Governance

Organizational Structure

Nexus Community Partners operates as an independent initiative for which the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – one of our partners – serves as fiscal agent.

Nexus has five staff members: an executive director, two full-time program officers, one part-time program officer and a part-time administrative assistant. Repa Mekha has served as executive director since 2007. Prior to joining Nexus, he served as executive director of Freeport West, a local nonprofit organization serving homeless and at-risk youth. Terri Thao serves as a program officer and has been with Nexus since its beginning in 2004.  She worked previously at the University of Minnesota.

Theresa Gardella joined Nexus as a program officer in April 2008 after working at a funding intermediary and as a consultant to nonprofit organizations. Neeraj Mehta, our newest program officer, comes to Nexus with ten years of experience in program and organizational development with local community development corporations. Rachel Briseño serves as administrative assistant for Nexus and for the Twin Cities LISC and National Equity Fund, with whom we share office space.

Governance Structure

Our Governance Council includes representatives of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the McNeely Foundation, the City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations Department, the Office of the Mayor of St. Paul, Neighborhood Development Center and Twin Cities LISC.

The council has two standing committees. The Investment Committee reviews grant applications over $25,000 and includes council members as well as at-large members identified based on expertise. The Vision & Resource Committee provides guidance and feedback to the executive director and currently includes only council members.