Beth Anne Cooper
Beth Anne Cooper
Beth Anne Cooper joins the VIP program following a year with Urban Homeworks, where she, along with six other girls, lived in an intentional urban community in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul, MN. Beth Anne listened to the Spirit within her as she evaluated her next steps, and, as Beth Anne says, “The peace and joy that I found in the presence of the Visitation Sisters led me to apply to the program and has brought me here! I am so grateful.”
Beth Anne is originally from Woodlawn, a neighborhood in the Bronx, New York. She is very close to her parents and her older sister, all of whom still reside in NY. Beth attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where she studied pre-med, pre-physical therapy and social work.
Beth Anne is very excited to be joining the VIP program and is looking forward to a year of spiritual growth. She intends to spend time in studying Salesian spirituality and in prayer. She also looks forward to listening to where God is calling her to be. “As my Mom so wisely said, ‘If you grow just one step closer to God during this year, it will have been a success.’ So I guess that is what I am striving for, just a baby step closer to God, “ said Beth Anne.
Although she is a New York native, Beth Anne loves her new Minnesota home. Beth Anne loves all of the outdoor activities that Minnesota has to offer, especially running, hiking, camping, and rock climbing, and she has even learned to cross country ski. Beth Anne says, “I’m looking forward to sharing my love of the outdoors and sports with kids in the north Minneapolis neighborhood!”
Please join us in welcoming Beth Anne to the Visitation community!
Kelly Schumacher
Kelly Schumacher
Kelly Schumacher brings bountiful experience in social justice ministry to the VIP program. Prior to joining the VIP program, Kelly worked with AmeriCorps VISTA at Project for Pride in Living (PPL) in South Minneapolis. Her other experiences include working as a volunteer ESL teacher in Central Asia, working as a case manager within the state welfare system, serving as a children & family ministries coordinator within a parish, and volunteering in a small, rural South African community. She was drawn to the VIP program following a weekend spent with the Visitation Sisters. Kelly says, “Once you meet these wonderful women, it’s hard to imagine not wanting to spend more time with them!”
Kelly is originally from Chaska, MN. Her parents have been married for over 35 years and still live in Chaska, and Kelly has a brother and a sister-in-law who reside in Fort Collins, CO. Kelly attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL where she obtained a degree in Political Science & Sociology, with minors in Social Welfare and Psychology.
Kelly is looking forward to living and working in the north Minneapolis community, developing more of a connection to her spirituality and what calls her to serve, while working on issues of social justice. She feels so fortunate that this program gives her the opportunity to this, “alongside the support of the Vis Sisters and the amazing community that surrounds them.” At the conclusion of the program, Kelly hopes to, “walk away with a feeling of community and relationship; and a feeling that I offered my skills, gifts, and talents to this community in an authentic and mutually beneficial way.”
After spending years living outside of Minnesota, Kelly is happy to be back here, as she says, “in the land of Lake Wobegon, hotdish, and food-on-a-stick!” Kelly recently became engaged to a Luther Seminarian student named Aaron, and is already enjoying wedding planning and preparing to be a pastor’s wife. Kelly loves to travel and has traveled extensively throughout the world. Kelly is passionate about working with immigrants and refugees, and enjoys hobbies such as reading, crafting, knitting, exploring new places in the Twin Cities, being outside, and trying to keep in touch with friends around the world. Kelly says, “I love learning about different, equally valid and equally beautiful ways to ‘do life.’”
Please join us in welcoming Kelly to the Visitation community!
