We’re continuing to share some of the meaningful conversations and moments from the 2026 Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Annual Conference in Duluth!
Over the next month, we’re excited to highlight the voices of our 2026 Advocacy Fellows through a four-part reflection series. Each Fellow will share a bit about their conference experience, what stood out, and how their work and experiences continue to shape their advocacy.
At this year’s conference, our Fellows also joined Advocacy Fellowship Alumni for a conversation about leadership, lived experience, and the importance of making space for those most impacted by homelessness in our advocacy work. Check out the Fellows Advocacy Spotlight from the Conference here.
We’re excited to share the recording of that conversation alongside these reflections! Whether you attended the session or missed it, we encourage you to watch and hear directly from these incredible advocates. We hope you’ll follow along over the next four weeks as we heara reflection from each of our Fellows.
This week we are starting with Vonn Grayson below!
[VONN]: I left the MCH Annual Conference feeling very proud of myself and the speech I gave. I’ve been speaking and sharing my experiences for a while, but this conference gave me the confidence I needed to feel more comfortable and open up even more. It was a meaningful moment that helped me recognize my growth and the value of what I have to say.
Having people from Women’s Advocates there cheering me on was awesome! Their support meant so much to me and made the experience even more special. Knowing they were there encouraging me helped me feel supported as both a person and an advocate.
As an MCH Advocacy Fellow, I valued the opportunity to bring my voice and lived experience into conversations about homelessness. I want people to understand that our experiences are more than stories—we have ideas, knowledge, and perspectives that can help shape solutions. I hope we continue making room for people with lived experience to be heard and included in decisions that affect our lives. I’m taking this confidence with me as I continue to grow in leadership.
Being a leader comes with stress, and sometimes it can feel like a lot to carry. This experience reminded me to give myself grace, recognize the work I’m doing, and lean on the people who support me. I don’t have to have everything figured out to make a difference.”
A big thank you to our Advocacy Fellows and alumni for sharing their experiences, perspectives, and leadership with us! We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from their stories and continue building a stronger advocacy community together. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we share more reflections from our 2026 Fellows!
— MCH Team (Vonn Grayson)