Rochester – Headscarf Story Circle Gathering

Danielle Teal is a Senior Program Coordinator at Mayo Clinic with nearly two decades of experience supporting initiatives that strengthen organizations and the people within them. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Danielle is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Behavioral Health (DBH) with a management concentration, where her work focuses on the intersection of behavioral science, population health, and organizational well-being.

Her professional interests center on designing systems and experiences that help people, organizations and communities thrive. Danielle is especially motivated by initiatives that support employee well-being, foster joy at work, and bring a more human-centered approach to how work gets done.

In December 2025, Danielle was diagnosed with breast cancer, an experience that profoundly shaped her perspective and deepened her commitment to resilience, compassion, and living with intention. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, and dreaming up creative projects. One of her long-term aspirations is to travel cross-country performing intentional acts of kindness and eventually write a book about radical kindness.

Tawonda Burks of Rochester, Minnesota is the current Director of Operations at RAEDI (Rochester Area Economic Development Inc.). She is the founder and owner of ELOCINA, LLC, President-Elect of Southeast Minnesota BDPA, Board of Trustee member of the Jeremiah Program, Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Leadership Table at Cradle 2 Career, and committee member with Center for Chronic Disease Reduction & Equity Promotion Across America.