Who We Are

Guiding Star Wakota primarily serves women and their families who reside in northern Dakota County (West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Eagan, and Mendota Heights) and in St. Paul’s heavily Hispanic/Latino West Side located in Ramsey County. Approximately 25 percent of our clients live outside our traditional service area.

In 2016, Wakota Life-Care Center became an affiliate of the Guiding Star Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing and supporting comprehensive health centers that offer natural, wholistic, and life-affirming services to women and families. Guiding Star Wakota is one of seven centers that form this growing national network. 

In December 2021, Guiding Star Wakota completed a $3 million capital campaign and moved into its new 10,000-square-foot headquarters. The increase in space facilitated an expansion of services to include fertility awareness classes, support groups for parents, personal development services, 1:1 mentoring for fathers, and much more.

Our clients represent an ethnically diverse group that reflects the make-up of our surrounding communities. We support teenagers and women experiencing unplanned pregnancies, as well as women working through infertility, with a focus on empowering all women to understand, embrace, and love their natural bodies.

To become a client and gain access to Wakota’s programs and services, just stop by our offices and fill out a registration form.

Guiding Star Wakota’s Vision
A society where every woman has hope,
Every child is a gift,
Every family values life.

Guiding Star Wakota Staff

Here are some of the staff members you may meet with during one of your visits to Wakota:

Megan, Executive Director

Anne, Director of Client Services

Rosemary, Office Manager and Bookkeeper

Moriah, Client Advocate (English & Spanish)

Karen, Registered Nurse

Catherine, Receptionist
Luke, Good Father Program Manager

8 Core Values Shape Our Culture

In all their dealings with clients, donors, partners, elected officials, and the general public, Wakota staff and volunteer leaders strive to be:

Professional Collaborative Compassionate Life-affirming Wholistic Generous Positive

Board of Directors

Wakota’s board of directors meets monthly to fulfill its governance responsibilities and provide guidance to staff. The majority of Wakota’s voting board members—all of whom are volunteers—live within our service area and represent the cities we serve, including West Saint Paul, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, and St. Paul. They have diversified backgrounds in business, finance, mental health/social work, law, and nonprofit governance. Read more…

President
Cathy Gendreau
 
Vice President
Pete Bonfe
 
Secretary 
Deb Safi
 
Treasurer
Bob Collett
Members:
Katie Blando
Samantha Wunderlich
Sandy Rabuse
Terese Shearer
Renee Skidmore
Deb Safi
Terese Shearer
Kim Willenbring
Megan Plum, Ex Officio