Lorrie Janatopoulos

Activist, Connector, Gay, Idea generator, World traveler

Lorrie Janatopoulos is a life-long resident of rural, northern Minnesota. She grew up in a small town on the shores of Lake Superior with her Grandmother and her two uncles. It was in this nontraditional family that Lorrie learned about the power of difference. Lorrie ran for public office twice and lost both races, yet her drive to succeed and overcome with resiliency remains. With wicked-smart humor, personal experience, professional insight, and vast connections to community, she is a champion for women, children and the LGBT community. She is committed to leadership in her own personal growth and with emerging leaders. Lorrie is the Planning Director for Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), one of the largest community action agencies in Minnesota. For nearly 20 years, Lorrie has moved AEOA’s rural anti-poverty mission forward developing programs for the homeless, job-seekers, youth and elders. Awarded a BUSH Foundation Fellowship in 2016, Lorrie will be leaving AEOA for new and exciting learning adventures over the next two years. Lorrie is a graduate of St. Scholastica and has a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She is a mother and grandmother who currently lives in the woods - on the end of a dead-end road with her wife Sharon, their African Gray parrot Meikoo, and a wonderful cat named Willow.

Small towns and the imperfect people who make them work.

Being patient