Jill Fuglister
Program Officer
Or Email:
jill
[at]
mmt [dot] org
What I do at MMT:
I’m part of the MMT program team. We learn about the great work of nonprofits in the region we serve, and present this information to the Trustees who determine what grants MMT makes.
What was your life experience before you came to MMT and how does it contribute to your work at MMT?
I grew up in the Twin Cities and lived in various points in the Midwest before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1991. I fell in love with the amazing landscapes and great outdoor activities to be found here, as well as the lack of mosquitoes and freezing MN winters.
I got a B.A. in government at University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) and an M.S. in environmental studies from University of Oregon. During my more serious moments at Notre Dame, I was active in the student environmental group and did volunteer service work through its Center for Social Concerns. This led me to volunteer for a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after I graduated.
Through JVC and my subsequent work at Sisters of the Road in the early 90’s, I learned about systems change, which has been the focus on my professional work since then. For 12 years, I had the privilege of leading Coalition for a Livable Future where I worked to connect the dots between a broad array of organizations’ efforts aimed at creating sustainable communities in greater Portland.
What high school did you attend?
Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN
When you graduated from high school, what did you want to be?
Picking one thing has never been my style. Needless to say, I had absolutely no idea.
How long did you follow that plan, where did it lead?
About a year ago I realized that I’m an “expert generalist.” While I’ve never veered from the non-profit sector, except to wait tables at a variety of restaurants in my 20’s, this seems to characterize my career path.
If I met my high school self, I would say:
What were your favorite extracurricular activities in high school? What did you do for fun?
I was on my high school tennis team and did a lot of distance running and roller blading on my own time. Oddly, I was a sprinter on our track team one year. My best friend and I ran the score boards for hockey games.
What was your favorite music to listen to?
Three local favorites were Bob Dylan, Prince and the Replacements. Others were AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Grateful Dead, REM & U2.
Complete this sentence: In high school, among my classmates I was most likely to...
never miss a party or an A.
You don't know me unless you know this about me:
I once hand-carved a wooden duck decoy that my parents still display in their home. Completing this project was a standard part of the public school curriculum. (More proof that the Coen brothers nailed Minnesota culture in their classic film, Fargo)
