Who we are


Dr. Jerry Stein: Learning Dreams Founder and Director
Dr. Jerry Stein is a Senior Fellow at the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. He is also the Director of the M.Ed. program in Youth Development Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development. In 1996, Dr. Stein created the Learning Dreams Program. He manages all Learning Dreams operations and staff.
Email: jstein@learningdreams.org
Phone: 612-625-2224
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Jena Brune: Field Coordinator (Hennepin County)
Jena began working with Learning Dreams as a Volunteer Neighborhood Educator in 2009. She is currently the Hennepin County Field Coordinator and is responsible for Learning Dreams activities, volunteers, and community partnerships in Minneapolis.
Email: jbrune@learningdreams.org
Phone: 612-695-6444
Matt Carlson: Graduate Assistant
Email: mcarlson@learningdreams.org
Phone: 612-624-4294

Micaela Conlon: Field Coordinator (St. Paul)
Previously acting as the Southeast Neighborhood Educator, Micaela transitioned into her current position as the St. Paul Field Coordinator in fall 2009. She is responsible for all Learning Dreams activities, volunteers and support in St. Paul, including pairing volunteers with families and coordinating trainings in St. Paul.
Email: mconlon@learningdreams.org
Phone: 612-720-6867

Erin Donald: Neighborhood Educator (Minneapolis)
Email: edonald@learningdreams.org
Phone: 218-428-4727
Nasra Farah: Somali Translator
Acting as our Somali Translator, Nasra works with many of our East African families. She often accompanies our Volunteer Coordinators on family recruiting missions in Southeast Minneapolis and West St. Paul.
Email: nfarah@learningdreams.org
Phone: 614-596-4838
Alisha Hardman: Blog Research and Writing
Alisha is a doctoral student in the Family, Youth, and Community education program at the University of Minnesota. She assists Director Dr. Jerry Stein in his many writing and editing endevors.
Email: hardm016@umn.edu

Kathryn Nelson: Writer and Editor
Email: knelson@learningdreams.org
Phone: 952-220-1903
Eleanor McLean-Browne: ESL Conversation Circle Leader
Eleanor is the Learning Dreams English as a Second Language Conversation Circle Leader at Baker Community Center. She has been leading the group since early October of 2010. Each week Nellie is responsible for guiding the conversations and mini-lessons around relevant and interesting topics for the women.
Email: mcle0170@umn.edu
