Opening Doors: A Community's Thank You to Kim Ambers

A Story of Healing, Hope, and the Power of Community

What if an entire community came together to say thank you to someone who has spent her life caring for others? Not after she was gone, but while she was still here to experience it.

My name is Brian Mogren, and I'm the Director in Residence of the St Jane House, an urban retreat center and house of hospitality in North Minneapolis, sponsored by the Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis.

I first met Kim Ambers on July 1, 2017, when she came to St. Jane House to attend the From Death to Life Two Mothers Healing Group, a community of mothers grieving the loss of children to homicide. Kim had lost her beloved son Richard and was searching for connection and healing in the midst of unimaginable grief. She found it here, and often says that open door saved her life.

Kim has become a dear friend ever since.

A Lifetime of Opening Doors

Kim has spent more than 35 years working with Minneapolis Public Schools, opening doors of opportunity for generations of children and families in North Minneapolis. She is currently at Lucy Craft Laney Community School where she has served children for over two decades.

Her calling began remarkably early. At just ten years old, Kim turned her bedroom into a summer classroom for neighborhood children, complete with lessons, homework, and recess in the backyard. Parents were so impressed that they hired her to tutor their children during the school year!

Yet Kim's own life has been marked by profound loss. Her mother died of cancer when Kim was ten, her father when she was seventeen, and her son Richard lost his life to gun violence ten years ago.

Through it all, Kim has continued showing up for others.

Over the years, grief and life's burdens had taken a toll on Kim's home and garden. What had once been a source of joy had become overwhelming.

In June 2026, I invited friends and neighbors to help reclaim her backyard. More than 25 volunteers showed up, and what began as a simple garden cleanup blossomed into something none of us could have imagined.

Neighbors, friends, volunteers, and local businesses joined together to create a beautiful garden oasis. Then to keep the momentum going, we hired a wonderful local crew and the work expanded to include renovating Kim's garage and outdoor living space, repairing her home's exterior, replacing the roof, painting the entire house, and making important security improvements.

On July 9, we surprised Kim with her transformed garden when she returned from teaching summer school.

Her joy and gratitude were unforgettable.

And that's how Opening Doors was born.

The name was inspired by a friend who broke through the concrete that had kept Kim's backyard gate stuck shut for years. Opening that gate set something extraordinary in motion.

One open door led to another. And another.

Our Next Chapter—and Our $60,000 Goal

The exterior transformation of Kim's home is largely complete, but important work remains inside to make it safe, comfortable, and welcoming for years to come.

Thanks to generous volunteers, some donated materials, support from local businesses, and substantial personal financial commitments, we've been able to keep this remarkable project moving forward.

Our immediate goal is to raise $60,000 by October 28, 2026—Kim's 60th birthday!

These funds will help cover expenses already incurred in transforming Kim's home and garden, allowing us to sustain the momentum and continue the work ahead.

Will You Open a Door?

There's something deeply hopeful about this project, especially at a time when our world can feel so divided.

Opening Doors has reminded us that we don't have to change the whole world at once. We can begin right where we are, with the people around us.

And sometimes, one act of kindness becomes something far greater than we ever imagined.

Your contribution, whatever the amount, will help us honor Kim's lifetime of service, restore her home, and keep this circle of generosity growing.

If you're unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign with friends, family, coworkers, and community networks would be a tremendous gift.

Thank you for being part of this story.

One open door really does lead to another. What door can you open?

If you have questions about how you can become involved with this initiative, please reach out. Thank you!

In gratitude and possibility,

Brian Mogren

Director in Residence, St. Jane House

North Minneapolis

Giving Outside the GoFundMe Platform:

If you prefer to donate by check, please make checks payable to the Huckleberry Kindness Fund and write “Opening Doors” in the memo line.

Mail to:

St. Jane House

1403 Emerson Ave. N.

Minneapolis, MN 55411

Please note that donations to this benevolence fund, which is managed by St. Jane House Director Brian Mogren, are not tax-deductible.

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If you are considering a gift of $1,000 or more and would like to explore giving options that may offer a tax benefit, please contact Brian Mogren at the St Jane House

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Thank you for your generosity and support!

Brian and Kim on the evening of the big surprise. We discovered we were both born in 1966 and graduated in 1985! This project has transformed both of our lives.