Meet the Staff

The Peacemaker Resources Team, December 2023.  
Back Row:  Flann Christenson, Angela Haasch, Keila McCracken, Linsey McMurrin
Front Row: Joanna Wallenberg, Diamond Knispel, Sarah Wilson, (Party Pig, Peaceful Panda, Peaceful Panther), Amanda Lien
(Not Pictured: Candy Roberts-Salter)

Linsey McMurrin - Executive Director, SEL Specialist 
[email protected]

Linsey McMurrin, a citizen of the Leech Lake Nation of Ojibwe, is committed to the ongoing process of integrating trauma-sensitive, equity driven, restoratively based and culturally responsive approaches into the organizations, institutions, systems and policies throughout our communities and beyond in order to cultivate environments in which everyone can find pathways to healing and success.  She believes a firm understanding of the root causes of the contemporary issues we face as a society today is paramount to making true and lasting change that is necessary for individuals, families and communities to thrive. Linsey centers her approach around the importance of building relationship through authentic connection and empathetic listening, as these are the building blocks of cultivating the thriving and inclusive communities we all want for our children, both now and for generations to come.​

Keila McCracken -  Business Director, SEL Specialist 
[email protected]

Keila is a Social Emotional Learning Specialist with Peacemaker Resources. She first learned of Social Emotional Learning in her 6th-grade classroom at Schoolcraft Learning Community where her interest was sparked and skillset expanded to navigate peaceful and fruitful conversations. She is an adjunct professor in the Social Work department at Bemidji State University teaching Intercultural Relations and Cultural Sensitivity. Keila is a cultural and environmental Anthropologist and recently earned a Masters in Human Development from Saint Mary’s University concentrating on sustainable systems that equally weigh impacts on economies, environments, social systems, and cultural values. Keila is an avid fly fishing angler and loves to weave on her vintage industrial loom. 

Candy Roberts-Salter - Founder of Peacemaker Resources and Trainer
[email protected]

Candy is a STAR (Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect) Team Trainer, and the founder of Peacemaker Resources. With a B.A. in Community Services and an M.S. in Experiential Education, Candy has worked with kids of all different ages and backgrounds, using experiential activities and games to teach cooperative life skills and peace-making skills. She believes that every child has something unique to offer. Given the opportunity to learn these skills, children can live enjoyable and productive lives and be an important part of something bigger than themselves.

Flann Christenson- SEL Specialist, STAR Team Lead
[email protected] 

Flann Christenson has worked in Special Education for 12 years, two years as a teacher and 10 years previous as a paraprofessional. As a teacher that utilized multiple SEL curriculum, Flann realized that SEL is not just for Elementary and Middle school students, but for everyone. Learning how to self-regulate, have conversations, and making a positive impact on others are aspects that make us all better.  At Peacemaker Resources Flann is a SEL Specialist and Leader of the STAR team.

Joanna Wallenberg -  SEL Specialist, Step Up Team Lead
[email protected] 

​Joanna is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over eight years of experience providing mental health services in school settings. She has been providing services to kids and families in the Park Rapids area since 2010 and is passionate about using a trauma-focused lens to help clients, families, schools, and communities be the healthiest they can be!  

Joanna is a key member of our Adult Workshops team and is our Step-Up Team Lead.

Sarah Wilson -  SEL Specialist, SEL Team Lead
[email protected] 

Sarah Wilson is a Social Emotional Learning specialist with 17 years of teaching experience. She holds a B.S. in elementary education from Bemidji State University. Sarah loves to explore innovative teaching methods and is passionate about creating equitable learning spaces that lift up marginalized voices. She is excited to continue to move Peacemaker Resources' mission forward, developing emotional intelligence and wellness in the outdoors. She lives and plays in the gardens and forests around Bemidji with her family.

Amanda Lien -  Adult Workshop Presenter
[email protected] 

Amanda has many passions/roles and wears many hats, quite literally and figuratively. You'll see her sporting many hats throughout her favorite seasons at home in Northwest Minnesota, where she has returned to after time spent across the states and globe. She has always felt a deep connection and pull back to NW MN where her family resides and where she is a proud auntie, outdoor adventurer, live music lover, creative cookie maker, Pilates instructor, and is passionate about wellness and change/development for people and organizations across generations and cultures. 

Amanda is an Adult Workshop Presenter, integrating her community and organization development passions to help adapt and transform workplaces and communities. With her mix of education in health science and organization development, she uses creative approaches to lead strategic change, expand narratives, improve well-being, and advance communities and workplaces across our region. In addition to her role at Peacemaker Resources, she continues to seek out continuous learning and opportunity for impact in the lives of others, whether that is in her role as a Wellness Coordinator in upstream prevention with public health, as a hockey coach, or as a volunteer with local youth. She is committed to the systemic work to be done to heal trauma and restore justice in our regional communities and is currently a team member of the Respecting Voice Collaborative working to advance safety
and culturally-based approaches in health equity.

​She is at her best near any body of water - lakes & rivers mostly - and lives with Luna the Moon Dog and Agassiz, her cat named after the nature refuge nearby her home.

​Angela Haasch -  SEL Specialist
[email protected] 

Angela, a Social Emotional Learning Specialist with Peacemaker Resources, has been in the field of education for 17 years.  Most of her teaching experience has been focused on English as a second language in the Twin Cities, she worked with students in kindergarten through adults from all over the world! She has also taught locally in Bemidji, Cass Lake, and Walker. For Peacemaker Resources, Angela helps to facilitate the STAR (Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect) program and teaches social-emotional learning skills to children and teachers.
​
Angela has studied women-centered coaching, yoga and other mindfulness practices, and has twice attended the year-long Equity Leader Institute through the YMCA in addition to many other learning experiences with diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity. She has a Masters Degree in ESL from Hamline University and studied at both the U of M–Twin Cities and BSU. Angela enjoys "wonder walks" in the forest, staying active, and spending time with her loved ones.