One of the buildings of Catholic Charities’ Dorothy Day Place in downtown St. Paul. Courtesy Catholic Charities

Michael Goar, incoming president and CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, spoke Nov. 10 about the way his difficult childhood shaped his desire to serve others, the support he has received that helps him succeed, and his gratitude and joy at the opportunity to lead the Twin Cities’ largest social services nonprofit.

“I know what it means to be poor. I know what it means to be homeless. I know what it means to be hungry,” said Goar, 55, who was named to the post the same day he spoke with The Catholic Spirit.

Michael Goar

A native of South Korea, Goar said he never knew his father, who was Black, and his Korean mother struggled to provide for them. At age 6, she placed him in an orphanage that served mixed race and disabled children.

When he was 12, a south Minneapolis couple named Don and Beverly Goar adopted Goar and brought him to the United States. They taught him rights and responsibilities, and others through the years also mentored and guided him, Goar said. His adoptive father passed away just six months ago, he said.

“I am so privileged,” Goar said. “I have been inspired by so many people.”

That inspiration led him into teaching, and his experience includes serving as CEO and interim superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools as well as executive positions with Boston Public and Memphis City schools. Goar has been CEO of youth mentoring organization Big Brothers and Big Sisters Twin Cities since 2016, and will continue there until Jan. 4, when he takes over at Catholic Charities.

In the nearly five years he has led Big Brothers and Big Sisters, it has grown from serving 2,500 young people to serving close to 4,000, Goar said. The high school graduation rate of the students it mentors is 89 percent.

“These are the same young people others talked about as being unable to graduate, with poor backgrounds, single family households” and other struggles, Goar said.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters also is preparing to move into a new headquarters in Minneapolis, Goar said.

Goar said he and his wife, Bethany, and their 5-year-old daughter, Grace, recently moved to St. Paul and are seeking a Lutheran faith community.

He looks forward to working with the team at Catholic Charities, Goar said, which is built on Catholic social teaching that he knows well, as it serves the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, as well as older adults, children and families in need.

“I’m learning. I am still learning to be a good leader,” Goar said. But an important part of leadership is working with great people, he said.

“I’m energized by that level of interaction,” Goar said. “That’s my strength. I get joy from that.”