Family Tree Clinic is a nonprofit community clinic governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our mission is to provide quality, confidential reproductive and sexual health care services to diverse communities.
The clinic, which has been in operation since 1971, provides medical, educational and referral services to many different groups. Discrimination at any level of the organization on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability will not be tolerated. Family Tree Clinic maintains a strong commitment to reproductive freedom and provides service in a manner that maximizes patient access to all legal medical options.
Board members are selected on the basis or their commitment to the vision and mission of the organization. Family Tree Clinic Board members are expected to serve on at least one committee or task force as well as the Board. The standing committees are Program & Policy, Governance, Development, Marketing, Legislative and Executive. Our Board members include patients, community leaders, professionals in the health care field and nonprofit leaders.
The Family Tree Clinic Board of Directors respects and values the diversity of all its patients, staff, and Board members.
The Board of Directors defines diversity as individuality. This individuality includes a wide spectrum of attributes, such as personal style, age, race, ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, language, physical ability, religious affiliation, family, citizenship status, socio-economic circumstances, education, political affiliation, and life experience.
A diverse Board of Directors creates an inclusive environment in which a full range of ideas and information can be exchanged, leading to fuller and richer Board decisions that will best serve the clinic and its patients.
A diverse Board of Directors makes good business sense and will help ensure the on-going and future growth and success of the Family Tree Clinic.
The ability of the Board of Directors to know its patients depends on the Board members’ understanding the diverse communities that the clinic serves.
To be most successful, the Family Tree Clinic must fully integrate diversity into the clinic’s culture and standard practices and processes and this will be facilitated by a diverse Board of Directors.
To download the diversity statement click here
There are many reasons individuals become Board members:
Gain Board experience
Get involved in public policy discussions
Influence the legislative process
Actively put one’s passion for reproductive health to work
Have a rewarding and dynamic volunteer experience
Get involved in the community on a grassroots level
We invite you to consider serving on our Board. The Family Tree Clinic Board of Directors currently meets ten times a year.
For more information contact:
Alissa Light, Interim Executive Director
1619 Dayton Ave. #205
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-523-0171 ×124
alight@familytreeclinic.org
Ericka is a communications manager at Best Buy, specializing in non-traditional communication methods such as viral internal campaigns and virtual discussions with leadership. She brings a unique perspective from her education in both science and communications, as well as previous board experience. She joined the Board in 2007 to continue her focus on improving reproductive and sexual health care services for all women as a means to a productive, successful
life.
Mary is Chair of the Development Committee and President and Founder of Millennia Leaders, an organizational consulting firm focusing on the success of women – at home, at work, in the community. She joined the Board in 2008 because she believes that the reproductive rights of women is a critical factor of success for women around the world and it starts
where we live.
Janet is responsible for managing Nonprofits Assistance Fund’s loan program. Janet is a graduate of MCN’s Leadership Institute. Prior to joining the Nonprofits Assistance Fund, Janet was Director of Operations and Financial Manager at Minnesota Environmental Initiative, where she oversaw the financial reporting, budgeting, and operational systems. She has a BA in Business Management from the University of St. Thomas.
Eva is a marketing manager at Casa de Esperanza, a Latina organization that mobilizes communities to end domestic violence. She is involved with a variety of organizations and causes that promote social justice and systemic equity for marginalized communities. Once a patient of the clinic, she joined the board in 2009 and believes that all women should have access to reproductive and sexual health care.
Jennifer practices law at Faegre & Benson and is a former registered nurse. She joined the Board to support the clinic in its role of providing quality reproductive health care, an issue which has great impact on the communities in which we live.
Sarah is the Managing Editor at Iconoculture, a consumer research firm. Sarah joined the board because she believes that all women need access to affordable reproductive health care and sexual health education. To strengthen the position of the clinic in the greater Twin Cities is a step toward securing these vital services for women everywhere.
Bridgette Herndon is a former Senior Marketing Manager in Information Technology. Bridgette joined the board to help communicate and expand reach in the community of safe, secure and affordable sexual and reproductive health care options.
Jessica practices Indian law at the Jacobson Buffalo law firm. She has served on the Board since 2005, and has held various leadership positions, including President and Vice-President of the Board, and Chair of the Board’s Building Committee. Jessica supports the mission of the Family Tree Clinic because she believes that respectful sexual health care and education is an important part of individual empowerment and success.
Kathy has worked in staff and operational roles in various organizations over the past 25 years. Kathy joined the board in 2009 because she believes that providing quality, affordable sexual health care and education is vital to our community.
Karmann Peters is the Lead Organizer for Recycling and Environment at the Macalester-Groveland Community Council and serves on the Board of Directors. She also benefited from the clinic services many times as a student and is honored to be a part of the important work Family Tree Clinic does and the services it provides the metro area.
Lynelle, Treasurer & Chair of the Finance committee, works in Human Resources and Labor Relations and became a board member in 1996. She has volunteered at the Tree as a health educator for many years and joined the Board to become more involved in the policy and governance of the clinic.
Grit is the Adolescent Health Coordinator with the Saint Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health and joined the board in 2008. Grit has a long history of involvement with the clinic. Among other things, she credits the clinic with her decision to pursue a graduate degree that focused on adolescent development and sexual health.
