The United Way of Central Minnesota recently honored Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) - Saint Cloud with its Impact Organization of the Year award.

The United Way recognizes many outstanding individuals and organizations throughout the year for their contributions to local and regional communities. With the 2022 Impact Organization of the Year Award, MMLA - St. Cloud was recognized for staff responsiveness to pandemic challenges through its work to meet the housing eviction crisis, and the development of creative partnership responses with the court system to handle the wave of evictions after the moratorium was lifted.

The development of consolidated multi-county housing court calendars, direct community outreach via the Justice Bus and Legal Kiosks, and the work of staff to help people get access to much needed health insurance were also praised with the award. Additionally, a significant impact was made through medical/legal partnerships with clinics in five communities, and a community partnership with Promise Neighborhood, a grassroots organization which serves low-income families and children.

Ann Cofell, deputy director of MMLA - St. Cloud, noted that the pandemic years have been particularly difficult for both clients and staff, but that everyone has pulled together—tech staff, finance people, intake staff, secretaries, paralegals, attorneys, supervisors—to innovate and meet the need.

“This award is particularly gratifying because it recognizes our work serving individuals, and the impact of that work on the community as a whole. The understanding that the work of Legal Aid keeping people housed, and fed, and healthy, and safe really makes the whole community stronger, and this award recognizes that,” Cofell said.