The joy of it all. I didn’t foresee how much joy this would bring, especially through the choir. Music is a powerful force for optimism and healing.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Claudia Kittock.
Claudia Kittock is a retired college professor and founder of Be That Neighbor who lives in Minneapolis. She mentors young adults who have experienced homelessness, serves as volunteer coordinator of Be That Neighbor programs Yoga in the Park and the Mill City Singers, and is a member of the Task Force to end Street Homelessness.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was searching for something meaningful to do after retirement, so I started attending meetings that interested me. I discovered some truly fascinating ones. As a child psychologist specializing in traumatized teens, I first began volunteering with YouthLink to help kids get their GEDs and joined a task force to end street homelessness. Our community has around 20 percent of its population experiencing homelessness, and they often go unseen. I started to see the ways that I could help, and began talking to others in my downtown Minneapolis community nine years ago about how we could work as a bigger organization. My neighbors came together to build a community that includes everyone — housed and unhoused and we started our nonprofit,“Be That Neighbor.
First we had the idea our community needed more music. We approached a local music school and were paired with renowned singer and choir director J.D. Steele, to start a community choir. On the first day, 29 people showed up, and we realized we had something special. Nine years later, our choir has more than 500 people on the roster, performing everywhere from Orchestra Hall to the Super Bowl. It’s completely free to join. Our board, initially just a group of friends, evolved as we realized we needed to secure funding to keep it accessible to all, and as our organization grew, so did our programming.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Our neighborhood didn’t have a community 20 years ago — it was an industrial area. Then the warehouses started to be converted into condos, and today 6,000 people live here. But there was no established sense of togetherness– so we began to build one. When we first started the choir, it was meant to be just a fun activity, but soon we realized that art was the best way to bring people together. Our mission became about building community through the arts, sports and other activities with transparent, barrier-free access — no one has to pay; anyone can just show up. Anyone is our neighbor.
When we formed Be That Neighbor, we had two rules: we all had to like each other, and we had to bring different skills to the table. It turned out to be a brilliant idea. We have a fundraiser, an influencer, a grant writer, and even JD Steele as our creative genius. Together, we sit down and discuss our upcoming projects, needs, and goals, and most importantly, we get things done.
One particularly fruitful partnership has been with Cedar Riverside, a nearby neighborhood just six blocks away from us that is home to many East African– Somali and Ethiopian– immigrant families. We wanted to bridge the gap between our neighborhoods and make real connections through our programs. We’ve also launched projects like the Mill City Players, now called Hope 612, which brings together homeless youth and immigrant teens through theater, allowing them to bond over shared feelings of invisibility. This initiative changed lives — every homeless teen involved in the program eventually found housing, and all went on to college or found jobs. We also created a landscaping program to clean up the shared parks spaces in Cedar Riverside, field a competitive East African boys basketball team, make sports available to young women in the same community, offer seasonal free yoga in the park, and support other programs that make a true positive impact on our community on a daily basis.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When we were fundraising for our second choir session, I sent out letters and raised money, but I made a math mistake. I sent thank-you notes saying we had plenty of money, only to realize we were actually short. I called a neighbor with experience in foundations and told her about the mistake. She asked how much we needed, and when I said $2,000, she immediately put a check in the mail. She told me, “If you’re going to run a charity, you have to learn to ask for what you need, and people will step up.” It was a valuable lesson. We are always asking for what we need.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
The most powerful thing we do is open doors. We create opportunities and ensure everyone knows they’re welcome, whether they live a few blocks away or across town. Our programs break down barriers, particularly in communities like Cedar Riverside, where there’s a large immigrant population. We make an effort to be present in their neighborhood and invite them to be part of ours.
We’re truly building connections. At one point, someone in the choir remarked, “It’s too bad we don’t have unhoused people joining.” But we do — they just blend in, and that’s the power of music. It breaks down barriers and brings everyone together.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
One of our original actors was homeless when he joined our theater program. While participating, he was able to find housing, finished his GED, went to vocational school, and became a carpenter. He also wrote two poetry books, is taking college classes, got a dog, and is now looking to buy a car. His journey is one of our greatest successes, but he’s just one example — there are many others.
Coach Jennifer Weber, one of our board members (and the coach and founder of our basketball program and co-founder of our theater program), recently started a landscaping program for youth deeply impacted by chemical abuse. They’ve transformed areas around Cedar Riverside, turning previously neglected and dangerous spaces into beautiful, welcoming parks. The impact has been profound — troubled youth who were once shunned are now approached by adults asking about their work. One participant has even enrolled in a landscape architecture course.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Let us do the work we know how to do. Our organization knows what needs to be done. We need support — funding, volunteers, and people to share our story.
- Help with visibility. We’re so busy doing the work that we often struggle to get the word out. Sharing our mission can help attract more support and involvement.
- Donations. We frequently run drives for cold weather gear for those who might be sleeping outside in freezing temperatures, and other essentials. We need financial support to continue providing for those in need. Donations can be made at BeThatNeighbor.org.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership means listening and doing the work. I don’t tell people what to do — I ask, listen, and pay attention. That’s how we decide our next steps. Opening doors for people and letting them find what they need is key. For example, I always tell people to come to one choir rehearsal — they end up staying because they feel better afterward.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Fundraising is a journey. We had no idea what it really meant when we started. We learned along the way.
- The resilience and strength of youth. Working with homeless youth has been eye-opening — their integrity and generosity, despite their struggles, are inspiring.
- It’s a full-time job. Running a nonprofit takes time and energy, but it’s fulfilling work.
- Ask for what you need. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive. Stepping out of my comfort zone to ask for help was a big learning curve.
- The joy of it all. I didn’t foresee how much joy this would bring, especially through the choir. Music is a powerful force for optimism and healing.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Community building through active listening. We often assume we know what’s best for others, but real change happens when we take the time to hear directly from the people we want to help. This movement would inspire people to start conversations, listen deeply to their neighbors, and take small, actionable steps toward creating opportunities for all. It’s about being brave enough to try, even if you’re unsure of the outcome. That’s how real connections are formed, and real change begins.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
My current favorite is by Gloria Steinem: “I’m not going to pass the torch, I need to keep my torch lit so I can continue to light other people’s torches.” To me, this speaks to the ongoing responsibility of staying engaged and active in what you love. I see it as my role to keep fueling others, to make sure that the good work continues beyond me.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?
Mackenzie Scott. She’s been making incredible changes with her philanthropy, focusing on organizations that often go unnoticed but do life-changing work. I think the smaller, grassroots efforts — like ours — are where real transformation begins, and I’d love the opportunity to talk with her about supporting initiatives like ours that build community from the ground up.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow our journey and get involved through our website: BeThatNeighbor.org.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Claudia Kittock of Be That Neighbor Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.