Hale Page Diamond Lake Community Association
HPDL Staff
Executive Director
Charity Benedict was hired as the HPDL Staff Community Coordinator in February of 2022. In November 2022, she was promoted to Executive Director. She comes from a background in directing youth programming through the YMCA, working in the service industry and several years of classroom teaching. Bringing her experience with coordinating, community work and education, she is happy to be with this neighborhood association. Community connection is one of her passions and loves all of the events that HPDL offers to gather with one and other. On the side she manages social media, is a yoga instructor and musician. You may catch her biking around the lake with her husband and two elementary aged kiddos! A fun fact about her is she loves to hula hoop.
HPDL Board Members
The Board of Directors consists of twelve elected members: two representatives from each of the three neighborhoods (Hale, Page, and Diamond Lake) and six at large members. There is no term limit but we ask for a two year commitment. Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings, serve on a committee, and support events that take place throughout the year.
The Board of Directors holds monthly meetings (the fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 PM) at the HPDL offices. All HPDL meetings are open to the public.
**Note: Due to the Covid Pandemic the monthly board meetings are held both in-person and via Zoom. If you have any items for the agenda or wish to attend via Zoom, please email our office at office@hpdl.org
President
Ben Osborn and his wife moved to Minneapolis from out of state. After trying out a few neighborhoods, they moved to Hale in 2015. Now they can’t imagine living anywhere else with their two young boys and one old dog. They enjoy spending time with neighbors, exploring Minnehaha Creek, Lake Nokomis, and Pearl Park. Ben was motivated to join the board to meet neighbors, build community and see if he could help make our part of the city a little better. Also the snacks.
Treasurer
Cory has lived in south Minneapolis for 8 years and the Hale neighborhood for 4. He and his wife moved frequently until arriving in the neighborhood and are happy to feel like this place will be home for their 2 kids, aged 8 and 11, and 2 dogs and 2 cats. He enjoys building boats to take out on city lakes and exploring the parks and trails by foot and bike with his family. Cory has enjoyed taking up gardening in recent years and has helped manage the HPDL garden and seed library.
Secretary
Carrie has lived in south Minneapolis since 2010 and in the Page neighborhood since 2018. Altogether, she's lived in seven states, including both coasts (and some time abroad), but the Midwest will always feel like home to her, having grown up mostly in Wisconsin. Professionally, she works in public health, with a focus on how the places we live impact our health and quality of life. Personally, she loves exploring the neighborhood's many parks, Minnehaha Creek, and Lake Nokomis with her husband, two young kids, and rescue pup.
Vice President
Allan Cummins is a Minnesota native and 21 year HPDL resident. Having recently retired from a 37 year engineering career, Allan would like to apply his experience "building bridges" to get things done in the corporate world towards building bridges amongst his fellow HPDL residents. Our neighborhood, like most other neighborhoods in Minneapolis, is currently facing many challenges that weren't evident not so long ago, but working together we will keep HPDL as the wonderful place it has been to live.
Rhonda Fields- rfieldsaka@comcast.net
Board Member
I live, work and worship in South Minneapolis. I have lived in Minneapolis for over 25 years, living in the Powderhorn, Bancroft and Diamond Lake communities.
I am an active member in my neighborhood. I joined the HPDL Neighborhood Association to support and implement the mission of the association. I enjoy engaging neighbors in community events and building strong communities in Minneapolis.
Board Member
Bob has lived in the Diamond Lake neighborhood for many years. His previous background is in urban and regional planning where he has a master’s degree. He has worked in the past with the University of Minnesota in transportation safety, and with the city of Burnsville in research and city zoning. He enjoys biking and using the city of Minneapolis’s city parks and lakes.
Board Member
I am a wife, mom, daughter, neighbor, and lover of a REALLY hot cup of coffee who recently moved to the Diamond Lake neighborhood. A Georgia girl at heart, I am grateful to have been adopted by beautiful, snowy Minnesota. By profession, I'm a fundraiser with 16+ years of experience locally and nationally. When not fundraising, I can be found running very, very slowly around Lake Nokomis, playing dinosaurs with my son, chasing my crazy cat around the block, or enjoying a cocktail with my husband.
Board Member
My name is Nathan Sterner and I am the oldest of 5 and grew up in Rosemount, MN. I have been away from Minnesota since high school and this year bought a house in the Hale neighborhood. I only looked in this area and enjoy walking along the creek everyday and love the tight knit community and friendliness of my neighbors. I started my career as an Air Force Officer where I was an engineer working with space technologies and traveled to all 7 continents. I then spent some time on wall street and then the last few years I have been involved in start-ups. I love being active with tennis, biking, and skiing, reading + learning, and trying new superfoods.
Tess Korbesmeyer Holman- tesskorb@gmail.com
Board Member
At the end of 2019, I moved to Minneapolis with my family and it quickly became home. My husband, two daughters, and I live in the Hale neighborhood by beautiful Lake Nokomis and I fall more in love with the community every day. I'm currently attending the University of Minnesota to get my Master of Public Policy with a minor in Integrative Leadership. I have two graduate research positions as well as the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship. This summer I will be working at U.S. Bank in their Community Reinvestment department.
My bachelor's degree is in International Relations and Diplomacy from Seton Hall University. After graduating, I served in the Peace Corps where I provided health education at a school and supported a local women's group to secure a grant to open an income-generating business. Upon returning home I worked in refugee resettlement as well as the travel industry. I am passionate about gender equity, social justice, climate change policy, and relationship building. I am a strong communicator with deep listening skills, always able to find common ground and connect interesting people and resources.
Michele St. Martin- michele@michelestmartin.com
Board Member
My name is Michele St. Martin. My partner and I bought our house in the Page neighborhood in August. We love it here and plan to stay forever! I have lived in various parts of the metro, but I firmly believe (and tell everyone I know) that south Minneapolis is the center of the universe. We love our home, friendly neighbors (monthly get-togethers on the block), being close to the creek and everything the area has to offer. I have two daughters in college – one in Iowa, one in New York City – and they love coming home to this neighborhood. My daughters are people of color and racial equity is very important to me.
I work as communications director for a nonprofit that is dedicated to making sure that children with all disabilities are able to access their right to a free, appropriate public education. I am a former nonprofit executive director, editor of the Minnesota Women’s Press and of New Moon Girl media, and I have an extensive background as a freelance writer. I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community and value all forms of diversity. I hope to be able to use my skills, energy, and commitment to this neighborhood as a member of the board.
Board Member
Ann and her family (husband, two kids, three cats, and a tortoise) moved to the Page neighborhood in February 2020. She enjoys baking, Aikido, and walking the paths along Minnehaha Creek. Ann was a science and environmental librarian at various universities for the past 17 years, and is now working on a career change to climate education and outreach. Her background is in helping to connect people with the information and resources they need and she is passionate about social and environmental justice issues.
Andrew Verdin- andrew.verdin@gmail.com
Board Member
Andrew and his family moved to the Hale neighborhood in 2021. When he’s not working as a hydrologist and climate scientist, he enjoys spending time outside, whether walking along the creek path, biking around Lake Nokomis, hanging out at Triangle Park, or having a backyard picnic with family, friends, and neighbors. Andrew was motivated to join the board to help promote all of the wonderful ideals and values that our neighbors uphold in South Minneapolis, like warmth, community, and inclusivity.