Anita Patel
Tate Carlson
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO when you grow up? All Anita Patel is working on is to “eliminate racism and empower women and girls.” And as director of racial justice and public policy for the Minneapolis YWCA, she has the platform to do it.
“We’re trying to build understanding, which can lead to action, which in turn can create change,” says the 29-year-old affable, energetic Patel. “We’re also trying to engage people in a new way. How do you create a spark that can generate a fire that can lead to who knows what? That’s what we try to figure out every day.”
Pretty lofty stuff, huh? You might ask, as I did, how she got to this place of wanting to make a big difference. It seems it started in a small town in southwestern Minnesota.
“I grew up in Clarkfield, population 600,” Patel says. “My father is from India, and my mother is white, and we were frequently targets of racism. People don’t intend to do and say hurtful things, but the impact of their actions is hurtful. My dad is a dentist who really enjoys serving people, and my mom has always had a strong voice and advocates for others. So they are both great role models and influences in terms of trying to authentically connect people and affect change.”
Right out of college at Indiana’s Valparaiso University, Patel put her passion for justice—and her personal compassion—to work as a victim’s advocate. It was at that point she realized there was a need on the service side, and there needed to be systemic change on the policy side.
Now armed with a Master’s degree from the U of M’s Humphrey Institute, Patel works at the YWCA where they host racism workshops and community dialogues, and create custom corporate racial justice training programs for companies such as General Mills and Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi.
“This community is filled with such a diverse group of talented, creative, wonderful people, and it’s an honor to be able to do this work. I love it when the light bulb goes on and people recognize they can make a difference. I think that’s what ties all of us in this cover story together. We’re all people who love challenges, who are open to new ideas and are searching for ways to make an impact.”
ANITA PATEL
Director of Racial Justice and Public Policy, Minneapolis YWCA
Age: 29
Education, BA, Valparaiso University, Master of Public Policy,
Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota
First job: Working at her dad’s dental office
