"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them." --Paul Wellstone

Her name in Ojibwe is Anisiiwiikwe, which means "woman made of stone," an apt description of Ashley Fairbanks. And though her skills and experiences are varied — ranging from art and design work to writing, to political campaigns, to climate work, to community activism, and beyond —everything is rooted in positively activating others. Recently, with her founding of "Stand With Minnesota" —a community-driven, web-based platform designed to support immigrants and refugees, particularly with aid in response to ICE's Operation Metro Surge — this woman made of stone has helped those in need to the tune of $20 million... and counting.

"Powerful Stories" is the Minnesota offshoot of SoftPower/FulStories, which uses first-person stories to explore why U.S. engagement in the world matters. Through conversations with diplomats, aid workers, Peace Corps volunteers, authors and artists, influencers, businesspeople, and more, SP/FS highlights how soft power and foreign aid and assistance strengthen America's security, prosperity, and global standing.