"I just want to thank Small Sums for having me here tonight, the fashion designers for allowing me the honor to support and promote their wonderful creations, also to the best model coach ever!
I’m Alexas Minter. Even though I look young, I’m 26 years old, and that might be young to some and old to others. I’ve just lived such a unique life that my experiences make me feel so much older. Now tonight I look amazing and very well put together, thanks to all of the volunteers, designers, and people who helped make this event so spectacular. Less than a month ago, I was released from Shakopee Women’s prison.
I spent a year in prison. How I got there is a long, agonizing, and very traumatic story. Now, growing u, my mom was the best in the world. Yes, she was a single mom, but she was also my superhero. I had an IEP since pre-k, behavioral, to be specific. I was constantly fighting to avoid being suspended and expelled. I went to over 15 schools.
While I was fighting everyone, my mom was fighting for me. She even walked around my school with me from class to class because that was the only way I’d behave. She missed work; she even went into labor with my youngest sister, Alayah, whom I call my half-kid, while at my school. I got worse and worse over the years to the point my mom wasn’t able to control me, and I wasn’t able to control my temper. I was put into the foster care system, and I was in and out of JDC, treatments, and group homes, sometimes hours away from my family. Thank god I had a family who loved and supported me, my dad Ben came no matter how far I was, he always came. I even dropped out of school in my 12th grade year. I began to be in a very abusive relationship, and ended up causing him harm trying to protect myself. At age 18, I was arrested for 2nd degree assault with a deadly weapon.
Due to my mental health history, I was able to do mental health court. It is a program that expunges your record if you complete certain phases. Sadly, I never did learn my lesson. I was arrested 5 more times for the same thing. I also constantly ended up in relationships that not only disabled me mentally and emotionally, but also physically. I was crashed into a tree at 70mph by my ex, and I ended up breaking 7 bones in my body, including my back, and I have 2 plates and 10 screws in my right foot and had to learn to walk again.
Due to the medication, I then started to develop a disease from one of the worst drugs in the world. Only 1.2-2.2% of people can get and stay sober from. All this, and I have a handsome baby boy to care for. I failed over and over to change to do better. I was lost. Then on August 21st, 2024, my life took an unpredictable turn. I was arrested. This was the first time I had nothing to go back to my sister Shawny, we call her Bubba, had my son, he’s almost 3, his birthday is November 7th, and she treats him like a king, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better to love and care for him. I felt like I’d been betrayed by my addiction. The longer I sat in jail, the more I realized it was I who betrayed my son, myself, and my family. I needed to make a change because I knew I had to be in my son's life again, no matter what.
The crazy thing is, I had a choice: the judge wanted to send me to the workhouse and add 5 years on top of my 7 years I already did on probation. I knew I’d end up failing trying to run or relapse. I did something nobody expected. I told the judge I wanted to serve my time. I would get 21 months, do 14, then have 7 months parole. I made the most magnificent decision I’ve ever made. I’m proud to say I spent my time in prison evolving and, as Amber, the founder of Black Butterfly, would say, transforming. I accomplished so many of my outstanding goals. I got my GED in 2 months, I got accepted into MSU college, I read over 100 books, and I even joined many book clubs. I also took as many classes and seminars as I could. I graduated from 11 different groups and programs, including support groups, education programs, and information/resource seminars. My favorite class was MPWW Minnesota Prison Writers Workshop. They taught me how to craft my own memoir and a book about my life. I will be writing a book in a couple of years. I worked in HVAC for 6 months, received my driver's permit, and will soon have my license. I’ve also been sober for over a year, including tobacco, vaping, alcohol, and any mood-altering substances, and it feels remarkable.
I’m now able to build a healthy relationship with my son, myself, my sister, and my family. I’m so proud of myself, and being able to attend this event shows me I have so much to offer and to be a part of. I hope my story can inspire and influence someone… anyone to transform themselves into a beautiful butterfly."
"My name is Malcolm Olatunde, and I have the privilege of serving as the Senior Partner of Community Relations & Workforce Innovation at The Redemption Project.
At The Redemption Project, our mission is simple but powerful: to bridge opportunity, equity, and empowerment for individuals returning to our communities after incarceration. We do this by strengthening partnerships, expanding workforce access, and ensuring that people navigating reentry are equipped with the tools, resources, and relationships they need to thrive.
Our work is rooted in a belief that every person deserves the chance to restore dignity, to provide for themselves and their families, and to contribute meaningfully to society. And that belief isn’t carried out alone. It takes collaboration, vision, and the kind of intentional partnerships that truly change lives.
That’s why the work we do alongside Small Sums is so important. Small Sums meets a very practical and critical need: providing work clothing, tools, and transit assistance for individuals who are ready to take their first steps back into the workforce. These essentials may seem simple, but for someone starting over, they can be the very key that unlocks confidence, opportunity, and stability.
Together, The Redemption Project and Small Sums are removing barriers that often stand in the way of progress. We are proving that when community organizations align around purpose, we create pathways that don’t just support individuals in transition—we strengthen entire families, neighborhoods, and communities.
Redemption is not just a word—it’s a process. And with resilience, resources, and relationships, renewal is possible. That is the work we are committed to, and it is the work we are honored to share with each of you today.
Thank you. "
"What I remember the most was this huge fish tank. I don’t know how big it really was, maybe it was just a regular tank but to me, at four years old, it was incredible. Fish swimming in a tank inside someone’s home.
The reason I saw that fish tank is because my family was homeless. We were staying with some friends from our church. I don’t remember much about the house, but I remember that fish tank. And I remember what mattered most: we had a roof over our heads and food to eat. That simple generosity carried us through one of the hardest times of my life, until we eventually moved to Minnesota and things began to feel a little more stable.
Over the years, it was those small sums that added up in big ways. A meal when we didn’t know where the next one was coming from. A gift card when money was tight. Hand-me-downs for our kids when we couldn’t buy new. Those small acts of generosity, again and again, made the difference between despair and possibility.
That’s why Small Sums means so much to me. Their mission is simple but powerful: to give people the tools, clothing, and resources they need to take a job, to take that dignified step towards stability. Work boots. A uniform. A bus pass.
The things most people take for granted, but for someone on the edge of homelessness, those things can change everything.
I’ve had seasons where I didn’t know how to provide. I know what it’s like to struggle. I’ve recently faced the darkest chapters of my life. I was incarcerated for almost four years. But I’ve also experienced redemption. Getting in shape, working on personal development, and finding ways to give back. Organizations like Angel Tree helped me send gifts to my kids while I was gone. That generosity mattered. It reminded me that even in my absence, love could still show up.
Today, I’m in a place where I can serve others. Whether it's through my work as a Personal Training Manager, through volunteering, or through donating my time to cut hair at Small Sums community events. More than anything, I want to carry forward what was given to me: that reminder that small sums, given with love, add up to transformation.
So here’s the invitation tonight: when you give to Small Sums, you’re not just buying work boots or bus passes. You’re investing in dignity. You’re helping someone take their first step toward stability, toward rewriting their story, toward a future they can believe in. I’m living proof that those small acts matter. And I believe together, we can make sure countless others get that same chance.
Thank you."
"Throughout all of Small Sums' help, what they taught me more than anything was that the only requirement for revaluation was integrity, and that's what sets their organization apart from other organizations, not what they did, but how they did it, with a humbling hand.
So.. I started in Minnesota at Dorothy Day, standing in line for a mat, uncertain of my next move, afraid and discouraged. I came across my 1st job lead, but felt overwhelmed because the job lead had a checklist. Not only work attire, but availability. I didn't even know how I'd make it if I didn't walk. Keep in mind, this is from Saint Paul to Bloomington. I looked and asked around for resources. I hated asking for help, but the predicament I was in meant I couldn’t tend to my ego & so I tended to my humbleness.
I came across Small Sums' website, called, and made an appointment; the following day, my adversities became accomplishments. Working hard was really the only thing I needed to do; I was afraid, scared enough. But a hint of fear is worth having if you get something good out of it. Nevertheless, a year and some change had passed, and I needed help again. I followed the same routine, and not only did Small sums assist me again, but they responded with the same sense of urgency in which I contacted them with.
From Dorothy Day, to higher ground, and with enough discipline, I was able to create a path to my very own apartment. Without you guys in my corner, I’d still be homeless, and I'm honored to speak today at this event to protect what you all protected for me—a future. "
We are thrilled to announce that Morgan Wolfe will be joining us as a co-host for the Stories Matter Fashion Show!
Morgan is an Emmy Award–winning news anchor with Kare 11, and she brings a variety of storytelling experiences to the stage. Born in Blaine, Minnesota, Morgan studied at the University of Minnesota before beginning her career in Madison, Wisconsin. Her path later took her to Utah, where she covered major national stories, including the Gabby Petito case, avalanches, and even a Real Housewives fraud case.
In 2021, Morgan earned her Emmy for live weather reporting when a blizzard stranded over 3,000 residents in the town of Alta. She reported live as an avalanche shut down the only road in and out of town. Her reporting has also earned her 12 nominations and two Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards for writing and photography.
In 2022, Morgan returned home to Minnesota and joined the Kare 11 team. Since then, she’s continued to inspire viewers with her commitment to impactful storytelling.
We are so excited to welcome Morgan to the Stories Matter stage, where she will co-host alongside MSDENISHIA, helping us highlight Small Sums’ mission and celebrate our incredible models.
With over 30 years of experience in the fashion industry, MSDENISHIA is a professional model, coach, and community leader. She has walked the runway for renowned designers such as Bob Mackie, St. John, and Tommy Hilfiger. Additionally, she has appeared in campaigns for major brands like Target, Macy’s, and Baby Phat, and has been featured in prestigious publications including Vogue, Essence, and InStyle Weddings.
As the founder of the Official Modeling Boot Camp, MSDENISHIA has dedicated nearly two decades to training the next generation of models and sharing her expertise across the nation. Beyond her work in fashion, she is deeply committed to giving back to the community, hosting and sponsoring numerous charity fashion shows that support youth, families, and underserved communities.
We are thrilled to welcome her back as both our model coach and co-host for the evening!
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