MNLEND fellow (2023-24) Fanny Fernandez received an “L’Etoile du Nord Honoree” recognition during the Minnesota United Football Club’s mental health awareness game on May 13 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The recognition is given to individuals who reflect values such as resilience, inclusivity, dedication, and teamwork.
“I receive this award with deep gratitude and a full heart,” Fernandez said. “I truly feel this journey has only been possible thanks to so many people and communities.”
Fernandez has a history of using her skills as a healing and drumming circles facilitator, ancestral healing practitioner, and her background as a MNLEND fellow to help families searching for support and resources.
Fernandez is a family educator coordinator at the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota and says her experience as the mother of children with disabilities and mental health conditions gives her personal knowledge and helps her be a bridge between resources and families in need. She also collaborates with Help Me Grow Minnesota which is a state program that links families with early childhood special education services.
“I am grateful for all the connections I made as a MNLEND fellow,” Fernandez said. The Minnesota Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (MNLEND) fellowship helps to develop the new generation of leaders in the neurodevelopmental disabilities field.
“When I was a MNLEND fellow we had such a variety of people in the program,” Fernandez said. “We had people working on their doctorate, leaders of community organizations, and people with lived experience. We all learned from each other.”
It was a desire to be the best parent possible that sparked Fernandez to apply for the MNLEND fellowship. “I’m the mother of six children and I really wanted to explore the available resources for families like mine. Then I wanted to be a voice and find a way to help other families connect with these tools,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez was born in Uruguay and spent part of her life in Brazil. She speaks fluent Portuguese, Spanish, and English. She has lived in the United States for 25 years and says her experience as an immigrant helps her connect with other families new to America. “Many of these families who are coming from other cultures have a fear of not being accepted in the community or by their loved ones because they have a child with a disability,” Fernandez said. “My passion is going out into the community and bringing the information and the resources. I can reassure people that it’s okay to ask for help.”
Her work includes encouraging caregivers to ask for assistance and to ensure they have time for self-care. Fernandez is the founder of Infinite Prema and Embracing Community Balance. Both of these projects provide emotional, spiritual, and cultural support to diverse communities.
“When I’m serving families who have children who have disabilities, I joke that I’m like ‘Mary Poppins’ because I have a big bag that has medicine, incense, and other things to help,” Fernandez said. “I also bring my drums which helps people focus on rhythm, reflections, and connections.”
Fernandez appreciates her MNLEND fellowship and the support she has found in her new home state. “One of the things I love about Minnesota is the unity and beautiful community,” Fernandez said. “There’s a lot to be done to improve things but, in my work, when I see people of different backgrounds coming together and trying to make things better—that gives me hope.”
Hyperlink: https://z.umn.edu/bb2p
Alt text: Fanny Fernandez (MN LEND, 2023-24) sits cross-legged on a mat, surrounded by drums, bowls, and a handbell.
