Among our state’s most distinguished policy leaders, Antonia Apolinario-Wilcoxon is best known for her persistent and powerful work to make the state’s Department of Human Services more equitable and responsive to the needs of all Minnesota communities. Now an independent consultant, Dr. Apolinario-Wilcoxon is a founding member of the Community Engagement for Equitable Systems Change collaborative.
“Over the years, I learned to prepare people, one by one, to welcome the new. I learned that I would need to do a lot of cajoling and prodding, and to smile even when I felt like smacking someone. I learned about the necessity of helping people grieve the loss of old ways of behaving and cheer on their willingness to do new things.”