Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute

What Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute does

Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that delivers trauma-informed and restorative practices training to professionals across Minnesota and neighboring states. Its anchor offering is the STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) curriculum, which the Institute licenses from Eastern Mennonite University and delivers through a tiered training menu: a 5-day STAR course ($995–$1,100 per participant), a 1-day STAR-Lite workshop, and free 2-hour introductory sessions that act as a funnel into paid cohorts. Since inception the Institute reports 1,820+ graduates, including 379 STAR-trained practitioners, with roughly 300 attendees at introductory sessions in 2023 alone.

The organization's revenue model combines three streams: per-seat training fees from individuals and sending organizations, custom contract training engagements (notably with the Minnesota Department of Corrections), and philanthropic support. Fundraising includes the annual LUNAFEST film event (raising $22,000+), and grants from the Saint Paul Foundation and F.R. Bigelow Foundation that underwrite programming in East Metro counties. Reach extends through partnerships with community-rooted entities such as the Ramsey County Restorative Justice Collaboration, the Neighborhoods Program, and neighborhood associations, which provide a recurring institutional pipeline for trainees.

Operationally the Institute runs on a small team (~6 staff) led by Executive Director Crixell Shell following a 2023 leadership transition from founder Elice Rodriguez-Minter. In 2023 the organization expanded its board with four new members, hired an Administrative Assistant (Fran Balster), and broadened its service line to include Talking Circles and bespoke contract trainings. There is no technology platform, software product, or AI component underlying its offerings; value creation rests on curriculum licensing, certified facilitation, and a growing alumni network that generates referrals and repeat contracts.

Name

Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute

Legal name

Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute

Website

https://mnpeace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that licenses and delivers the STAR trauma-awareness and resilience curriculum, plus Talking Circles and custom trainings, to professionals and community organizations across Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Fees: Revenue from STAR Training (5-day: $995-$1100), STAR-Lite, and other training programs. CE credits available for additional fee.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted online via GiveMN platform or by check to the organization's P.O. Box.
3. Event Sponsorships: LUNAFEST Minneapolis women's film festival generates over $22,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations supporting programs and scholarships.
4. Custom Contract Training: Organizations, community groups, educational institutions, and corporations can arrange custom STAR training by contract.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute delivers the STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) training program and related restorative justice and resilience-building courses to community leaders, caregivers, organizations, and licensed professionals. Offerings span a 38-hour five-day intensive, an 8-hour STAR-Lite, multiple 2-hour introductory modules, and custom on-site training for institutions across Minnesota. Revenue is supplemented by donations, grants, and event sponsorships such as LUNAFEST Minneapolis.

Product overview

Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute offers a comprehensive suite of trauma-informed, resilience-oriented, and restorative justice-focused training programs. The core offering is the STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) Training, available in multiple formats: a full 38-hour 5-day intensive, STAR-Lite 1-day condensed version, and various 2-hour introductory sessions. Supporting programs include specialized trainings on talking circles, resilience building, and tapping techniques, plus custom training arrangements for organizations. The organization also provides community-building programming through monthly Peacebuilding Films and Coming to the Table racial healing talking circles. CE credits are available for licensed professionals. Programs range from free introductory sessions to multi-day paid training priced between $995-$1100, with scholarship assistance available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience): 38-hour multi-day evidence-based trauma awareness, resilience, and restorative justice training with 20+ year reputation of national and international success.
• STAR-Lite Training
• Coming to the Table
• LUNAFEST

Products and services

• STAR Training (5 Days) A 38-hour, multi-day evidence-based trauma awareness, resilience, and restorative justice training for caregivers, community activists, organizers, leaders, and organizations. Designed to help participants understand and address psychological trauma, break cycles of victimhood and violence, and build resilience. CE credits available for counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, and teaching professionals in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• STAR-Lite Training (1 Day) An 8-hour condensed version of the full STAR training offering a simplified experience for those unable to commit to five days but eager to begin their trauma healing journey. Available with scholarships and foundation sponsorship in select East Metro counties.
• Intro to STAR (2 hr) A two-hour introductory session covering the fundamentals of Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience training, offered at no cost to participants.
• Intro to Restorative Justice (2 hr) A two-hour introductory training on restorative justice principles, practices, and applications for community healing, offered at no cost.
• Intro to Talking Circles (2 hr) A two-hour training introducing talking circles as a restorative practice for community dialogue and healing, offered at no cost.
• Intro to Resilience (2 hr) A two-hour introductory training on building resilience and self-care practices for personal and collective wellbeing, offered at no cost.
• Intro to Tapping (1 hr) A one-hour introductory session on tapping techniques for trauma and stress relief, offered at no cost.
• Cultivating Community: Restorative Justice Theory and Practice A comprehensive program combining restorative justice theory and hands-on practice for community transformation.
• Custom Trainings Tailored training programs developed to meet the specific needs of organizations, community groups, educational institutions, and corporations, delivered on a contract basis.
• Custom Talking Circles Customized talking circle facilitation designed for specific community needs and contexts, delivered on a contract basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 379 STAR graduates trained as of November 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Eastern Mennonite University (Center for Justice and Peacebuilding)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2010STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) was created at Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding in Harrisonburg, VA. Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute has been the sponsoring organization for STAR in Minnesota since June 2010.
• Resilience in Communities After Stress & Trauma (ReCAST) MinneapolismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding for 11 October 2018 STAR graduates. ReCAST supports community resilience and trauma recovery initiatives in Minneapolis.
• Wallin Education PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 'Upturns' (temporary team members) for 8-week periods to support Peacebuilding's marketing and communication endeavors.
• Restorative Justice Community Action (RJCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for restorative justice programming; RJCA serves as node holder for TRUST Network in Minnesota coordinating community violence response efforts including work related to George Floyd trial.
• Native American Community Clinic (NACC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Antony Stately has been involved with STAR from the beginning; NACC uses STAR concepts for trauma healing and resilience building in Native American community.
• Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (PPNA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Tabitha Montgomery sees Peacebuilding's work as essential; PPNA focuses on trauma awareness, racial healing, resilience, and restorative justice in their neighborhood.
• Sexual Violence CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored STAR training for Systems Change Advocate Sonja Fernandez-Quiñones; organization serves sexual assault survivors seeking healing beyond retributive justice.
• Minnesota Department of CorrectionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst contract STAR Training completed May 2018 with Restorative Justice Unit; equips DOC staff with trauma knowledge and resilience strategies for correctional settings.
• Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTommy McBrayer attended STAR-Lite after experiencing gun violence; uses trauma-informed approach in Central neighborhood community organizing.
• Veterans for Peace Chapter 27minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Armistice Day programming; Veterans for Peace holds bell-ringing ceremonies honoring peace and reflecting on war horrors.
• Chicken and Egg PicturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLUNAFEST film festival producer supporting women filmmakers; part of proceeds supports Peacebuilding's programs and scholarships.
• Sunrise BanksmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLead sponsor for LUNAFEST: Minneapolis 2018 with compassion-driven community mission.
• Calvary Baptist ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery event with Sarah Augustine.
• Faith Mennonite ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery event.
• Showing Up for Racial Justice FaithminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery event.
• LUNAFESTmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual women's film festival sponsorship since 2018 (fifth year partnership); Peacebuilding hosts Minneapolis screening to raise funds for programs and scholarships.
• Mediators Beyond Borders International (TRUST Network)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRJCA named as node holder for TRUST Network in Minnesota; coordinates community violence early warning and response efforts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Minnesota Department of Corrections - Restorative Justice Unit: Public-sector customer of Minnesota Peacebuilding's STAR training; operates its own restorative justice programs and could be considered an institutional peer for evaluating adoption of restorative and trauma-informed training within correctional settings.

Broad incumbents

• Mediators Beyond Borders International: International nonprofit advancing mediation, restorative justice, and conflict transformation; comparable mission and methodology around trauma and violence, but operates at broader international scale rather than a single regional sponsor model.
• National Association of Community and Restorative Justice: Professional membership organization advancing restorative justice practice, training, and policy across the US; comparable audience of practitioners and commitment to trauma-informed, restorative approaches, but functions as a membership/advocacy body rather than direct training provider.
• TRIANGLE Initiative / Trauma-Informed Care implementations: SAMHSA and aligned trauma-informed care training providers offering curriculum, technical assistance, and organizational consulting comparable to STAR training, but at federal/national scale rather than regional nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Generations Ahead: Organization working at the intersection of racial justice, healing, and community transformation; comparable values-driven training and convening model with focus on intergenerational and community trauma healing.

Direct peers

• Center for Trauma & Resilience: Denver-based nonprofit providing trauma recovery services, training, and consultation to organizations and communities; comparable nonprofit training business model addressing trauma awareness and resilience with a similar mix of fee-based and grant-funded programming.
• Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University: Originating developer of the STAR training curriculum that Minnesota Peacebuilding sponsors in Minnesota. Operates the STAR program directly and trains facilitators globally, making it the closest functional peer and the licensor of the core product.
• Restorative Justice Community Action (RJCA): Minneapolis-based nonprofit delivering restorative justice programming and serving as TRUST Network node holder in Minnesota; partners with Minnesota Peacebuilding on restorative justice training and shares the same community leader audience.
• Coming to the Table: National organization dedicated to racial healing and addressing the legacies of slavery; Minnesota Peacebuilding hosts a local Coming to the Table chapter with monthly talking circles, and both organizations deliver racial-healing dialogue programming with overlapping audiences.

Regional players

• Lion's Story / Peace Direct: Peace Direct supports local peacebuilding organizations globally with training, funding, and advocacy; comparable training-and-capacity-building mission focused on community-led peacebuilding, though operating internationally rather than in the US Midwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MinnesotaPeacebuilding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-peacebuilding-leadership-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute