KARA was founded by CASA volunteer Guardian ad Litems Mike Tikkanen & David Strand to support people, programs, and policies that improve the lives of abused and neglected children. KARA operates with a small active board of directors and advisors, plus the generous efforts of hundreds of student interns and community volunteers.

KARA advocates for at-risk children through education & public discussion to discover better answers for improving the lives of at-risk children. We have spoken nationally (including at the United Nations in New York) on topics you will find on this website. For information on KARA’s availability for interviews, INVISIBLE CHILDREN CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS, and keynote talks, contact [email protected] with SPEAKING in the subject line.

Who Will Speak For The Children?

KARA engages lawmakers, principals, teachers, social workers, lawyers, judges, police officers, parents, students, health professionals, and the larger community in conversations that will end child abuse & begin healing the millions of children living with trauma caused by abuse.

KARA projects for 2025: 

Providing a fully funded Google Ad grant program to CASAs & other child-friendly nonprofits will help these organizations find volunteers and support for their initiatives.

Develop KARA’S social media, and current book, and create and launch a new podcast to reach more people to start meaningful conversations bringing constructive change to Child Protection Systems.

Continue offering KARA’s cost-free INVISIBLE CHILDREN Critical Conversations to colleges/universities, large business forums, and community organizations around the country.

Sign up for our informative, free weekly Updates here. 

CONTACT KARA: [email protected]

(please mention the topic in Subject Line)

Annual Report

 

Board

Mike Tikkanen: President/Chair and Executive Director: Author of the book Invisible Children, volunteer CASA Guardian ad Litem in Hennepin County since 1996, current and founding board member of CASAMN and Founder & President of KARA.  Mike has owned and operated several companies and arranged the purchase, sale, and financing of over 100 companies.  He is unapologetically and passionately committed to improving the lives of at-risk children.

Jim Early – Trailblazer Coaching: Jim has been an advisor to KARA since it began.  He has decades of experience supporting leaders to help them find better answers, solve problems & improve their management skills.

Damon Kocina: Secretary/Treasurer and long-time KARA key resource: Father, coach, and marketing guru dedicated to improving child protection and creating more support for young families.

Greg Christian: Greg has helped build KARA on projects and financially for over ten years. He has also raised funds for CASA volunteers in MN. Greg is committed to KARA’s efforts in interrupting child abuse and healing the children and families that suffer from it.

Past Board Members: David Strand, Joe McCarthy, Lynn McCarthy, Thomas Carter MD, Carol Koepp.

Advisory Board

Lawrence King: Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lawrence exemplifies how the hard childhood of losing your mother and father at a young age does not have to define you. A graduate of Purdue University, he has worked on campaigns with Nike, Jordan Brand, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the National Urban League. He is committed to helping nonprofits serving youth succeed and grow with the help of the digital world.

Lawrence has spent countless hours mentoring underserved youth in his community. Working with KARA is the most gratifying work because of our impact and voice on mental health, financial literacy, and child wellbeing.

Jarred Van Horn: Jarred is a Student Ambassador at Dakota County Technical College and a past Governing Council Alternate at LeadMN (MN State College Student Association). He recently launched and managed a nonprofit organization focused on student mental health (SEEDS OF SUCCESS). He’s a determined individual with a passion & dreams for creating positive change in the world.

Al Innamorato: After over 40 years in leadership positions in the corporate and investment world, Al is returning to his academic roots, which started with research at the Human Issues Institute at the University of Pennsylvania while doing graduate work at Villanova University. His executive leadership positions include Cendant Corporation, Ernst & Young, Microsoft, Dendrite, Scholastic, and the Fulcrum Management Group.  Al has led global system and process implementations, managed resources in numerous countries, and served on the Oracle Hyperion Sig Board of Directors.

He has Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Villanova University.

 

KIDS AT RISK ACTION / KARA / INVISIBLE CHILDREN HISTORY

  • 1994 DAVID STRAND SWORN IN AS A COURT-APPOINTED HENNEPIN COUNTY CASA VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM – 1996 MIKE TIKKANEN SWORN IN AS A HENNEPIN COUNTY COURT-APPOINTED CASA VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM (ACTIVE TO 2012)
  • 1998 INITIAL INVISIBLE CHILDREN/KARA BOARD FORMATION MEETINGS – 1999 INVISIBLE CHILDREN BOOK PROJECT BEGUN – 2000 INVISIBLECHILDREN.ORG FOUNDED BY ACTIVE CASA GUARDIAN AD LITEM VOLUNTEERS MIKE AND DAVID, LARRY WALKER & JOE MCCARTHY
  • 2001 REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS BEGAN TO OUTLINE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES – 2002 LAUNCHED PUBLIC SPEAKING FOR INVISIBLE CHILDREN, CHILD PROTECTION & CHILD ABUSE TO METRO CHURCHES & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
  • 2003 PRESENTATION TO WOMEN’S PRISON WARDEN CONFERENCE BLOOMINGTON MN – 2004 INTRODUCTION TO DR DAVID MCCOLLUM AND COLLABORATION FOR BOOK – 2005 INVISIBLE CHILDREN BOOK PUBLISHED & AWARD FROM HARMONY AT BETHEL COLLEGE FOR BOOK & COMMUNITY EFFORTS
  • 2004 FIRST MONTHLY PRINTED NEWSLETTER AND WEBSITE CREATOR ARTROPOLIS BUILDS INITIAL INVISIBLECHILDREN.ORG WEBSITE – 2007 RECEIVED IRS 501C3 NONPROFIT CERTIFICATION – INVITED TO PRESENT A UNITED NATIONS YOUTH ASSEMBLY WORKSHOP IN NEW YORK.
  • 2008 BRUTAL TRUTHS AND BEST PRACTICES PUBLIC FORUM CENTURY COLLEGE – 2009 FIRST FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN – 2010 MIKE BECOMES A FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF CASAMN
  • 2011 INDIANA FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION AGENCY (MITCH DANIELS VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CRIME) – 2012 RENO CASA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATION – 2013 MIKE AND DAVID BECOME FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF FRIENDS OF CHILDREN NONPROFIT (now CASA CARES)
  • 2015 INTERVIEWS FOR TPT FILM DOCUMENTARY AND BOOK METRO POLICE CHIEF HARRINGTON/PRESENTATIONS CRYSTAL POLICE & SUBURBAN ROTARIES – 2017 ONE THOUSAND BLOG AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLE MILESTONE REACHED
  • 2018 250 PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS REACHED & DESIGN AND LAUNCH OF INVISIBLE CHILDREN CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS – 2021 FIRST FINLIT PEER GROUP PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
  • 2021 LAUNCHED ONLINE BOOK DRAFT OF AMERICAN CHILDREN IN 100 CHARTS (WORKING TITLE) & ENGAGED RIIPEN FOR COLLEGE RESEARCH/WRITING VOLUNTEERS TO DISCOVER HARD-TO-FIND INFORMATION. PORTAGES MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
  • 2022 SECOND AND THIRD FIN LIT PEER GROUPS & MULTIPLE INVISIBLE CHILDREN CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS Metro State College, Dakota County Community College, Wellstone Center
  • 2023 LAUNCH OF CASA FREE GOOGLE AD GRANT PROGRAM – 2024, WISCONSIN CASA CONFERENCE PRESENTATION PROMOTING CRITICAL NEW SAFE PASSAGE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON CHILD DEATH AT THE HANDS OF CAREGIVERS WHILE IN CPS
  • 2025, BEGINNING THE YEAR WITH A WAITING LIST FOR THE GOOGLE AD GRANT PROGRAM WITH 7 CASA GUARDIAN AD LITEM ORGANIZATIONS, INVESTIGATING THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL DATABASE TO BRING TRANSPARENCY AND TRACKING OF INFORMATION RELATED TO AT-RISK CHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVES.

 

 

Our Sponsors

KARA would like to thank the following

individuals and companies for their support.

To support our mission, you can

donate your resources or volunteer your time.

THANK YOU

Highland Bank

Edina Federated Women’s Foundation

Sunrise Banks

Spire Credit Union

& Many Many Minnesota Rotaries

THANK YOU TO THE RIIPEN ORGANIZATION &

THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOR

HELPING KARA IN OUR EFFORTS TO DISCOVER AND

DELIVER THE INFORMATION KARA NEEDS TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED

ABOUT THE DEPTH AND SCOPE OF CHILD ABUSE AND TRAUMA IN OUR NATION TODAY:

University of MN

Arizona State University

Cambrian College

Capella University

RMIT University

Bay Path University

University of Sterling

Durham University

Cape Breton University

Northeastern University

The American Women’s College at Baypath University

Concordia University St Paul MN

University of North Dakota

Keuka College

 

#CHILDABUSE

#CHILDWELFARE

#KIDSATRISK

#KARA

#MIKETIKKANEN

#CHILDPROTECTION

#VOLUNTEERS

#HIGHLANDBANKS

#SUNRISEBANKS

#CASAGUARDIANADLITEM

#COURTAPPOINTEDSPECIALADVOCATE

#Universityof MN

#ArizonaStateUniversity

#CambrianCollege

#CapellaUniversity

#RMITUniversity

#BayPathUniversity

#UniversityofSterling

#DurhamUniversity

#CapeBretonUniversity

#NortheasternUniversity

#TheAmericanWomen’sCollegeatBaypathUniversity

#ConcordiaUniversityStPaulMN

#UniversityofNorthDakota

#KeukaCollege