Nine individuals from rural Minnesota have been chosen to make up the 2024-2025 cohort of the Initiators Fellowship, a two-year program that develops social entrepreneurism through mentorship, leadership training, and business coaching. This article introduces one of the two initiators from Northwest Minnesota: Shannon Murray.
Shannon Murray’s goal is to blend youth development with increasing access and opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).
Starting with a focus on Bemidji, Shannon aims to build off the successes that have been cultivated in the local school system to bridge the transition into adulthood while expanding opportunities for leadership, employment, and community-building.
“I think our youth are doing really well at including each other,” Shannon said, noting the incredible success of the Bemidji Unified programs. “The programs are amazing, the students are amazing.
“But there’s a gap (post-graduation) and that’s such a hard thing when you see what inclusion can look like and feel like … I just feel like there is a lack of opportunity after high school, and that is probably the biggest driving force behind this.”
Their journey into the fellowship
Shannon, who uses they/them pronouns, was drawn to the Initiators Fellowship for its mentorship and training opportunities. They also appreciated the program’s focus on developing rural leaders.
“I need support and guidance through this because it’s a big leap for me,” said Shannon, who is from Blackduck and has always lived in rural communities.
They also expressed appreciation for the fellowship’s stiped, $30,000 a year for each of its two years, allowing the initiators to focus on the development of their enterprises.
“That, to me, signaled an understanding that people have different economic backgrounds,” they said. “Just having that stated right at the forefront gave me information about the fellowship, that that it’s accessible, that people from all different economic backgrounds can do this and be successful.”
A background in helping others
Making plans to establish and run a social enterprise isn’t exactly where Shannon would have envisioned themself years ago.
Having earned a full-ride scholarship to Bemidji State out of high school, they were working toward their master’s degree in clarinet performance at Wichita State when a teacher posted the question, “What is it that you actually want to do be doing?” Shannon left school, moving away from classical music to pursue a career in songwriting and folk music – an endeavor they continue today – but eventually returned to Bemidji to pursue community work. They started a roller derby team, became a parent, and started working in nonprofits.
Shannon became increasingly aware of the challenges facing young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They developed a close friendship with a man who was focused on securing employment that both suited his skillset and provided appropriate challenges for further growth. But job options were extremely limited.
“Learning his story and how much he had struggled to find meaningful employment, and then supporting and cheerleading him throughout that process … that was the first time I’d thought about wanting to do systems-level work on a local level, to increase that access,” Shannon said.
Shannon also worked in youth development, mentoring two young men who were national youth leaders. They were driven young men who were excited about their roles and the chance to be heard.
“The two of them are just phenomenal and have such good ideas,” Shannon said. “It really helped solidify that this is the direction I want to go. I got really excited. There are just so many brilliant, talented young people out there and I don’t think that they get the chance to raise their voices.”
One step at a time
Shannon envisions an enterprise that expands pathways for employment and volunteerism, offers job-coaching for both job-seekers and employers, and cultivates community connectiveness and inclusivity. A key component of this work is establishing a youth leadership board with young people of all abilities, aged 14 to 24. This board will guide the mission and vision of the enterprise.
But, to get there, Shannon knows the foundation must be solid.
Today, as the fellowship ramps up, Shannon is focused on first getting all the legal needs addressed and identifying what is needed to successfully sustain the enterprise well into the future.
“I want to be sure that what I’m creating doesn’t rely on me specifically,” Shannon said. “I’m putting a lot of myself into this but I want to make sure that it’s sustainable.”
Lead for Inclusion
Lead for Inclusion co-creates accessible and welcoming communities through inclusive youth development. By elevating and supporting young leaders of diverse abilities, we remove barriers to belonging and increase opportunities for inclusive work and social activities for everyone.
Want to connect?
leadforinclusion@gmail.com or call 218-209-2345
