Dear Friends,

My only daughter,Melanie, was three and a half weeks from her baby’s delivery date. I was busy making plans. If she went early, I would skip this meeting. If she was late, I could attend that one. Conference calls, telecommuting, packing lists … you know me.

Early on a Saturday morning, the phone rang loudly through the house. “Mom, I think my water broke,”Melanie quavered, “and we’re not ready.” Neither was I.

The young couple’s long to-do list included washing baby clothes, finishing the nursery, and trading in their car. Mine included countless meetings, presentations and strategy sessions as the foundation prepares for its next five years.

The worry and unpreparedness that our family felt at the prospect of an early arrival is an infinitely small slice of the emotions and challenges experienced by incarcerated parents. Melanie’s question, “How will we do this when we haven’t even finished our childbirth classes?” is nothing compared to questions like “How will we make our rent payment? When will I see my dad again? What will I say to my friends and teachers at school?”

The children of incarcerated parents endure incredible loss, stigma and uncertain futures. They have committed no crime, but they clearly receive a sentence of their own.

Our foundation takes a risk when it publishes a magazine like this. We risk the perception of advocating for easier criminal punishment, of being oblivious to economic realities, of becoming too focused on a narrow population. I assure you, we are none of these things.

With more than 10,000 Minnesota children with parents in the criminal justice system, this issue impacts the future of our communities. But more importantly, it impacts the future of these children.The first step is to understand the problem and the fact that most children need an opportunity to build relationships with their parents, and to be supported during this difficult time.

Our senior program manager, Linda Kaufmann realized this urgent need several years ago. With funding from the Minneapolis Foundation, she helped create our Inside Out Connections project to engage volunteers in serving impacted children and their families. (Thanks, Linda, and congratulations on your recent Bush Fellowship.)

As for my story, let’s just say that this grandma tried to keep her speedometer lower than her pulse. Truman Anderson Lund was born on May 22 in St. Paul. We are thrilled to have him join our family.

Enjoy the magazine!






Kathy Gaalswyk, President
Initiative Foundation