Meet Your Board Member: Cinnamon Pelly

Apr 30, 2024 | News

Get to know Cinnamon and discover how her vision is shaping the future of IFS

Cinnamon Pelly leads with a dynamic blend of passion and experience. At the head of Pillsbury United Communities (PUC), a cornerstone organization with nearly 150 years of history in the settlement house movement, Cinnamon is a proven leader in banking, operations, media relations, and community engagement. She brings invaluable expertise and fresh perspectives to our mission.

 Where do you work and what is your title?

I am the president and chief executive officer at Pillsbury United Communities. PUC is a nearly 150-year-old community asset founded in the tradition of the settlement house movement. PUC was the site of the first free kindergarten and free daycare services for working women, and it was home to the first modern-day Juneteenth Celebration, now a national and state holiday in the USA. PUC’s mission is to co-create enduring change where everyone has personal, social, and economic power. We operate over ten locations, including four neighborhood centers and a host of social enterprises, including a full-service grocery store, bicycle shop, consignment shop, and more. We help our neighbors have agency and reach their full potential by providing comprehensive resources to support individuals and families at every stage, from safety net basic needs services to prosperity.

 Briefly summarize your background

Cinnamon is a community-minded, award-winning influencer passionate about systems change, extensive philanthropic experience, and a proven career delivering results in banking, operations, media relations, community engagement, education, and health. Cinnamon has over 25 years of corporate and not-for-profit experience. She has served in nearly every potential functional area, including strategic execution, operations, finance, people operations, fundraising and philanthropy, marketing, programs, training, education, community outreach, and social justice & advocacy.

Cinnamon has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts and is a researcher published in the Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Her work in the Stanford Journal endeavors to define feelings of safety in underserved communities and forge paths to increase these communities’ senses of security, relatedness, autonomy, and subjective well-being.

She was recently named in Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s first annual Power Shift 25, which recognizes new leaders in the Twin Cities and the TCB 100 in 2024, is a list of the people in and around Minnesota business who are likely to make news and drive change in the year ahead.

 Describe what you do for your organization

As the president and chief executive officer at Pillsbury United Communities, I devote my best efforts and full professional working time, skill, and attention to helping Pillsbury United Communities reach our mission and vision. I support competent, caring staff, board members, funders, and partners in putting their best efforts into improving the quality of life in the neighborhoods and helping our neighbors reach their full potential. I hold responsibilities consistent with running a multi-faceted, nonprofit social service agency, all at the direction of the Board and consistent with our strategic direction. I am responsible for developing the mission, strategy, and objectives for Pillsbury United, managing all management functions of Pillsbury United Communities, and directing all activities of Pillsbury United Communities as prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 What are your hopes for the future of the IFS and the Settlement Movement in general?

I hope IFS and the Settlement Movement continue gaining awareness and support for our essential, place-based, people-centered work. In a time when safe, decent, and affordable housing is so critically needed, and the exasperation of growing racial inequities, I hope that the Settlement Movement will continue to be an essential partner and full participant in ensuring all our neighbors in every neighborhood have the resources, care, and support they need to be sheltered, healthy, happy and at peace. I and Pillsbury United Communities will do our part to amplify messages and education that leads to more broad-based support of our mission in the world. To learn more about Pillsbury United Communities visit: www.pillsburyunited.org