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The
funded initiatives engage youth directly, and will also
influence and expand the quantity and effectiveness
of regional youth programming into the future. All three
initiatives also have potential for replication in other
parts of the state and are consistent with The Minneapolis
Foundation's support for
policy and systems change activities - promoting long-term
impact to serve the greatest number of Minnesotans.
The
grants were awarded through a competitive Request for
Proposal (RFP) process. Funding was provided by the
Emma B. Howe Memorial Foundation, a supporting organization
of The Minneapolis Foundation.
The
Minneapolis Foundation periodically issues RFPs, often
for projects that fall outside of the Foundation's Community
Grant guidelines. Interested nonprofits are encouraged
to visit www.MinneapolisFoundation.org and join the
list for e-mail notification of RFPs and other grant-related
activities.
Building
on Success: Youth as Resources program expands in 14
Central Minnesota counties
The
Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation will receive
$150,000 over a period of three years to expand its
Youth as Resources program in 14 central Minnesota counties.
Youth
as Resources is a youth development initiative designed
to foster philanthropy, intergenerational partnerships,
and community service. Through the program, the Initiative
Foundation establishes teams of youth and adults who
provide small grants and technical support to community
service projects created and led by other area youth.
Each
team comprises 8-12 students, many of whom have not
previously been involved in extracurricular activities.
Many are low-income, are members of immigrant communities,
or are identified by school or community officials as
facing serious barriers to success. The Minneapolis
Foundation grant will help the Youth as Resources program
expand from 10 to 16 teams.
Each team develops its own funding criteria, application
procedure, and evaluation plan - in effect, operating
as a mini foundation. Beyond the team members, an additional
500 - 1000 students participate in projects funded by
the teams. Past projects have included literacy programs
for pre-school children, food drives for local food
shelves, assistance to seniors, and community beautification
activities. A variety of community partners, such as
school districts, local businesses, and area nonprofits,
provide equipment and space in which the teams can operate.
Participants
in the program develop leadership skills, a sense of
connection to others and to the community, respect for
and from adults, a giving and service ethic, and a sense
of being needed and valued.
4-H
brings young people to the table to create youth programs
that work
The
Minnesota 4-H Foundation will receive $225,000 over
a period of three years to establish and staff Youth
Engagement Councils in Marshall, Worthington, and Pipestone
County.
Each
Youth Engagement Council will comprise 10 to 15 young
people and five to seven adults to analyze their community's
youth development opportunities and develop recommendations
for improvements. Through focus groups, interviews,
and other means, the Councils will identify local barriers
to youth engagement and examine current community assets
and areas for improvement. Each Council will develop
at least two specific recommendations for engaging more
young people in positive activities and keeping them
involved. These may involve new collaborations between
existing programs or the creation of new initiatives.
Participating
students will receive a $100 stipend following one year
of service on the council and will attend leadership
training sessions. Local public, nonprofit, and private
sector organizations will serve as partners for the
Councils, shaping start-up efforts, serving as advisors
and creating plans for sustainability.
Having
target youth populations involved in the design and
improvement of youth activities is vital. This approach
will help young people build their leadership skills
and community service commitments, will enhance existing
youth programs to serve more kids - and serve them more
effectively, and will identify new ways to connect young
people with community resources.
Strengthening
Existing Programs: KIDS PLUS helps communities in northeastern
Minnesota deliver more effective youth engagement activities
The
Northland Foundation will receive $75,000 over three
years for its KIDS PLUS capacity building initiative.
The grant will be supplemented by an additional $75,000
from the Emma B. Howe Memorial Foundation's Community
Grantmaking resources. The program is designed to increase
the responsiveness, effectiveness, and capacity of rural
youth development programs in northeastern Minnesota.
KIDS PLUS delivers training and technical assistance
to youth program coordinators in more than two dozen
communities. Topics include professional development,
strategic planning, public policy and advocacy work,
program design, evaluation, and plans for long-term
sustainability.
Participating
organizations must involve youth in the planning and
leadership roles. They are also encouraged to coordinate
resources and share best practices, and to involve every
sector - public, private, and nonprofit - in their activities.
Participating
communities include regional centers such as Hibbing
and International Falls, as well as smaller towns and
the Fond du Lac and Grand Portage Reservations. More
than 38% percent of the students in the Initiative's
26 communities receive free or reduced price meals at
school (above the state average of 28%) and more than
14% receive specialized services for learning disabilities
and emotional or behavioral disorders. Staff training
and development of effective youth programs is critical
to ensuring that young people throughout the Northeast
region get the support they need to be safe, productive,
and caring community members.
For
more information, please contact Bob Hybben at (612)
672-3863 or rhybben@mplsfoundation.org.
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