THE FOUNDER
CPC 2.0 was founded in 2010 by Shanasha Whitson and filed for its federal status in 2017. Shanasha Whitson is every bit of homegrown, being born and raised in Minnesota. Like the roots of a juniper, her career in the community runs deep. Shanasha comes from a large family, she grew up in South Minneapolis and attended high school in Brooklyn Center (Go Centaurs). Shanasha attended Minneapolis Community and Technical College where she received her Two-Year degree. After which time she transferred to Metropolitan State University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. After dedicating most of her work to community Shanasha decided to go back to school where she received her Master’s degree in Organizational Management and Communications from Concordia University in St. Paul. Shanasha also holds a Mini MBA from St. Thomas University. Shanasha has worked in the community more specifically North Minneapolis for more than 20 years. Most recently Shanasha completed her Master’s degree at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in counseling psychology and addictions counseling. Shanasha is also a licensed social since 2015 by the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Shanasha has worked with some of Minnesota’s finest people, programs and organizations such as People Incorporated, The Minnesota Department of Health, Hennepin County, RS EDEN, DHS, HUD, Model Cities, Northside Funders Group, Harvest Preparatory, City of Minneapolis, City of Brooklyn Park, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Brakins Consulting & Psychological Services LLC., African Women & Youth Resource Center, The Minneapolis Urban League, and Minnesota’s Urban Agricultural Community just to name a few. Shanasha has roots across communities and across continents. Shanasha has been on both sides of the health care continuum and the criminal justice continuum and has experienced the impacts of race and poverty. It is this experience that gives her the preternatural ability to help her community maintain its strong roots and work to build economic stability.
Meet the Board
Name: Michael Chaney (Board Chair: Environmental Justice, Economic Development, Urban Planning)
Community: Male: African American Community
Affiliations: North High, Appetite For Change, Asian Media Access,
International Lions Club, St. Thomas University, Avenue For Youth, Breaking Bread, Urban HomeWorks, YouthPrise, Green Earth Growers, The University of Minnesota, Medtronic, YouthFarm, General Mills, City of Minneapolis, Second Harvest, Gardening Matters, Minnesota GreenCorps, Minnesota Department of Corrections, Voices for Racial Justice, North Point, Emerge, Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, West Broadway Farmers Market, The Greenway Project, Project Sweetie Pie.
Name: Maria Bryan (Board Chair: Community Voice)
Community: Female: African American Community (Bi-Racial)
Affiliations: The City of Bloomington Minnesota, Southside Back In The Day (10th Year), Friends and Family of Interracial Youth and Families.
Name: Shakia McDavid (Board Chair: Community Entrepreneurship)
Community: Female: African American Community, young entrepreneur (adult 30 representation).
Affiliations: Columbia College: BA: Advertising, Communications & Marketing, Owner of Just Hair USA and Local Fetch Appliance Outlet; 2015 Children’s Defense Fund: Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute Fellow, YMCA: Model United Nations Delegate, 2016 National Delegate for the Presidential Elections. Black Business Award two years in a row.
Name: Temilade Mafe (Board Chair: Global, International Heritage)
Community: Male: Immigrant Community, young entrepreneur (adult under 22 representation). Affiliations: Urban Jungle Clothing Co-Owner, Youth Empowerment, Nigerian Youth Community, owner and operator of Tem God Advertisement and Marketing Firm. Student MCTC, graphic design, and business.
Name: Ramona Rateau (Board Chair: Engagement, Outreach and Community Activities) Community: Female: African American Community (Women of Color Business Community). Affiliations: St. Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation, Events & Administration Manager ReMixed Events LLC, Owner, Minnesota People of Color Pride (MN Black Pride) Board Member 2019-2021, Women Venture, Twin Cities Pride, 2nd Chance Project, Slavic Experience, City of Minneapolis, Winona State University, Sunrise Banks, Minnesota Twins, Minneapolis Urban League, Minnesota Teamsters Service Bureau, Bakeshow Baker Entertainment LLC, FanFare Attractions, MacPhail School of Music, St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Name: Armel Green. Deberry. (Board Chair: Arts and Culture)
Community: Male: African American Community, (Re-entry community).
Affiliations: Published Author and Urban Linguistic Consultant, owner of BlackFaceJesus, LLC, Still Rollin, LLC, and Deberry Publishing, LLC.
Name: Skye Davis, LICSW, MA (Board Chair: Mental Health/Behavioral Health/Trauma-Informed Care). Community: Female: African American Community, (behavioral health therapist) Affiliations: Psy.D. candidate University of Saint Thomas, Minneapolis. Cohort Representative
at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Professional Psychology; Clinical Supervisor through the Minnesota Board of Social Work; Clinical Graduate Assistant research with faculty member, Dr. Consuelo Cavalieri at the University of St. Thomas; Clinical Supervisor through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. Research experience: Thesis, master’s in social work research in The Relationship between Spirituality and Substance Abuse in Adolescence. Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.
Name: Kaleenma Williams (Board Chair: LGBTQ+ Community Outreach)
Community: African American /LGBTQ+ Community
Affiliations: Community representative in the LGBTQ+ community and community at large.
Name: Position Open (Board Chair: Social Justice & Civic Engagement)
Name: Position Open (Board Chair: Diversity & Inclusion)
Current Programs
- Providing assessments and mental health referrals to the community, so community can receive therapy and or, see a psychiatrist to support the community and their efforts to move towards healing.
- Providing case management services to those directly impacted or in-directly impacted by gun violence and COVID-19 to support the goals of changing lives and uplifting families and young people. “Tailor Made Case Management Program”
- Proving Bridging referrals to those in need of furniture and household furnishings.
- Through our MNsure navigator help, the community get health insurance.
- Provide consulting services to help small businesses and entrepreneurs fuel their dreams of starting, running, or building infrastructure in their new or existing businesses.
- Care coordination, helping community get access to much needed medical care.
