As an immigrant from Ghana, Ethelind is the Executive Director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation. Ethelind oversees the efforts of the Foundation to make life-changing opportunities available to early childhood and adolescent girls in Minnesota. In her role, she is responsible for strategic direction, shepherding high-impact awareness campaigns, maintaining strong community partnerships, expanding the reach of the Foundation, and working closely with the board of directors and staff to raise the annual budget, and managing the financial operations.

Before joining the Foundation, Ethelind was the Vice President of External Affairs at the Center for Economic Inclusion, the nation’s first organization exclusively dedicated to advancing economic inclusion across all sectors in a major metropolitan area. In her role, she led strategic, effective communications, storytelling, marketing, and brand management and fund development initiatives to support efforts to build a racially equitable and inclusive economy.

Passionate about advancing equity, human dignity, and potential, Ethelind previously founded The Stargirl Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering teen and tween girls, for which she was named a Changemaker by MN Women’s Press. She also offers her experience and talents to several organizational committees and boards, including:

• National Governing Board Member, The Jeremiah Program, a nationwide organization dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income single mothers and their children
• Board of Regents, Augsburg University, a private university known for its commitment to an intentional experience for all students, defined by excellence and guided by faith
• Committee Member, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, advocates for affordable housing
• Previous volunteer roles also include serving as a member of the Edina Public Schools Legislative Action Committee and TPT Community Resiliency Advisory Council.

A multidisciplinary storyteller, Ethelind has worked with local Twin Cities emerging artists, designers, and small business entrepreneurs to build engaged audiences. In all her work, Ethelind strives to spark in others the same curiosity about the human condition that motivates her.

Ethelind’s educational background includes a B.A. in Legal Studies from Hamline University, a Policy Fellowship from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and an almost completed M.A. in Strategic Communication at the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism.

Ethelind lives in Edina with her family, where she is still trying to figure out how to fall in love with road trips.