Our People

Nadia Siddiqui is a fundraising and partnerships executive with over 18 years of passion for uniting teams in achievement of impactful business objectives. This includes delivery of transformative work through immersive and meaningful engagement offerings with organizations such as Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee), MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), Big Brothers Big Sisters, and MEDA (Metropolitan Economic Development Association). She values the opportunity to serve as a trusted partner to external funders and donors, advising them through fundraising and partnership opportunities that offer strategic alignment. Through her collaborative leadership style, she believes that all voices have valuable perspectives. She is an unconditional advocate for marginalized communities.

Elizabeth Zalanga (she/her) is committed to developing solutions to the conditions that create inequities in society. She has five years’ experience in public service, in Minnesota’s state and city government, and has served in leadership on the boards of several nonprofit organizations that advance equity in opportunities and outcomes for marginalized youth. She is an alumni of the WFMN Innovators program.

Elizabeth’s policy experience includes co-authoring recommendations to the G20 and Women20 (W20) on promoting women’s economic empowerment by improving labor conditions for women; bridging the digital gender divide to further digital inclusion by developing women and girls’ digital skills; and requiring employers to adapt policies in line with International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention No. 190 standards on eliminating sexual violence and harassment in the workplace. Elizabeth served as an advisor for the 2022 Women7 (W7) recommendation process hosted by Germany. She was also named a UN Women National Youth Gender Activist. She is from Saint Paul, Minnesota.

“I am excited to bring my policy experience and passion of advocating for gender and equity issues to my new role as the Dr. Reatha Clark King Fellow with the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota.”

From Grand Forks, North Dakota, Isatu is a third-year student at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn. She is majoring in Communication Studies and has a love of storytelling. Isatu believes in the importance of sharing stories to encourage change. Growing up as one of the select minorities in her community has led her to want to encourage and give other Black, Indigenous, and people of color a way to share their stories and inspire change in their own communities. She has worked with Pioneer-PBS to create short pieces that promote positive change in rural communities, shining a light on gender and racial equity and the importance of mental health as a tool for resilience when facing adversity. She aims to carry that passion and learned skills with her as the Wenda Weekes Moore Intern at the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota.

“Working with a diverse group of women for gender and racial equity at the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota aligns with my belief in using one’s voice and taking action to change harmful narratives. I wish to use my voice to speak up in support of others and to help provide a platform for marginalized and silenced women and girls to speak and be heard. I believe the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is doing exactly that and I look forward to working with them.”

Erika Idrovo-Cuesta, previously the Wenda Weekes Moore Intern and Dr. Reatha Clark King Fellow, returned to WFMN in August 2019 after working as a legal assistant in immigration law and participating in policy training. She graduated from Augsburg University, and plans to continue as the first in her family to pursue higher education by obtaining a master’s degree in public policy.

“Philanthropy to me means opportunity. It wasn’t until I was introduced to philanthropy that I realized a community of supporters believed in this opportunity for all people to thrive, regardless of legal status, educational experience, skin color, gender or sexuality. As a Fellow, I find impact in the relationships, support, and opportunities to lead that strengthen my skills. In this role, I hope to learn more from my community and from influential leaders to grow in my leadership. I hope to respond to the growing needs from communities impacted by the coronavirus, anti-Black racism, and anti-immigration policies.”