From Humble Beginnings, Re-Member Grew

Re-Member began as a partnership in the fall of 1997 when Keith Titus, then a pastor in West Olive, MI and Mike Alles, of Grand Haven, MI., teamed up to start an outreach organization. Shortly thereafter both were apprised of the grim circumstances on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and in May 1998, Keith and Mike made their first trip, accompanied by Rev. Virginia Titus, Keith's wife and co-pastor. Following a bad Michigan storm, they decided to deliver fire wood to Pine Ridge. As a result of that trip, it was decided that they would focus their efforts on the Oglala Lakota people of Pine Ridge and in June 1998, Re-Member began as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation.

From that small beginning, Re-Member now brings more than 1000 volunteers to Pine Ridge each year, not only building bunk beds, but doing home repair, helping the elders and disabled, and affording volunteers an immersion experience in Lakota culture. Located on a 2.5 acre site with five buildings including a fully-equipped workshop, kitchen facilities and the ability to house more than 100 volunteers and staff at a time, Re-Member is firmly established as a permanent presence on Pine Ridge. We also have a growing number of Lakota employees on staff, allowing us to address another vital need on Pine Ridge; jobs. Now embarking on an ambitious and exciting plan to renovate older homes and build new ones, Re-Member looks to the future with excitement and promise, working with the Lakota people to improve lives on Pine Ridge; better homes, better jobs, better health, and a better life.