Meet Our Board
Our Stories
Codi Leary Leitch
Codi lost her husband, the father of her three young children, in 2010 to suicide. The journey she was put on was not only scary, but lonely as well. The shame, blame, and unanswered questions surrounding suicide caused her to feel completely isolated with nowhere to turn. Her determination to ensure that nobody would ever have to feel so alone is what led her to create a safe, non-judgmental place for families to turn and so, We Saw The Light was formed. Everyone has a light inside of them, sometimes we just need someone to see it.
Lisa Burnside
Lisa’s family has been touched by suicide on more than one occasion. She not only provided emotional support to her family after losing their loved ones, but she also assisted with settling estates and arranging funerals. After losing a young cousin and two uncles, Lisa was faced with finding support for her husband as he struggled with serious mental health issues. She knows how lonely the journey can be, how difficult it truly is to help those who need it and how destructive suicide is. We Saw The Light can help lift people into light, love, and understanding.
Katrina Sten
Katrina lost some family members and a good friend to suicide. As a certified mental health first aid trainer, she has the skills to provide understanding and care to people impacted by mental health situations. She has a passion for helping We Saw The Light grow as a sustainable organization in Minnesota. We were not meant to grieve alone.
Lisa Quinn Rabenstein
Lisa lost her brother Paul in 2016 and her friend Amy in 2024 to suicide. Throughout the years she has found numerous ways to honor them both. She starting a small business with a platform to raise awareness using her creative and artistic talents along with getting a semicolon tattoo with her family after losing her brother, which has brought light into some of her darkest times. Her kind-heartedness shines through when volunteering at Thumbs Up and We Saw The Light. Being personally touched by mental health, addiction, and suicide; Lisa is a fierce advocate who brings awareness to help end the stigmas surrounding these issues. As she says, “being part of the We Saw The Light family is a perfect fit.”
Michael Fellner
Mike’s 22 year old son lost his battle to suicide in 2022. This loss gutted not only Mike, but his entire family. Mike’s family was fortunate enough to have We Saw the Light walk alongside them for that first tenuous year and help him, his wife, and his other two children to make sense out of the senselessness and to find hope in their hopelessness. Being one of WSTL’s first families is something Mike’s family is quite proud of and they feel a strong desire to continue this mission for the many families that will sadly come after them. Mike’s dedication to the Board is in honor of his love for Monte and to show his gratitude and unwavering support for We Saw the Light.