Community Champions Series

In this series, we celebrate the individuals whose dedication, compassion, and commitment are helping young people thrive, and whose everyday actions are making a lasting difference across our community. Community Champions go above and beyond to create safe spaces, open doors, and offer steady support when it matters most.

Glory Ramsey

Meet Community Champion Glory Ramsey. Over the past decade, Glory has generously shared her time, talents, and resources with The Link – including leading a successful community-wide Winter Wear Drive. We’re grateful for her impact and honored to share her story.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you are involved with supporting The Link.

My commitment to service began in the late 1980s, when I volunteered as a board member for an organization in Fort Worth, Texas that focused on fundraising—similar to United Way—and providing services for people living with AIDS, much like the Aliveness Project does today. It was an extraordinary and humbling experience. We were doing this work during an incredibly painful time for the LGBTQ+ community, with even greater challenges given the social climate of the South.

Since then, I’ve tried to support underserved people whenever and however I can. I’ve lived a hard life, but along the way I’ve seen countless people facing challenges far beyond my own. I’m deeply grateful to be on the other side now, in a place where I can help, serve, and show up for others who aren’t there yet. Being able to lend a hand truly means everything to me.

Over the years, I’ve found many ways to support the youth connected to The Link. I’ve participated in multiple Day at the Capitol events, delivered groceries to the Glenwood food cupboards, donated Pride flags for Link booths, and volunteered in meal prep programs. For the past ten years, along with some amazing friends, I’ve also helped donate winter clothing and supplies to youth organizations and The Link.

Over the last four years, our Winter Wear Drive alone has raised $63,737—every dollar going directly to The Link to purchase warm clothing, boots, sleeping bags, space heaters, and other essentials based on what youth needed most. In fall 2025, I also hosted three monthly meal-prep and blanket-making volunteer sessions at Glenwood, partnering with some incredibly smart and big-hearted Twin Cities business owners.

One of the most rewarding parts has been introducing others to The Link. Friends I’ve brought along consistently tell me how much they respect the organization and want to help. The Winter Wear Drive has created hundreds of new connections to The Link, including major corporate donors and partnerships with community leaders. I’m just an average person who wanted to help—and invited others to join me. Thankfully, they showed up in a big way. Together, we’ve been able to make a real difference in young people’s lives, and that’s what matters most.

How did you get introduced to The Link?

Marty Shimko and I have been active in the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ community for many years. In 2016, he invited me to join him as a volunteer board member with United Way’s Arise Project. Through that work, I participated in site visits with local nonprofit organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, helping determine grant funding.

It was through those visits that I learned firsthand about The Link—their heart, leadership, determination, and the incredible work they do to support youth in need. Sitting down with their team left a lasting impression on me.

When you learned about The Link, what inspired you to get involved?

It’s absolutely heartbreaking that so many young people are left to navigate life alone while experiencing homelessness and sex trafficking. Life is hard enough—but imagining an 8th grader, a high school student, or even a 10-year-old trying to find a safe place to sleep, something to eat, and a way to stay safe is almost unimaginable. And then you add Minnesota winters, with temperatures dropping to 20 below zero—it’s overwhelming.

What inspires me about The Link is how comprehensively they support youth. They don’t just address one need; they walk alongside young people in so many areas of their lives, helping them survive, navigate systems, and ultimately grow into lives filled with possibility.

How would you describe The Link to a friend who has never heard of us and what would you say to someone who is considering getting involved?

The Link is an incredible organization and a true leader in our community that supports youth experiencing homelessness and those surviving sex trafficking, helping them find safety, stability, and hope. They don’t just respond to problems—they create solutions where none existed before. With determination and vision, The Link finds what’s possible and makes it real, especially at a time when youth need support more than ever.

You will love working with The Link. The people are amazing, deeply committed, and incredibly effective at helping young people navigate complex systems and find real solutions.

What do you think sets The Link apart from other organizations doing similar work?

The Link is powered by passionate, dedicated people who work tirelessly on behalf of youth. And Beth Holger’s leadership is truly exceptional. There are many compassionate and committed leaders in our community, but Beth has a unique ability to keep multiple complex initiatives moving forward with real, measurable impact.

She leads an extraordinary team—each person hardworking, talented, and deeply invested in the youth they serve. Beth brings out the best in her team and fosters a unity that is fully focused on changing young lives. Together, they create solutions that are desperately needed and life-changing for youth facing challenges many adults couldn’t survive.