Steve Rummler HOPE Network Welcomes New Executive Director

Steve Rummler HOPE Network Welcomes New Executive Director

Hannah-Ruth Patterson Joins Minnesota’s Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Efforts

MINNEAPOLIS (November 12, 2025) — The Steve Rummler HOPE Network (SRHN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hannah-Ruth Patterson as its new Executive Director. Hannah-Ruth joins SRHN after serving as the Executive Director of Rivers of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence across Central Minnesota. She brings a strong record of trauma-informed practice, organizational leadership, and community-centered program development.

“We are excited to welcome Hannah-Ruth to the Steve Rummler HOPE Network,” said Laurie Willhite, Chair of SRHN’s Board of Directors. “Her experience in survivor advocacy, education, and grassroots collaboration positions her perfectly to lead SRHN as we continue our statewide efforts.”

She holds dual Masters degrees in Social Work and Business Administration from Augsburg University, and brings a strong background in nonprofit administration, social services, and community outreach. At Rivers of Hope, Hannah-Ruth Patterson strengthened regional partnerships, expanded engagement, and guided the organization through strategic growth. This experience will support SRHN as the organization builds its community-focused education programs, and further integrates harm reduction, overdose prevention, and naloxone access into Minnesota’s professional workforce.

Hannah-Ruth looks forward to continuing the Steve Rummler HOPE Network’s work in naloxone access and stigma-reduction. “Overdose is preventable,” says Patterson, “but for people to access naloxone and other harm-reduction resources, they first need to know these tools exist – and they need to feel safe using them. Reducing, and ultimately eliminating the stigma around overdose is essential. Everyone deserves the ability to protect their own life or the life of someone else without feeling shame from people in their lives or society as a whole.”