The Good Life – September-October 2018

"Our community is not too
big, not too small. It is the
right size. It is becoming more
and more of a progressive
community. I like seeing that
and being a part of that."
– Tom Hill
After the military, Hill attended
Minnesota State University Moorhead
(MSUM) on the GI Bill, earning his
bachelor’s in Communication Studies
and Spanish in 2008. While at MSUM,
he studied abroad in Mexico: “I love
Latin American history and Pre-
Columbian civilization. Mayan and
Aztec history and their astronomy,
engineering, and architecture
fascinates me.”
Post-graduation, Hill volunteered for
a study abroad 4-month experience to
Peru. He taught English to children
from 5 to 17 years of age. The poverty
he witnessed touched and galvanized
him to do more than teach English.
The lesson plan “went out the
window” and Hill focused on being
a caring and positive influence. They
played soccer, went to the zoo and
made and ate food together.
After Peru, he knew he wanted to work
to help people. His new position at
United Way of Cass-Clay in 2008 was
a perfect fit. Starting out managing
the School Supply Drive and Day of
16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Caring for senior citizens, Hill worked
his way to the Director of Community
Impact where he now manages
external investment strategies: “the
process of strategically investing
the money we raise back in the
community.”
Life experience prepared him to be
effective in his work: “Volunteering,
studying abroad and the military
gave me an understanding of the
differences in people, and what unites
us. Being able to make a difference
and form partnerships is important.”
At UWCC, Hill said, “we work to
understand the greatest needs in our
community. We examine local data
and national trends in areas of need
such as child care, homelessness,
workforce development, mental
health. etc. How do these trends apply
here? Then we mobilize individuals –
we get the right people at the table –
to form a strategy to reach a solution
to the problem. Then we measure to
see if what we are doing is working,
and invest resources to do more.”
Improving early childhood education
is one passion: “There is a ton of
research about the importance of
early childhood education and quality
child care. When someone thinks
investing in children now won’t show
an impact for twenty years, they are
wrong. It makes a difference. Children
from third grade on need to read
in order to learn. What we invest in
early childhood will make them better
prepared socially, emotionally and
academically. Studies show young
children who receive quality education
and child care are less involved with
juvenile justice and incarcerations.
Child care is a fundamental thing that
we all should care about.”
Hill used this metaphor for bettering
young children: “When is the best time
to plant a tree? 15 years ago. We need
to plant the trees now.”
Hill is devoted to his wife Linny; their
four-month-old son, Shepherd; and
their dog, cats, chickens and soon,
ducks. He loves Fargo-Moorhead:
“Our community is not too big, not too