About Us

Dina Fesler - President/Founder

For years, Dina Fesler has designed fashion collections inspired by the cultures and landscapes of her own world adventures.

Now that she has taken on the adventure of a lifetime –motherhood--Dina has become dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children as well.

Since adopting her daughters from China and India, Dina has discovered that helping children stay connected to their birth culture is a critical part of developing their identity in a multiracial family. She also realized that teaching other children in the community more about her daughters' backgrounds helped them develop an appreciation for other cultures and a respect for people's differences as well. That inspired her to start Children’s Culture Connection, in which she combines her love of adventure travel, her flair for entertaining, and her passion for fashion to help children discover the richness of the world’s many cultures.

Questions about our programs? Contact Dina@ChildrensCultureConnection.org

EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jane Rydholm, JD - Vice President

Jane Rydholm operates a law practice in Bloomington, Minnesota.

A former assistant attorney general for the State of Minnesota, she has worked extensively

in the area of nonprofit law. She received her JD from William Mitchell College of Law .

She has one daughter adopted from China,

and another daughter adopted from Taiwan.

Beth Limpert, MBA, CPA, CFA - Treasurer

Beth Limpert, former first vice president of American National Bank and Trust Company

in Chicago, is chief operating officer of Limpert Capital Management investment research firm. Beth received her MBA from Cornell University,

and has two school-aged children adopted from Korea.

Lynette Lamb, MA - Secretary

Lynette Lamb has more than 25 years of public relations and editorial experience,

including editing Minnesota Monthly and Utne Reader magazines.

Lynette received a master's degree in journalism and mass communication

from the University of Minnesota,

and has two school-aged daughters adopted from China.

ADVISORY BOARD

Connie Bickman - Creative Director; Graphic Designer

An award-winning travel writer, photographer, and graphic designer, Connie Bickman has spent

20 years photographing world cultures and has traveled to more than 35 underdeveloped countries.

The publisher/editor of Turtle River Press newspaper for 11 years,

Connie now produces CCC newsletters and other CCC marketing and educational materials.

Laurie Halvorson, ME - Education Specialist

Laurie Halvorson teaches fifth grade at St. Paul's Como Park Elementary, an urban school

that specializes in integrating new immigrant/refugee children into the public school system.

Laurie received a master's degree in creative, gifted, and talented education

from the University of St. Thomas,

and is developing CCC's Pen Pal/Classroom Exchange program.

Jane Newell, MA, LSW - Social Service Advisor

Jane has more than 15 years experience in social service including child abuse prevention, early childhood family education, and early intervention for children's mental health.

She received a master of arts in family social science from the University of Minnesota,

and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in family social science.

She is an advisor on the social, family and educational aspects of CCC’s programs.

Joanne Cryer -Fundraising Event Coordinator

Joanne has more than 20 years experience in the manufacturing industry, including working in

quality assurance, production coordination, and regulatory affairs.

She is a member of the Boston Scientific Charitable Grant Foundation Review Committee, the chair of Boston Scientific's Adoption Network Committee,

and coordinates and manages CCC's nationwide fund-raising events.

Lilla Johnson, MBA, MFA - Visual Communications

Lilla received a master of fine arts degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design,

and an MBA from Cornell University.

An art instructor at St. Olaf college in Northfield, Minnesota,

she develops CCC's visual communication materials and event presentations.

Julie Schmiel-Bronkala - West Coast Development Coordinator

Julie has more than 18 years experience in financial planning

and is an accredited wealth manager and vice president at RBC Dain Rauscher in Seattle, WA.

She is developing CCC's West Coast fund-raising opportunities,

and has twin boys adopted from Russia.

Jean Janicke, MPP - East Coast Development Coordinator

Jean has more than15 years experience in U.S. government and international trade and is the director

of the Office of Trade Policy Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington DC.

She received a master of public policy degree from Harvard University

and is CCC's East Coast development coordinator.

Marsha Kurth, MS- Marketing Advisor; IT Specialist

Marsha has more than 18 years experience in business and information technology

and received a master of science degree from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.

She works at Northwest Iowa Community College,

Western Technical College, and Viterbo University, is a Rotarian,

and develops strategic marketing opportunities for CCC.

Amy Leonard - Fundraising Development Coordinator

Amy has 15 years experience in parent/teacher relations

and is a member of the Eden Prairie PTO.

She is developing CCC's Midwest fund-raising opportunities.

Kathy Braga - Classroom Project Coordinator

Kathy has more than eight years experience coordinating child-centered cultural activities

for schools and youth organizations, and she currently serves as a guardian ad litem

for Ramsey County. She coordinates CCC's cultural classroom presentations,

and has two daughters adopted from China.

Kathleen Dalton - Database Manager

Kathleen has more than 30 years experience in the newspaper and commercial printing business,

and is currently employed at the Cannon Falls Beacon.

She manages CCC's database.

Beth Patten - Strategic Fundraising Advisor

Pamela Middleton, PhD - Operations