Making a Lasting Impact on the Hispanic Community

Hispanic festival Red Wing MN

Imagine living in a country where the native language is your second language. Where do you go for support? Who can you turn to? How do you start to integrate, build a new life, and provide for your family? In Red Wing, Minnesota, nearly six percent of the population is Hispanic. For many, this “what if” situation is a reality.

For more than 10 years, Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County has provided support to the Hispanic community throughout southeastern Minnesota. The services and programs make a positive difference in the community, and the lives of individuals, families, and youth.

A Good Neighbor

In 2019, Rick Hassemer joined Red Wing Shoe Company as a materials manager. With a passion for people and the community, he also serves as a board member for Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County (HOGC) where he partners with Lucy Richardson, executive director. “Our mission is to serve the Hispanic community,” shares Richardson. “We provide services to help them to integrate into the community. We provide direct services, helping them to meet their basic needs.”

These services are made possible by donations, fundraisers, and grants from organizations like Red Wing Shoe Foundation.

“Earlier in 2021, I worked to engage HOGC more with Red Wing Shoes,” says Hassemer. “I heard Mark Urdahl, our CEO, talk about the values of Red Wing Shoe Company. It felt like the mission of HOGC aligned with the values of our company, and I wanted to see how we could work together.” In less than one year, the two organizations have forged a strong foundation from which to build.

Why This Relationship Matters

HOGC believes it is important to keep the traditions of the Hispanic community alive while sharing them with the rest of the community. “The Hispanic and Latino community make this area a richer place. They bring their culture and talent, and contribute to the local economy as workers and business owners,” notes Hassemer. In September 2021, Red Wing Shoe Foundation was a major contributor to HOGC’s Hispanic Heritage Festival in Red Wing, Minnesota, an event designed to celebrate and bring people together.

In addition, Red Wing Shoes has welcomed several new employees into manufacturing and customer service roles, and employees are volunteering with the non-profit organization and making charitable contributions. “Red Wing Shoes has an employee matching program,” advises Richardson. “Employees can donate money and the company matches the amount. That is really helpful for us as well!”

“When people think of Red Wing, they usually think of two things⁠—Red Wing Shoes and Red Wing Pottery,” Hassemer comments. “Red Wing Shoes is an ingrained part of this community. It’s part of the DNA, and the company embodies the values of HOGC and the city of Red Wing.” The support that Red Wing Shoe Company provides is important to many people, not just the Hispanic community.

Being a good neighbor impacts everyone.

As Richardson and Hassemer think about the future of this partnership, many ideas come to mind. They imagine workforce programs for high school graduates interested in skilled trades, training programs for workers to advance their careers, and inclusion programs to nurture a deeper sense of belonging.

Individually both organizations are making a difference in people’s lives.
Together, they can build a legacy.

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