(Mildred Brunson left and Dorothea Burns right)

Dorothea Joanne (Hill) Burns was born on July 15, 1931, in St. Paul, MN.  Her roots run deep through the Rondo neighborhood, with the Parks family legacy symbolizing resilience and community. Dorothea married the love of her life, Clifton Waldon Burns, on August 20, 1949. Their union produced four children: Clifton Jr., Kevin, Vicki, and Laurie. She dedicated herself to service and community-building, a calling that began early and extended throughout her long career and volunteer efforts.

 After graduating from Central High School, Dorothea’s path led her to the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, where she served as a volunteer before taking on leadership roles as Day Camp Director and eventually Assistant Executive Director. Her time at HQB was transformative, as she championed programs that nurtured and empowered countless families and youth.

She was at the helm of the capital campaign responsible for the multimillion dollar building addition and updates to the canteen, creating beautiful spaces for community gatherings. And, just before retirement, Dorothea led the organization as Acting Executive Director, ensuring that Hallie’s legacy remained vibrant.  Her tireless efforts earned her recognition through numerous awards, each reflecting her unwavering commitment to equity and empowerment. 

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Mildred Brunson was born on April 18th, 1950 in Lane, South Carolina. Mildred moved with her two older sisters and daughter Towanda, to Saint Paul, MN in 1972. She finish her education in Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University in Saint Paul. 

Mildred started her career at Hallie Q. Brown in 1976 where she worked for 39 years until she retired in 2015. A community legend, she absolutely loved working at Hallie Q. Brown where she was able to truly connect with those in her community creating programs that serviced all ages. Working at Hallie was more than a job, it was a calling. Early on in her career at the center, she had a weekly Friday outing with a group of senior women.  She also worked with teens in the community who were interested in exploring the great outdoors by giving them the opportunity to get out of the city and into nature. 

Most will remember their time with her where she ran the summer camping program Fun in the Sun and the After School Enrichment program. Mildred’s life was a testament to the power of love, faith and community. Not only was she a community leader, she was a beloved sister, mother, grandmother, aunt & godmother.