Who is ASANDC?
Born from the block, built by the community
Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation (ASANDC), founded in 1980 by Ronald (Ron) Pauline and Rondo's neighborhood block clubs, is one of Saint Paul's oldest Black-led community development organizations. For more than four decades, ASANDC has served the historic Rondo, Frogtown, and Summit-University neighborhoods as a trusted anchor institution.
Rondo was a thriving African American community in St. Paul. In the 1960s, the construction of Interstate 94 destroyed much of what had been built. This is its story.
Rondo is a community shaped by both extraordinary cultural legacy and deliberate harm. In the 1960s, the construction of Interstate 94 destroyed more than 600 homes and 300 Black-owned businesses, erasing roughly $90 million in generational wealth. That loss was not incidental — it was the result of policy choices that systematically dismantled one of Saint Paul's most vibrant Black communities.
ASANDC's work has always been grounded in the conviction that Black families and communities deserve stable housing, economic opportunity, and the ability to build and pass on wealth.
impact section
Over four decades, the organization has built more than 300 affordable homes, developed 18,000 square feet of commercial space, and walked alongside more than 680 entrepreneurs — each one a step toward the generational prosperity Rondo has always deserved.
[Add awards, graphics, and stories that illustrate impact]Today, ASANDC is developing programming that centers the needs of community members and organizations.
IMAGE BLOCKS:
Legacy Scholars Institute ProsperSt.Paul Workforce Forward
Click to link to program page
A deliver an empowerment model designed around the needs of Black families and offered inclusively to all community members across the multicultural neighborhoods ASANDC serves.
IMAGE BLOCKS:
Legacy Stabilization Collaborative
Click to link to program page
Through the LSC, ASANDC also convenes Black-led legacy institutions across Saint Paul and Minneapolis to strengthen long-term sustainability.
[Transition text]
Our foundation
Vision
A thriving, connected community where cultural legacy, civic power, and shared prosperity shape equitable systems and uplift families across generations.
mission
Rooted in the resilient legacy of historic Rondo, we advance cultural and economic opportunity-nurturing community wealth, empowering families, and cultivating generational prosperity.
Guiding Pillars
-
We honor our responsibility to the community by showing up as trusted conveners, careful stewards, and catalysts for collective progress.
-
We invest in strategies that build shared prosperity, ownership, and long-term economic power rooted in the people and neighborhoods we serve.long-term economic power rooted in the people and neighborhoods we serve.
-
We support families in healing from systemic harm, reclaiming agency, and building the power to thrive across generations.
-
We build programs and pipelines that expand opportunity—not just for today, but for the futures our children and grandchildren deserve.
-
We stand boldly for justice while working alongside partners and residents to co-create solutions that reflect community wisdom.
Our lEADERSHIP
ASANDC is guided by our President and a Board of Directors whose perspectives span community engagement, social services, and equity — all in service of family empowerment and community wealth building in Rondo and across the Twin Cities.
-
Tatiana Freeman
PRESIDENT
Tatiana is deeply committed to strengthening communities and creating a more equitable Minnesota for all its residents. With a robust background in banking and financial literacy, youth development, and entrepreneurship, she is dedicated to spurring economic vitality, fostering collaboration, and uplifting dynamic leaders across the state.
-
Mer’Ce Tyler
BOARD CHAIR
Mer’Ce’s vision is a future where marginalized communities are equipped with the economic, political, and social tools they need to thrive. She is the founder of MerceGrace Consulting, offering strategic coaching, advocacy, and leadership development to small small businesses.
-
Felicia-Marie Wilson
BOARD SECRETARY
Felicia-Marie Wilson is an experienced social services and behavioral health practitioner with more than 20 years of clinical and direct service experience. She brings extensive expertise in team leadership, social work, targeted case management, and mental health services. -
Clara Lewis
BOARD MEMBER
Clara is a native Minnesotan, born and raised in North Minneapolis. She currently is the Director of Community Engagement at Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) in North Minneapolis. -
Marissa J. Sanders
BOARD MEMBER
Marissa is a community engagement leader and advocate with nearly two decades of experience advancing equity for families, children, and people with disabilities. She currently serves as a Community Engagement Consultant with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. -
Ashley (Storm) Oolman
BOARD MEMBER
Ashley leans into a multidisciplinary innovative approach to remove barriers and solve challenges at the institution and systems level. With more than twenty years leadership experience in advocacy, business innovation, and culture transformation, she understands how to navigate complex environments and provide actionable insights for reconciliation and visible forward motion.
We’re seeking thoughtful, community-minded leaders who are passionate about strengthening neighborhoods, advancing economic opportunity, and supporting Black-led institutions in St. Paul.
We are seeking individuals who have expertise in:
Community development
Finance or accounting
Legal or governance
Fundraising and philanthropy