Theresa Halvorson-Lee (She/Her) is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Dakota Tribe and currently lives in Saint Paul, MN. Raised by her mother and stepfather, Theresa has spent her life navigating complex layers of identity, resilience, and faith. She now serves as the Director of the Department of Indian Work, where she leads programs focused on food access, economic mobility, diabetes prevention, and youth enrichment for Native families.
Theresa is a poet, author, and traveler who is passionate about cultural preservation, spiritual healing, and creating opportunities for families to thrive. Her work centers on uplifting Indigenous communities through connection, care, and long-term change. She applied to the Community Equity Program because she is passionate about making a difference in the lives of our families, children, and grandchildren, but wants to learn how to do it on a level that sticks. Theresa believes that systems change begins with understanding how power works and how to bring community voice into spaces where decisions are made.
