelance copywriter, a big Minnesota sports fan, and mom of two cool kids.
Princess Titus, Co-founder at Appetite for Change & Standard Edition Women
Princess is a teacher, mother, and organizer that focuses on healing. The Chicago native arrived in St. Paul 27 years ago on the third wave of migration for African Americans. She acknowledges that she is a descendant of stolen people on stolen land. Princess is a co-founder of Standard Edition Women and Appetite For Change, and is an IDEA Fellow with the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a founding member of the EJCC. She works with HueMan partnership, sits on the Steering Committee of Fostering African Americans in Total Health, Community Members for Environmental Justice, and is a member of the Twin Cities Black Women Writing Collective.
Rachelle Haroldson, Instructional Designer, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Rachelle Haroldson is an Instructional Designer at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She started volunteering at Minneapolis Avenues in fall 2012. Then she joined the Avenues Board in fall 2017. She is in her second term as the board's secretary and sits on the Advancement Committee. Rachelle has participated in Building on Dreams in each of the last 10 years, and she's served many times as a host and host committee member.
Vicki Roscoe Erickson, TopLine Financial Credit Union – Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Vice President and TopLine Credit Union Foundation – President
Vicki’s 25+ year professional experience is rooted in the financial services industry, holding various marketing and management positions. Currently she is the Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at TopLine Financial Credit Union. Vicki is also the President of the TopLine Credit Union Foundation, which supports philanthropy responsibility through financial education initiatives, scholarships, giving and volunteering, and sponsoring other community needs, with their mission to Connect, Care and Contribute. Throughout her career, Vicki has served on various industry and community focused boards and strives to emanate positive change.