SETTING THE TONE. Corrisa Villeneuve (pictured), a born-and-raised Midwesterner and 2019 UW-Eau Claire graduate, stepped into the executive director role at Stepping Stones of Dunn County during what is arguably one of the nonprofit's most trying chapters. Villeneuve points to those by her side –  local volunteers and dedicated team members – coupled with transparency and gratitude as the keys to success.

“In some ways, it’s what I thought it would be,” Corrisa Villeneuve, Stepping Stones of Dunn County’s executive director, said of the leadership role. “In other ways, not at all.” 

During the local nonprofit’s near 40-year existence, it has created and maintained a number of crucial resources for the wider Menomonie area. Chief among those is its community food pantry – the only one in the city of Menomonie – and operation of the city’s only 24/7 homeless shelter, the Cairn House, which opened in 2023.

While the need for its various services has grown over the years, funding has not necessarily kept pace.

Villeneuve, who became the executive director in April of this year, stepped into an era of increasing uncertainty; federal funding is less reliable and individual donations may be harder to garner as nearly every American feels the strain on their own wallets.

Over the last handful of years, Stepping Stones has been affected by several federal funding cuts totaling well over $100,000 in value. At the local level, the food pantry has seen less donations contrary to growing demand. In 2023, food donations totaled over 150,000 pounds of food; in 2024, that number was cut in half.

What I love about working at a nonprofit, especially Stepping Stones, is that we're all here for the mission. There are no personal agendas. We just care about the folks that we're serving, and doing the work that we're doing. –Corrisa Villeneuve, executive director of Stepping Stones of Dunn County

In just the past few weeks, an unprecedented blow was dealt to folks who rely on federal food aid – and as a result, to food pantries and related services. The longest federal government shutdown in American history led to the weeks-long pause of federal SNAP benefits, the ripple effects of which are still unfolding.

“This is the hardest job I’ve ever done,” Villeneuve admitted. “I wasn’t expecting such an intense challenge, but it’s just such a crazy time to start in (this) position with the federal government (and) the budget that Stepping Stones has … I think I’ve gotten hit with everything I could get hit with.”

Stepping Stones of Dunn County is in its 39th year of service. The local nonprofit operates three shelters, a community food pantry (providing roughly 20 pounds of food per household every two weeks), and various programming for low-income individuals and the wider community.

Villeneuve joined the Stepping Stones team in 2024 as the assistant director, her first role in the nonprofit world.

After graduating from UW-Eau Claire in 2019 – Villeneuve studied organizational communications and computer science – she held management and marketing roles, including with Eau Claire’s Infinity Beverages & Distillery. She credits her former employer for bolstering many of the skills she creatively applies to Stepping Stones, including financial forecasting, marketing, and more.

“Back in high school … (I knew I wanted to) help people and make a lasting impact in somebody’s life. I didn’t care how big or how small, I just wanted to make somebody’s life better forever,” Villeneuve said.

When she saw the assistant director opening at Stepping Stones, though, she was hesitant.

“I wasn’t completely sold on the food-and-shelter piece,” she shared. “Then I got to tour the facility and learned more about the work that was being done and I was like, yes, I want to be part of that – that is real, raw, meaningful work.”

Nine months after jumping headfirst into the world of Stepping Stones, the executive director role opened up. This time, Villeneuve did not hesitate to throw her hat into the ring, and after an open call and search, the board offered her the position.

I think if you carry yourself professionally and you're confident – even if it doesn't feel real – you can get through to people. Be that person, so that the next young woman that comes along knows they can do it too. –Corrisa Villeneuve

Villeneuve did not shy away from what may have been clear in reviewing her resume: Certainly armed with notable experience in management roles, she is still young in her career.

“Honestly, I was nervous about it,” she shared. “We work with such a wide variety of ages and experiences, and I don’t want people to not take me seriously because of my age. Getting over that mental barrier has been a fun challenge that I feel like I did get over.”

Now roughly eight months into her role, the general day-to-day work is similar to her previous work as assistant director — though some days and weeks are tougher than others, Villeneuve noted.

Still, she is adamant: “The wins are awesome; it makes it all worth it.”

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Student Athletic Advisory Committee and student athletes collected 1,195 pounds of food items for their "Trick or Treat for Canned Goods" on Oct. 30. At the shelter, 1,000 pounds of food supports roughly 50 family households, Villeneuve said. (Photo via Facebook)

“What I love about working at a nonprofit, especially Stepping Stones, is that we’re all here for the mission,” Villeneuve said. “There are no personal agendas. We just care about the folks that we’re serving, and doing the work that we’re doing. When things hit the fan, it’s all hands on deck and everybody pitches in – we’re a really great team.”

Transparency, gratitude and intentional personal boundaries are key to Villeneuve’s leadership style and chapter thus far – one that has been repeatedly tested, perhaps in ways unlike any other in Stepping Stones’s history.

In action, that looks like encouraging her team and giving them opportunities to step outside of their comfort zones with confidence; being transparent with communication, even if that means stating she can’t share information about a certain topic; and maintaining a positive attitude.

She also acknowledged fatigue from this type of work, saying "I know my limits and I know that I'm not useful if I get burnt out."

Outside the walls of Stepping Stones, Villeneuve is an avid outdoors enjoyer, frequenting the Eau Claire River by kayak and backpack camping to unplug and reconnect with nature and herself.

“I worked my butt off to get to this point ... I think the advantage of being young is, young people are like sponges,” Villeneuve said. “You want to learn everything, you want to do things, you want to see the world; you have the energy to do that.

“I think if you carry yourself professionally and you’re confident – even if it doesn’t feel real – you can get through to people,” she added. “Be that person, so that the next young woman that comes along knows they can do it too.”

Learn more about and consider supporting Stepping Stones of Dunn County (1602 Stout Rd., Menomonie) online at www.steppingstonesdc.org. Keep up with the nonprofit on Facebook and Instagram.