NEWS RELEASE: St. Paul is home to a new worker-owned cooperative: Employees now own local evaluation firm The Improve Group

The Improve Group
December 1, 2023 - 3:21pm

St. Paul – The Improve Group, a St. Paul-based evaluation firm, became a worker-owned cooperative over the summer, worker-owners announced today.

The Improve Group is an evaluation, research, and strategic planning consulting firm based in St. Paul. As a co-op, the organization’s 21 employees have the opportunity to own the company. Becoming a co-op continues The Improve Group’s work toward its long-time vision that mission-driven organizations will effectively develop more resilient, equitable, and thriving communities.

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Images of Anne Flueckiger traveling in the wild and a headline that says "partner spotlight: Anne Flueckiger, Olmstead Quality of Life Survey Interviewer"

Partner Spotlight: Anne Flueckiger, Olmstead Quality of Life Survey Interviewer

The Improve Group
December 1, 2023 - 2:47pm

Anne Flueckiger is a longtime partner of The Improve Group who supports various projects with a focus on community engagement. Anne first partnered with us as an interviewer on the baseline Olmstead Quality of Life Survey and has worked with us on the subsequent follow-up surveys.

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The Improve Group is now a co-op!

The Improve Group
August 11, 2023 - 1:59pm

For more than two decades, The Improve Group has evolved to meet the needs of staff, our clients, and the communities that serve to benefit from evaluation. Today, we’re excited to announce we have become a worker-owned co-operative.

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An image quote that says: "During the 20th century, we lost a lot of language and traditions. Youth were forced to attend boarding schools where Dakota language was forbidden. Children grew up fearing to speak their language, practice their traditions, and did not want to pass these things on to their kids. In the last 10-20 years, we have seen a revival of language and traditions. Language is the heartbeat of our tribe, and it could be our answer for getting back a lot of our old traditions."

We are on Wahpekute land - An interview with Kameron Runnels, Vice Chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation, Part 3

Becky Stewart
May 5, 2023 - 4:02pm

The Santee Sioux Nation is the current home to many descendants of the Wahpekute Band of the Dakota Nation, on whose land our office is located. Kameron Runnels, Vice Chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation Tribal Council, kindly gave his time to answer questions in an interview with Improve Group Chief Practice Officer Becky Stewart. Check out Part II below.

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Headshot of Sara McGarraugh

Sara McGarraugh advances to Director

The Improve Group
March 22, 2023 - 8:31am

Headshot of Sara McGarraughThe Improve Group is pleased to announce Sara McGarraugh, an IGer since 2012, has advanced to Director of Consulting. Sara has grown alongside IG since joining the organization more than a decade ago as an intern.

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An image quote that says "When the federal government allotted the land on the reservation, only half was allotted to tribal members. The rest was opened up to non-Dakota settlers. We don’t understand how that happened, or why. Today, we only own about 25% of the original reservation, which is 12 miles east and west, 15 miles north and south. The tribe tries to purchase land whenever it is up for sale, and it is a goal of the tribe to buy as much land back as possible." - Kameron Runnels

We are on Wahpekute land - An interview with Kameron Runnels, Vice Chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation, Part 2

Becky Stewart
March 9, 2023 - 4:29pm

The Santee Sioux Nation is the current home to many descendants of the Wahpekute Band of the Dakota Nation, on whose land our office is located. Kameron Runnels, Vice Chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation Tribal Council, kindly gave his time to answer questions in an interview with Improve Group Chief Practice Officer Becky Stewart. Check out Part II below.

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Coming in 2023: New office closure policy

The Improve Group
December 1, 2022 - 8:14pm

It’s the time of year when we remind our clients and partners that we close our doors for a week of winter/holiday rest from December 26, 2022 - January 2, 2023. We also want to share our new “office closure policy” taking effect in 2023.

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A quote from Kameron Runnels, Vice Chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation Tribal Council: "Whenever I travel to Minnesota, I feel a peaceful, comfortable feeling – that feeling that this is where you belong, are meant to be. That connection is built into all Dakota people, built into our DNA from having lived there for so long.”

We are on Wahpekute land - an interview with Kameron Runnels, Vice Chairman of Santee Sioux Nation

Becky Stewart
December 1, 2022 - 8:06pm

The Improve Group’s office in St. Paul is located on land that belongs to the Wahpekute Band of the Dakota Nation. The State of Minnesota and U.S. government stole this land through ethnic cleansing and forced removal.

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Image of the Vikings Table food truck; Image credit: The Minnesota Vikings Foundation

IG-supported evaluation featured in Minnesota Vikings Foundation’s 2021 Impact Report

Nick Stilp
November 11, 2022 - 10:43am

Hi! I’m Nick Stilp, a Senior Consultant at The Improve Group. I was thrilled to lead our work with the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to evaluate Vikings Table, a food truck program with the mission of serving healthy meals and nutrition education to youth across the greater Twin Cities area.

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Leah speaking at The Improve Group’s 15-year anniversary party.

A new season for IG

Leah Goldstein Moses
September 28, 2022 - 9:40am

A message from Leah Goldstein Moses

Hello, IG community! I’m writing today to share exciting news. On August 1, I stepped down as CEO of The Improve Group and into an advisory role, while other members of our team stepped in to bring their considerable talents to the roles I once filled.

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