Communities Are Stronger When We Work Together
Every community has people who want to help, people who need help, and organizations trying to make a difference.
Too often, these people never find one another. Midwest Communities Network exists to bridge those gaps by connecting neighbors, volunteers, nonprofits, businesses, and local leaders with the resources they need to strengthen their communities.
Sometimes that means helping launce a community project. Sometimes it means organizing volunteers. Sometimes it means finding funding, sharing resources, or connecting the right people at the right time.
Our goal is simple: help communities solve local problems with local people.
Our Mission
To strengthen communities across the Midwest by connecting people, resources, education, and partnerships that create lasting local impact.
We believe strong communities aren’t built from the top down. They’re built by neighbors who care enough to help one another.
Our Values
Community First – The people closest to a problem usually understand it best.
Practical Solutions – We focus on real needs and real solutions instead of unnecessary bureaucracy.
Partnership Over Competition – Communities are strongest when organizations work together.
Education Builds Resilience – Knowledge and preparedness make communities stronger long before a crisis happens.
Transparency – We want donors, volunteers, and the communities we serve to know how resources are used and why.
MCN serves individuals and communities throughout the Midwest, with a focus on residents seeking greater access to information, resources, and opportunities for community involvement. Our programs are designed to be inclusive, accessible, and responsive to local needs.
Where we serve
MCN currently serves communities throughout the Midwest, with volunteers and partnerships continuing to grow each year.
Our current service areas include:
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Ohio
- Illinois
As new partnerships develop, we continue expanding into additional Midwestern communities.
There Is More Than One Way to Help
Not everyone has money to donate. Some people have time. Some have skills. Others have equipment, land, transportation, or simply a willingness to lend a hand.
Whether you can volunteer for an event, teach a class, help with outreach, donate supplies, or organize a community project, every contribution matters.
Communities don’t solve problems alone. We partner with nonprofits, schools, businesses, emergency preparedness groups, community organizations, and local leaders because lasting change happens when people work together.
If your organization shares that belief, we’d love to talk.
Meet the People Behind MCN
Our board is made up of volunteers from difference backgrounds who believe communities become stronger when people help one another. Each person brings different skills, experiences, and perspectives, but we all share the same goal: helping communities build pratical, lasting solutions.
Chairperson:
A Midwest craftsman. Builder. Fixer.
“It’s a privilege to be in a position to ask neighbors and the community what they need. Listen with intention and do everything possible to meet those needs.” – MCN Chair
Secretary:
A proud cat and chicken mom, she works as an administrative assistant and lives by the motto, “Adapt, adjust, and overcome.” She believes in doing the right thing simply because it’s the right thing to do.
Midwest Board Member:
A mother of four and soon-to-be grandmother to two granddaughters – no, not twins! She is an experienced Registered Nurse, a disabled Navy Veteran, and a passionate lover of life. She enjoys living spontaneously and having fun in everything she does. Helping others is part of who she is, whether in her role as a nurse or assisting friends and neighbors with whatever she can. She is skilled at organizing small and large groups of volunteers to accomplish tasks, thrives in hectic and stressful environments, and has a talent for bringing a bit of joy and fun to even the most mundane tasks.
“Neighborly help is not limited to assisting the widow next door. MCN can connect people throughout the Midwest, lighten each other’s burdens, and bring more joy into our lives.” – MCN Board Member
Midwest Board Member:
As a pilot of Voltron’s Green Lion, I’ve faced some tough situations and found that community is what brings us through. Though I’m retired now from defending the universe, I see the same thing here on Earth. That’s what brought me to this Board. The Midwest isn’t so different from the galactic front lines—people working hard, looking out for each other, trying to build something that lasts. I’m here to do the same.
Vice Chairperson:
A determined mom with boundless curiosity and a barrier-breaking attitude. I believe that a community thrives when everyone engages at all levels to make it succeed.
“I can’t fix, what I don’t know.”
Treasurer:
A Midwest mom and numbers person who’s always believed neighbors should show up for each other.
She’s equal parts organizer, spreadsheet wrangler, and “figure it out as we go” realist, she spends her time connecting people, solving problems, and turning good intentions into action.
“MCN exists to remind people that they are not alone and that even small acts of help can have a big impact.” – MCN Treasurer
Photo courtsey of olson_imagery_
Midwest Board Member:
I’ve always believed that the greatest strength of a community lies in its people. When we share our time, talents, and compassion, we create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond ourselves. Serving on this board is an opportunity to help foster meaningful connections, support initiatives that empower others, and encourage a culture where neighbors genuinely care for one another. I’m grateful to be part of an organization that believes lasting change begins with ordinary people choosing to make a difference.
Connecting Midwestern Neighbors to Build Stronger Futures
