Andrea Crouse is the facilitator of the Healthy Hillside Team and the Community Development Manager at Zeitgeist. She is honored to work with and learn from this incredible group of people to best reach the residents of Duluth’s Hillside neighborhoods with resources and support to keep us safe and secure during the pandemic. Prior to joining Zeitgeist, Andrea worked for the City of Superior Dept. of Public Works as the Stormwater Program Coordinator. She served on the board of the Lake Superior Community Health Center for 9 years and is an active member of the Twin Ports community in organizations such as the St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA), Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and the Feminist Action Collective (FAC). She has a passion for green infrastructure, native plants, and urban design that promotes healthy living and environmental sustainability.

My name is Cullen Cusick and for (nearly) five years I have worked a clerical position within Saint Louis County and am a proud AFSCME member. Prior to this, I held management roles across industries for many years while attending the University of Minnesota–Duluth. There I majored in philosophy and political science. I am also a product of local public schools: both Myers-Wilkins and Duluth Central. The Hillside neighborhood is where I have lived nearly my entire life, and I currently reside near Chester Creek in the East Hillside with my lovely wife Andrea, an artist and graphic designer. My family also goes back a long time in this neighborhood–you can find my great-great grandfather in the 1900 census living on East 4th Street–and I consider myself blessed to have roots here. The upcoming work led by Zeitgeist to develop a Hillside oriented response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be a vital aid to our community. I am enthusiastic in my own efforts to help and feel honored to be given the opportunity.

My name is Marah (like Sarah but with an “M”) and I have lived in the Duluth hillside for 4 years! I have my Masters in Social Work and am currently working as a School Social Worker. I am a strong relationship builder and advocate. My favorite part of being a social worker is seeing the resilient nature of humans and assisting them through difficult times. I love spending time getting to know new people, playing outside, working with my hands and hanging out with my cat! I am excited to be able to work on behalf of the Duluth Hillside! 

Cyndy Klinksiek works for Duluth Aging Support (DAS) as program manager to reduce isolation among older adults. She’s glad to be representing DAS and older adults on the Healthy Hillside team.

Cyndy lives in Duluth’s Central Hillside where she enjoys watching lighting storms over Wisconsin, eagles riding thermals, and lakers “threading the needle.” She has volunteered at Damiano, CHUM, and Sacred Heart Music Center.

Hello, my name is Sophia! I am currently a senior at the University of Minnesota Duluth pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in studio art and communications. I am from St. Paul, Minnesota and am a resident of the Hillside neighborhood. I believe art plays a crucial role in connecting people with their built environments and community to create positive change. I am passionate about the ways in which art can bring agency to individuals to advocate for their needs and beliefs. In my free time, I enjoy being outside, reading, and spending time with animals. I am excited to use my experience as an artist to bring agency to my community at Zeitgeist!

I am a Minnesota based artist, focusing on storytelling through video and design. I hope to utilize my collaboration, production, videography, storytelling, design, and communication skills to help bring our communities together. As an artist, my artistic vision is to create colorful, vibrant work that serves as a “heart opener” for those that it reaches. Through vehicles of high quality video/design and heart forward storytelling, I hope to bring some light into the world.

Rachael Kilgour was born and raised here in Duluth and currently makes her home in the Central Hillside. When it’s not the middle of a global pandemic, she makes a living as a touring musician. With performance opportunities out the window for the foreseeable future, Rachael is happy for the opportunity to stay put and plug into her neighborhood and community. She has worked with Loaves and Fishes, CHUM, and Meyers-Wilkins in the past and is helping out at the Warming Center (emergency shelter) this winter.

Miranda Pacheco works at Life House as a Youth Outreach worker and Peer Support Specialist specializing in mental health and addiction. She also attends Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College where she is currently working towards an AAS in Human Services and a LADC counseling certificate. She hopes to go on to get her bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She is also involved in the community doing work to help build wealth within the BIPOC community, where her passion lies. Miranda likes to run/hike, go to powwows and attend traditional ceremonies. She is excited for the challenge of working with Zeitgeist!

On 11/14/2022 at 2:35 in the afternoon, Millie took her last breaths surrounded by family and near a window overlooking the woods and wildlife that she loved. She was and continues to be a strong force for healing and connection in the Hillside and will be deeply missed, though her work continues on through all those she impacted during here time with us. Her bio, as she wrote it for her work with Zeitgeist’s Healthy Hillside Team is below:

My spirit name is Spotted Bird Woman Going Around the Heavens from the Dakota/Ojibway first nation. Recently I began as a licensed peer recovery specialist with much support from RAD (Recovery Alliance Duluth). I became a Wellness in the Woods outreach associate for Northeast Minnesota. Now I am part of this team to spread information on how we can all take care of ourselves in the best way possible. My own wellness business Odiizeoon focuses on the tribal approach of getting well. I have been in Duluth, MN since the end of December 2015 when I arrived from Canada. Since then,  I have seen the many needs and wants of the Hillside’s poverty stricken people. I have remained in the same place of residence upon arriving at West 4th Street Hillside, my home.

I was born and raised in the Central Hillside neighborhood of Duluth, Minnesota. After obtaining a B.S. in Child Psychology and Human Development at the University of Minnesota Minneapolis, I began working as a program coordinator in the Department of Ob/Gyn and Women’s Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School. In 2008, I returned to Duluth with my husband Benjamin to raise our children; Sterling, Vince, Cian, and Nina. I’ve stayed quite busy as a homemaker, an independent contractor for ISD 709 and Superior School District, and a volunteer for many different organizations including MN Environmental Partnership, City of Duluth, Area Youth Soccer Association, Superior Hiking Trail Association, Hermantown Youth Soccer Association, Area Youth Soccer Association, Hermantown Area Futbol Club, Hermantown Elementary School, NAACP, One Roof Community Housing (Formerly NHS), and the American Red Cross. I am excited to be joining the Healthy Hillside Steering Committee and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve my community.