Ember Reichgott Junge, who served 18 years in the Senate from 1983 to 2000, is the new vice president of strategic outcomes for People Incorporated Mental Health Services.
The St. Paul-based nonprofit runs more than 60 programs in the Twin Cities area that promote independence for people with mental illness.
Junge’s job is to pursue “strategic growth opportunities” for the organization.
“Ember will be helping us with planful growth of our current programming, and expanded strategic collaboration within the greater health care community,” said People Incorporated CEO Dr. Tim Burkett.
Said Junge:
“People Incorporated Mental Health Services is one of those crucial Minnesota institutions that is well-known and highly respected in public policy circles, but mostly flies under the general public’s collective radar. More than 600 dedicated employees operate behind the scenes every day to help those with mental illness avoid hospitalization and institutionalization, and live their lives with purpose and hope.”
Junge, who’d been assistant majority leader when she left the state Senate, also sought the DFL nomination for attorney general in 1998, losing in the primary to Mike Hatch; and she ran in the 2006 DFL primary for the 5th District congressional seat, which was won by Keith Ellison.
She’d worked previously as chief advancement officer for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
