November 2026: Standing Together for the Voice of Every Minnesotan

Dear Sabathani Community, 

As we enter November, a month when we reflect on gratitude, community, and the things that bring us together, I find myself especially proud to be a Minnesotan. I am proud to be part of a community that understands that our strength is not measured by how we treat those who already have a voice, but by how we stand alongside those whose voices are too often unheard. 

Here in Minnesota, we know that community is more than a place on a map. It is a commitment to one another. It is the neighbor who steps up when a family is struggling, the person who speaks out when someone is being overlooked, and the community organization that opens its doors when people need support, safety, and a sense of belonging. It is the willingness to see the humanity in one another, even when circumstances, backgrounds, or experiences are different from our own. 

At Sabathani Community Center, this commitment is at the heart of who we are. For generations, Sabathani has been a place where people can find resources, opportunity, connection, and hope. We serve because we believe every person deserves dignity, every family deserves the opportunity to thrive, and every young person deserves to see a future filled with possibility. We understand that behind every statistic is a human being, behind every challenge is a story, and behind every act of service is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. 

Standing up for those who may not have a voice means doing more than offering words of support. It means taking action. It means listening before making assumptions, creating spaces where people feel safe to speak, advocating for those who are too often left out of important conversations, and ensuring that the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors are not forgotten. It means recognizing that silence can allow inequity to continue, while compassion paired with action can help change lives. 

I am proud of the people of Minnesota who continue to demonstrate what it means to care for one another. I am proud of the community members, volunteers, partners, and organizations who show up—not because it is easy or convenient, but because they believe every person matters. And I am especially proud of the Sabathani team, whose dedication reminds me every day that service is not simply the work we do; it is a reflection of who we are. 

As we look toward the Thanksgiving holiday, I encourage each of us to think about gratitude not only as something we feel, but as something we put into practice. We can be grateful for our opportunities by helping create opportunities for others. We can be grateful for our voices by using them to speak up when others are not being heard. And we can be grateful for our community by investing our time, energy, and compassion in making it stronger for everyone. 

The future of Minnesota will be shaped by the choices we make today: whether we choose division or connection, indifference or compassion, silence or the courage to stand alongside one another. At Sabathani, we will continue to choose community. We will continue to listen, serve, advocate, and build pathways to opportunity because we believe a stronger Minnesota is one where no one is overlooked and no one is left behind. 

Thank you for being part of the Sabathani family and for the many ways you help make our community a place where people can find hope, strength, and belonging. 

Together, we can ensure that every voice matters, every neighbor is valued, and every person has the opportunity to thrive. 

With gratitude and pride, 

Scott Redd
President/CEO
Sabathani Community Center