Open Arms of Minnesota Receives Mission Award for Innovation from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (October 2025) — Open Arms of Minnesota has been honored with the Mission Award for Innovation from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN). The award recognizes creative applications and nontraditional approaches to solving community challenges. Open Arms received the distinction for its Cultural Meals Program, an initiative that ensures medically tailored meals are also culturally meaningful for clients.
Launched in 2022 following a comprehensive, client-centered program evaluation, the Cultural Meals Program is a community-based research and development project designed to create authentic and comforting menus reflecting traditional Latin American, Hmong, and East African cuisines. The program reflects Open Arms’ deep commitment to inclusivity and to meeting the diverse nutritional and cultural needs of its clients.
“At Open Arms, we work every day to create an inclusive and joyful community, and to deliver high-quality medically tailored meals, nutrition services and education, and hope to our clients,” said Leah Hebert Welles, CEO of Open Arms of Minnesota. “Innovation plays a key role in our mission and is one of our core values alongside community, abundance, and hope. For us, innovation means listening closely to the needs of our clients and responding with creativity, compassion, and care. While we are proud to be recognized for our Cultural Meals Program, this award also reflects the spirit of innovation that runs through everything we do.”
Open Arms extends heartfelt gratitude to the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and its members who supported the organization with their votes. Thank you to Takeda for supporting the development of the Cultural Meals Program. And thank you to all of our culinary consulting chefs, Maiah Thao, Soleil Ramirez, and Jamal Hashi, for your guidance and expertise in crafting these menus.
The award is accepted on behalf of the Open Arms Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and clients, whose collective efforts embody the organization’s mission to nourish and strengthen the community through food and hope.
To learn more about the Cultural Meals Program, visit https://www.openarmsmn.org/get-meals/culturalmealsprogram/
