Ile - pronounced ee-lay - is a Lakota word that means “light.” The Ile organization is a 501(c)3 charity that exists to bring hope, healing, and the light of Jesus to the community of Little Earth, Minnesota, through a Biblical and culturally-sensitive focus on meeting basic needs, advocacy and skill development, and consistent, authentic relationships.
Our Beliefs
We adhere to the following guiding principles as we pursue our mission:
We believe God created every person with inherent value and importance
We believe every person should have the opportunity to heal and thrive
We believe we are called to share the heart of Jesus towards His children
We believe that empowerment for community and individual change happens through relationships
Vision
The vision for Ile is to establish meaningful, trust-based, long-term relationships within the community of Little Earth that serve as the foundation for healing and transformational change. By working with this special community to help address needs related to basic resources, schooling and child development, skill gaps, self-sufficient advocacy, and wellness, we seek to:
Empower individuals to step into their unique, God-given strengths and gifts in order to positively impact the world around them
Contribute to healing the historical rift between Indigenous peoples and the Gospel
Display the love of Jesus for all people
Our Team
Ile staff is comprised of volunteer teachers, pastors, business people, social workers, and college students pursuing degrees in related fields. All staff pass mandatory background checks, complete education related to trauma-informed care, and adhere to specific safety standards.
Ile’s Board of Directors is led by Executive Director Alyssa Ronchak and includes a team of four whose responsibilities include financial oversight and accountability, pastoral care and outreach, volunteer recruitment and management, child advocacy and development, marketing, communications, partner development, and prayer.