Investing in Young Leaders Through Greater Mankato Cabinet

In advance of the 2026 legislative session, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota in collaboration with the YWCA Mankato has named 13 young leaders to the Greater Mankato Cabinet, the second regional cohort of a Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN) program, centering leadership and solutions of young women and gender-expansive youth for a leadership initiative that is being modeled nationally.

“Young leaders in the Mankato area have so much to offer our state. They are an essential component of the Cabinet’s advocacy and supporting their ideas and connection helps strengthen the voices of greater Minnesota at the Capitol and in their own communities,” said Sara Gangelhoff, WFM Director of Advocacy & Innovation.

In partnership with the Governor’s Office, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, YWCA St. Paul, and YWCA Mankato, the Greater Mankato Cabinet includes young women and gender-expansive youth, ages 16-24, and is part of the WFM statewide Young Women’s Initiative.

The YWI MN makes direct investments in young women and gender-expansive people, a philanthropic model replicated across the nation through the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives. Since 2016, the Young Women’s Cabinet has developed a legislative agenda, testified at the Capitol, and directed more than $4 million in grants to Minnesota communities. On March 4, the Women’s Foundation, YWCA, statewide and Mankato Cabinets will hold a Young Women’s Day at the Capitol to share their policy agenda and advocate with legislators.

Members were selected by the YWCA Mankato for a term effective September 2025 through May 2026. They’ll meet twice a month to create connections, build partnerships, and develop leadership, strong advocacy skills, and collective power for social change.

YWI MN Greater Mankato Cabinet:

Madison Bomstad
June Foley
Kiaya Hoffner
Bella Macemon
Monir McCabe
Corrigan McLaughlin
Yusra Omar
Valerie Ritsch
Kaitlyn Rudolf
Sarah Sabrie
Avery Thompson
Addison Wienke
Wren Wheeler