About J&J
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The Founding Principles of the J&J Lovelace Alliance are inspired by a Drive to carry forward the work and legacy of two Individuals.
James Bradford Lovelace (7/25/70 – 9/10/21) was 51 when he died from a rare form of cancer, soft tissue sarcoma. During his life, he had a quench for knowledge and a zest for true connections with others. Known to most as “Brad,” he was an incredible lawyer and partner at a law firm in San Diego and a fierce advocate for the homeless. Brad was a loving husband to David Flaten, son, brother, uncle and friend to all who knew him.
John Dason Lovelace (1/1/43 – 2/25/01) was 58 when he died from colon cancer. From growing up in a small southern Florida town to creating a Minnesota treasure, Dayton’s Marketplace, John lived his life to the fullest. He always showed his family so much love, engaged in anonymous philanthropy, and left the legacy, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.” In his passing, he left behind his wife, Sara and children Brad, Cheryl, Jennifer, and David.
Our Why -
A Message from Our Founder David Lovelace
My brother and dad are my heroes and the greatest men I have ever known.
Both believed passionately in helping the less fortunate, showing them that they are deserving of care, and providing clear paths to help them get back on their feet.
My dad passed away from cancer in 2001, at only 58 years old, and my brother passed away from cancer in September of 2021 at age 51.
The J&J Lovelace Foundation was created in honor and inspiration of them both, as a way to continue the legacy they built and do my part to make a positive difference for those in need both in my community and the wider world.
From an early age, my parents instilled in my brother, me and my two sisters, Jennifer and Cheryl a deep sense of compassion for others. They taught us that real success is kindness, and that how one treats other people is what truly matters.
My dad grew up in a poor southern town in Florida and he worked hard to move up in the food industry, winning awards and building what is now known as Macy’s Marketplace. With his generosity, he would (unknowingly to most) give scholarships to those incarcerated in order to help them attain education to become the best version of themselves possible.
My brother was the kind of person who always gave more than he took, doing so without judgment or expectation, and always with compassion.
When his husband, David Flaten, asked why he would always give money to the same person experiencing homelessness he was quick to answer, “Because they need it much more than I do.”
For him, it was never a question of if someone deserved it. He believed that everyone deserves kindness and that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect – the core foundations that J&J Lovelace Foundation was built on.
My dad and brother may have shied away from the spotlight, but The J&J Lovelace Foundation is a creation of their deep generosity and relentless compassion for others.
As we continue to build upon their inspiration, the J&J Foundation is buoyed by the strength, positivity, and selflessness that my other hero, my mom Sara Lovelace, has shown and continues to show throughout her life.
Ending homelessness is not an easy feat. But we know that change can happen and that a brighter future is possible when we build it together.
Welcome to the J&J Foundation. We’re grateful you’re here.
Our Mission
The J&J Lovelace Alliance’s mission is to support Minnesota’s unhoused community by providing critical resources, eradicating stigmas, and driving change.
Our Values
We believe in harnessing the power of community.
We know that by building alliances with those that match our values, together we can be a driver of change.
At our core, we believe in:
- The simplicity of treating others with dignity and respect.
- The impact of leading with kindness and compassion.
- The value of changing the paradigm from the love of power to the power of love. In the words of the great Jimmy Hendrix, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Our Vision
J&J Lovelace Alliance’s vision is to make Minnesota a place where every member of our community has a place to call home and the resources necessary for sustainability.
Help our Vision and Start Donating Today
Meet the Board
Dave Lovelace
With over 20-years executive level experience on both the client and services side, including co-founding two start-ups and working with multinational corporations, David’s successes have been fueled by a profound passion for people and collaboration.
From an early age, David’s parents and older brother, Brad, instilled a strong sense of compassion for the underdog – for folks that are often overlooked and negatively judged in society. They also made it very clear that wealth, social status, popularity, or any other measurement of what society often calls “success” does not make a person better or worse than their peers; rather, kindness and how one treats other people is what truly matters. David’s father left the legacy, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
Inspired by his wife, Lisa, and their sons, Johnny Michael James and Bodhi Carter Bradley, it is David’s distinct honor and privilege to join with his family and our Board in making a difference in the lives of others, and in-turn, continuing the legacy built his true heroes – his brother James Bradford Lovelace, and his dad, John Dason Lovelace.
Jody Walstrom
Jody has held a wide variety of roles related to marketing throughout her 20-year career. Her primary areas of focus have been event management, digital marketing, and social media. For the past 8 years, Jody has run her own consulting firm, helping organizations develop and execute their social media strategies.
Giving back is in Jody’s DNA. She has designed and executed countless initiatives in support of organizations with missions she is passionate about – from coordinating assembly and distribution of over 25k hygiene kits to unhoused youth in San Diego with Urban Street Angels, to organizing her first 5k for Children’s Cancer Research Fund, and most recently the first family event in support of The Grief Club of Minnesota, Jody believes strongly in the value and reward in sharing your talent to serve the greater good.
Currently living in Excelsior, MN, Jody has been married to her husband Nick for almost two decades. They have three children Etta, Thomas, and Emmett, and two fur babies Clark and Rusty. (Yes, she is a huge fan of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.)
Nick Walstrom
Nick is the Director of Product strategy for Principal Asset Management, and has worked in a variety of product strategy, product development, and product management leadership roles in the investment management and wealth management industries throughout his over 20-year career. The areas of investment management Nick is particularly passionate about and knowledgeable of include: responsible investing (ESG), global investing including the emerging markets, asset allocation, mutual funds and ETFs, alternative investments including the private markets, and target date funds including retirement income solutions.
Nick balances his analytical mindset with strong execution skills. This aptitude has been critical in strategic planning for J&J Lovelace Alliance’s goals and objectives today as a start-up and well into the future. Nick began volunteering his time and resources to Minnesota’s unhoused community following the murder of George Floyd, growing in understanding of critical issues and finding a passion to commit to being a conduit of change.
Residing in Excelsior, MN, Nick and his wife Jody have three children.
Stephanie Powell
With a BS in Marketing from Salisbury University and an MBA from Mount St. Marys, Stephanie has spent the majority of her career working in Field Marketing for B2B Companies. Currently working for Hitachi Vantara, she has the privilege of leading the AMER Field Marketing team supporting sales in their revenue goals.
Stephanie currently lives on the east coast with her Marine husband, Brad, and their three German Shepard dogs Nahla, Harper, and Luca. She has a deep love for dogs and helping those that can’t help themselves, and has most recently fostered with a local German Shepherd rescue organization.
One of Stephanie’s passions and interests lies is different forms of therapies that can help people find their way in this world. Having gone through years of therapy herself, and having a mom who is a licensed clinical therapist, Stephanie loves to research how animals, music, exercise, and so many other outlets can help people through challenging times.
Stephen Snater
A seasoned sales professional, Stephen has had a career spanning two decades in the finance industry. Strategic at the core, he adds value to his clients’ business by helping them grow their top line, provide savings to their bottom line, and bring cash flow solutions to the table.
A longtime philanthropist, Stephen has served on the board of Minnesota’s Parkinson Foundation for six years. And, in 2020 established the Gerald and Sandra Snater Parkinson’s Endowment Fund in partnership with the Capistrant Parkinson’s Foundation and the David & Janis Larson Foundation.
Stephen resides in Minnetonka, MN with his two pups Rio and Luna.
Cassie Cipolla
Cassie graduated from the University of Kansas in 2020 and now runs her own digital marketing agency where she specializes in working with therapists, mental health organizations, and nonprofits across the country.
Cassie is passionate about mental health advocacy and is involved with the mental health community in a variety of ways including volunteering with Shout Out Loud, a Minnesota-based suicide prevention organization and co-leading SameHere Global’s Teen Mental Health Alliance, a online support group for high schoolers in the United States. She also enjoys staying involved with her community locally, volunteering at the local food shelter, NourishKC and co-leading a monthly club for kids and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Cassie currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
Committee
David Flaten
David is Brad’s Husband of 6 years and partner of 10 years. He was born in Minnesota, raised in Wyoming / North Dakota, and got his Bachelors of Science in Marketing/Advertising from the University of Minnesota.
David has 20 years of Corporate Retail experience within Merchandise Planning, Allocation, Inventory Management / Supply Chain, and IT. Currently he is a Business Systems Manager for Petco Health and Wellness Company in San Diego.
“Brad changed my life in so many ways and inspired me to be a better person every day through his actions.
I continue to be driven by Brad’s love and selfless demeanor as he embraced a simple approach to life: Accept What You Cannot Change. Change What You Cannot Accept.”
Sara Lovelace
Coming Soon…
Jenny Lewandowski
Coming Soon…
Cheryl Miller
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