The Good Life – September-October 2018

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"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
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.” Hill also enjoys playing drums in the band, Go Murphy: “Some people play golf, I play in a band,” finding it “an honest way of conveying emotions.” “The good life” means this to Hill: “It is my wife, my son, my pets, my band and my work. I love what I do and where I am at. I sometimes think I don’t deserve what I have. It is staying grounded – realizing what I have, being humble and using my talents to help others. I’m a lucky person with a lot of great people in my life. I’ve had love and support and if I can give some of that back, great.” • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 17
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The Good Life – September-October 2018

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