Karen is a visionary community development expert, facilitator, and devoted mother and grandmother with a deep love for rural Minnesota. Overcoming early hardships, including teen pregnancy and an abusive relationship, she navigated poverty, single parenting, and years of hard work before earning degrees in Social Work and Community Development. Her passion for equity-driven change led to a decade of impact in community health and development across West Central MN and Eastern ND. Inspired by her mentor, the late Cyndi Anderson, Karen founded Creating Community Consulting LLC in 2022 to build thriving, inclusive communities. With limitless grit, creativity, and a deep commitment to equity, she continues to transform challenges into opportunities for meaningful change.