Summer 2023
We are grateful to be kicking-off our fourth season of Lion’s Fire this summer! We encourage you to explore the Lion’s Fire tab to learn more about our Pizza Heroes and the Lion’s Fire story.
Winter 2022
Fran and Dave Nielsen
Fran Nielsen
A Legacy of Love
Lion’s Ink Gathering - November 2019 - Fran and family helping out the first time the Lion’s Fire Pizza Trailer was fired up!
Lion’s Fire was born out of a love for baking pizza with family and loved ones, and the hope that our social enterprise could use that same kind of love to impact the lives of others. Our 2022 pizza season ended with a great final event on November 3. Shortly after, on November 9, one of our loved ones Fran Nielsen (mother of co-founder Chris) went to Heaven. We are honored to be recipients of memorial gifts in her name. The gifts will help us continue to spread a love for hospitality, hard work, and joy, all core parts of Fran’s beautiful character. Both Fran and Chris lived lives that remind us all to LIVE FULL.
Lion’s Ink Co-founder, Chris with his mom Fran
To learn more about how to contribute in memory of fran, please click our DONATE tab above.
Lion’s Fire is a part of Lion’s Ink, a 501(c)3 organization co-founded by Fran’s son Chris and his wife, kathy. You can learn more by exploring this website.
The Lion’s Fire Team at our final event - 11/3/22
Fall 2022
This Fall Lion’s Ink has supported the Minneapolis North Lady Polar Volleyball Team in a variety of ways…the warm up shirts shown in this picture, team meals, snacks for study hall, needed equipment for some players and our year end Banquet. We are grateful for your generosity which makes all of this possible!
Summer 2022
We are grateful for Grace-Trinity Community Church, who has welcomed us into their space. Beginning Summer 2022, their kitchen will be our new home base for Lion’s Fire!
Winter 2022
Summer 2021
This summer we are working alongside neighborhood high school students with our wood fired pizza social venture, Lion's Fire! It hasn't been perfect... but there is A LOT of good happening.
Winter 2021
We could all use some good news during this difficult time...Join us in celebrating with one of our Lion's Ink families. Sarah and Rasheed are working hard while "staying home" with 3 young children and 2 amazing teenagers (Sarah's younger brothers).
Navigating online learning isn't easy, but all 3 students in their house received academic awards after the Fall semester! They proudly shared the news with us, and we proudly share the news with all of you. A good reminder that good things are happening.
Summer 2020
We’re making plans to gather the Lion’s Ink community. Details to follow, but know that we’re hoping to show you our spaces in person, eat good food, share good news, and talk more about how we hope to grow together over time.
Vonte is the co-founder of Lion’s Ink. Almost 5 years ago he knew he needed a stable and affordable place to live as he began community college. He was “brave enough” to move in with strangers in the suburbs (Chris and Kathy Nielsen). Lion’s Ink grew out of that relationship. Vonte’s hard work, vulnerability, and honesty created a vision and path for more young men like him to find the hope that stability brings.
In May, Vonte graduated from the University of Saint Mary. We are proud to celebrate him and his accomplishments. After graduation, he moved home to the Lion’s Ink House where he will continue to be a foundational piece of our community.
Winter 2019
CHRIS NIELSEN (February 7, 1965 - October 24, 2018)
Thank you for honoring Chris and taking a minute to learn more about Lion’s Ink. We have been humbled and encouraged by the community of people standing with us as we move forward.
“Until the lion has his or her own historian, the hunter will always be the hero.”
Why “Lion's Ink”?
LION - the person who has been hurt in the story, whose perspective has not been told, the voice unheard
INK - the most basic thing needed (safe places, basic skills, long term stability) for the lion to write his or her own story