John Harrington
CEO – Microgrants, Lightson!
John Harrington, the former Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety for Minnesota, was appointed by Governor Tim Walz in January 2019 and served until January 2023. Before becoming the Commissioner of Public Safety, Harrington served as the Chief of the Metro Transit Police from 2012-2019, helping to create the Homeless Action team and increasing diversity from 5-50%. Commissioner Harrington is a former member of the Minnesota Senate who represented District 67, which includes the East area of Saint Paul. Harrington was the 39th Police Chief for St. Paul Police Department, serving from 2004-2010, where he began his police career in 1977. As St. Paul Police Chief, Harrington tackled some of the city’s most challenging problems, developing programs that significantly reduced domestic violence and gang involvement.
John grew up in Chicago, graduated from Dartmouth College, and earned a master’s degree at the University of St. Thomas. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Harvard Senior Management Institute. He is also a founder of Ujamaa Place, a nonprofit organization in Saint Paul that serves African American men who are economically disadvantaged and have experienced repeated cycles of failure. He is currently working on his doctorate in Administration of Justice, focusing on the
George Floyd Riots.
Sherman Patterson
Vice President – Lights On!
Sherman leads the Lights On! program outreach efforts, and brings a long history of service to his community and country to the Lights On! role. Sherman served 21 years in the U.S. Army before obtaining his masters’ degree in Public Safety Administration from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota. Sherman went on to serve as the Public Safety Policy Liaison to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak for eight years, and initiated many innovative community service projects including founding the Annual Turkey Giveaway that provided Thanksgiving meals for thousands of families in North Minneapolis. In 2014, he started a social outreach program called Lead by Example, the mission of which is to reduce gun violence by working with young men to become leaders in dismantling the gun culture in their neighborhoods. Patterson received the 2008 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Living the Dream” Award, and was awarded a Bush Fellowship in 2014.
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Pam KellenbergerBusiness Director
Pam joined MicroGrants in early 2020 as a consultant to the Lights On! program and has since gotten involved in all of MicroGrants programming. Pam graduated from the University of Michigan where she started on the women’s track team and is now in the school’s Hall of Fame for her athletic performance. Pam spent 15 years living in Canada, and she worked at both Proctor and Gamble and 3M. Throughout her 23 years at 3M, she mainly concentrated on start-ups and new businesses, and she brings this expertise to MicroGrants and Lights On! Furthermore, Pam is the first woman president at North Oaks Golf Club and is a Board Member on the Children’s Hospital Association. |
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Becca BijochDevelopment + Communications Director
Becca is the Lights On!/MicroGrants development and communications director. She is passionate about supporting world-changing ideas and visionary leaders. She likes solving complex problems, and developing creative campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, travel and walking her dog. |
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Char NavarroLights On! Executive Administrator
Char joined Lights On! as a consultant in June 2022. She works directly with current law enforcement and auto shop partners, and provides information to potential new partners who may be interested in participating in the program. Passionate about the work Lights On! does, she enjoys learning about each partner she works with and helping to build and strengthen the community. Based in Texas, Char previously served as a business consultant for another nonprofit. When not working, she enjoys learning about other cultures, being outdoors, spending time with others and volunteering. |
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Angie ToralMicroGrants Executive Administrator
Angie joined MicroGrants in July 2021 and serves as the primary liaison between the organization and its partner agencies, while also overseeing office operations. She loves seeing people achieve their goals and is honored to be a part of that through her work.Born and raised in Chicago, Angie moved to Minnesota in 1997 and has been residing in South Minneapolis ever since. She has spent her career in the nonprofit sector, and when not at work she enjoys helping the community, volunteering, traveling, being outdoors and spending time with her family. |
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Terri HunterLights On! Operations Administrator
Terri serves as the Operations Administrator for Lights On!. She processes invoices and other documents which are essential to keeping the Lights On! program running smoothly. In her free time, Terri enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family & friends, paddle-boarding, hiking, and traveling. |
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Ami GomezLights On! Data Consultant
Ami joined Lights On! as a consultant in January 2023. She helps onboard auto shops who want to join the program. She reviews information for new auto shop partners and their client surveys and inputs them into our various systems and website. She enjoys seeing how the community and police officers work together to provide help for those who need it. Raised in Tennessee, Ami moved to New York to volunteer at her religious headquarters. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and volunteering. |