Brian Dejewski

Co-Founder / Executive Director

​Brian has been engaged in the work of ministry and serving in community for over 30 years. He has a variety of vocational experiences including corporate project management, creating and running nonprofits, church pastoral roles, software implementation, and executive positions at a national foundation. These roles have given him an understanding of the varied cultures and required tasks of the marketplace, faith-based organizations, and the nonprofit sector. Brian has served to bring community nonprofits together in a coordinated approach toward effective human service delivery. Brian currently serves as the Executive Director for Mobile Hope. He has served on the boards of various nonprofits including Hope For The City (now Matter); Twin Cities Workplace Ministries; R3 Collaborative for Reentry, Recovery, and Renewal; and Hammers of Hope, among others. He and his family have lived within the community where they serve for 8 years and now reside in Maple Grove. He has a BA in psychology from Cortland University in New York and a Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary in Arden Hills, MN.

Jill Dejewski

Co-Founder / Director of Programs

​Jill serves as the champion and Director of Programs for the community development work happening at Mobile Hope.  She began this work over 29 years ago while serving as the middle school youth pastor for Wayzata Free Church.  Her work has enabled it to grow to where it is today, providing access to needed food, ELL programs, Homework Help, educational after school activities, mentoring, and more.   She has also secured partnership in this work with the city, local teachers, nonprofits, and law enforcement.  She served as a board member for Teens Alone for 2 years and also works as a Personal Care Attendant for adults with special needs.  Jill received her B.A. in Communications from Sioux Falls College and a Masters in Christian Education from Bethel Seminary.  

Lauren Larson

Program Support Assistant

​Lauren began her work serving marginalized communities as a high school student while connecting with residents at homeless shelters in Washington D.C. While in college volunteered as a Charge EMT for two years and gained valuable insight into effectively serving community members in crisis. She continued this work as an intern during her last year in college, volunteering for Victim Witness services and helping people who were also in crisis. Her first professional job included providing early intervention services on a home-based basis for low-income, pregnant teens and young families. For the last several years Lauren has continued to serve her community through volunteering at church and connecting with children on a one-on-one basis. She has excellent organization skills that currently serve her in her position as Program Support Assistant at Mobile Hope. Lauren earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Minors in Social Work and Psychology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. 

Jeff Siewert

Finance Manager

​Jeff serves as the Finance Manager for Mobile Hope.  Prior to joining Mobile Hope, he worked a 37+ year career in various private industry financial accounting and management roles.  The first 34 years at General Mills and the last 3+ at Agspring, LLC.  His diverse finance experiences include accounting controls, setting annual budgets, tracking and reporting expenses to budget and analyzing and explaining variances to budget.  He has leveraged his extensive financial experience having served as the financial treasurer for Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Minnesota and currently is the Congregation President at Ascension.  Jeff and his family live in Plymouth, MN, a community just east of Mobile Hope's home city of Corcoran.  Jeff has a B.S. in Finance from St. Cloud State University.

Grace Teal

Program Coordinator

​Grace has been a part of Mobile Hope for many years.  She first connected with Mobile Hope in middle school as a part of our AWOL events and has continued on in various roles ever since.  Grace graduated in 2023 from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul with a degree in Nonprofit Leadership. She is currently finishing her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership.  Grace served as a summer intern for two summers at Mobile Hope and is now serving as our Program Coordinator, assisting with the delivery of a variety of programs and consistently engages with members of the community.  Outside of Mobile Hope, Grace is a youth lacrosse coach for Eden Prairie, where she resides with her family.

Rick Watkins

Facilities and I.T. Manager

Rick has served in the I.T. arena for many years - mostly for school districts managing district infrastructure, updates, roll-outs, and software implementation.  He has worked with students, teachers, and administration making technology accessible and safe to use for everyone.  He is also very handy and experienced at maintaining facilities in a variety of capacities from repairs to new installations.  Rick has served on the board of Hammers of Hope and has volunteered at I.O.C.P., Hammer Residences, Kids Around The World, and various other nonprofits.  Rick loves using his time and abilities to help others.  

Danielle Wheeler

​Dayton Site Director

Danielle is the Site Director at our second location in Dayton, MN. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a B.S. in Spanish Education, both from UW-Eau Claire. While at UWEC, she was very involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship where she had opportunities to lead both small groups and large groups of students. After graduating, she became the Associate Director of Elementary Ministry at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minnesota. There, she gained valuable experience building relationships, managing teams of volunteers, and creating curriculum and outreach programs to engage kids and families. Her creativity and flexible personality allow her to engage well with people of all ages. She believes that it is through our relationships with people that we will see the world changed.

​Ashley Xitumul

Community Engagement Specialist

​Ashley jumped at the opportunity to do mission work right after graduating high school.  She trained with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and served as a missionary with them for 12 years.  While serving in Guatemala for 5 years she lead an after school program called Dreamers for children in extreme poverty, providing food, full sponsorship of their school expenses, tutoring, and mentoring.  She also started an English class at a local school. Her service in missions has helped her expand her worldview and cultural competence and she is fluent in Spanish.   She and her husband have lived in the community they serve for the past six years. Her training in YWAM included Discipleship Training School, Intro to Primary Healthcare, and School of Ministry Development.  Ashley now serves 

Gama Xitumul

Program Support Specialist

​Gama grew up in Guatemala and trained with Youth With a Mission after graduating high school. He served with them for 10 years, helping with logistical needs of receiving international teams, leading outreaches to different countries, assisting with the Dreamers after school program, and training Latino youth pastors.  He graduated with a teaching certificate and taught in an elementary school in Guatemala.  He has been involved with youth ministry and mentoring for 10 years.  Gama is fluent in both Spanish and English.  His training with Youth With A Mission included: Discipleship Training School and School of Ministry Development.  He serves alongside Ashley and Jill to execute the programs at Mobile Hope.  

AmeriCorps Literacy Vistas

Alyssa Gerulis

Americorps

Attending Grand Canyon University studying Business Management

Michael Rascher

Americorps

Attending Georgia Tech studying Electrical Engineering

Ella Sollie

AmeriCorps

Attending Westmont College studying Spanish and Sociology

Ava Whitcomb

Americorps

Attending University of Northwestern in St. Paul studying Education

Key Volunteers

Ariel Johnson

Hope House Resident and Social Worker

​Ariel has been connected to Mobile Hope for the past year, and moved into the community as part of the Hope House immersion program.  Ariel has been a social worker for over 4 years with a desire to build deeper relationships within her community, which led her to moving into the Hope House at Maple Hill Estates. Ariel works closely with families who have been impacted by addiction and understands the importance of a community. Her passion is to support youth with opportunities that allow them to thrive. To that end, she is a volunteer leader and mentor with Mobile Hope’s TreeHouse program. Ariel served on the board of directors for RiverWorks for three years, which is a partner agency providing adult programming on site. Ariel has a BSW from Minnesota State University, Mankato.