Letter to the Community
Like you, we have a lot going on at Avenues. Here are some highlights:
- Two youth moved into stable housing last week, thanks to hard work of our case managers. Although our community does not have enough youth-specific housing options with supportive services to serve homeless youth, our case managers scour the options and are strong advocates for our youth.
- IncrediBowl 2009 will be held Sunday, October 18. This first annual event sponsored by the Avenues Board of Directors. Board members are assembling bowling teams to go head-to-head at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park. Lane sponsorships of $150 are available. Call Heather at 612-522-1690 for information.
- Training of new host homes for the GLBT Host Home Program is scheduled for November 7 and 8 at Avenues. It is not too late to learn about the program, complete an application and take the training. Call Rocki at 612-522-1690 for information.
This week, the youth-serving community will be thanking legislators who take the lead at the Capitol to get funding for our services and make policy changes to benefit homeless youth and youth aging out of foster care. Avenues for Homeless Youth would like to add its voice of appreciation to the following legislators:
- Representatives Karen Clark, Jeff Hayden, Diane Loeffler and Paul Rosenthal
- Senators Linda Berglin, Scott Dibble, Tony Loury and John Marty.
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Deborah Loon
Interim Executive Director
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Catching up with Angel, a former Avenues youth
Angel stayed at Avenues in 2007-08.
What did Avenues for Homeless Youth do for you?
Everything. My case manager and the staff helped focus me on graduating high school while I lived at Avenues. They helped me with everything while I was pregnant and helped me find an apartment to move into before my baby was born. The staff even threw me a baby shower. Avenues is the best.
What are you doing right now?
Living in an apartment with my baby, working and getting information to attend college winter semester.
You have mentioned a career in social work. Can you explain that further?
Basically I want to do what the youth counselors and case managers did for me at Avenues. I want to help other people that way. A career in this field seems fulfilling.
What advice would you give to the youth staying at Avenues now?
I would tell them to save their money while they have a place to stay. Use everything Avenues has to offer to your advantage because the resources will not be there forever.
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| How You Can Help
Warm Clothes and Coats Needed
Fall has arrived and winter is just ahead. Avenues' youth need warm clothes, coats, hats, scarves and mittens.
You can help.
- Donate new or gently-used sweatshirts, sweaters, coats, hats, scarves and mittens (all sizes, young adults-male and female).
- Purchase gift certificates to clothing stores or Target.
- Make a cash contribution.
If you would like to donate or have any questions, contact Heather Rist -- heather@avenuesforyouth.org or 612-522-1690.
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| Thanks!
Thank you to our supporters during the month of September!
Organizations -- GAP Foundation Money for Time Program, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, Luther I. Replogle Foundation, Target
Individuals -- Anonymous, Tim Baldoni, Michelle Basman, Brian Gilligan and Steve Pospisil, Kaitlin Johnson, John Kennedy, Tim O'Hara, Elyne Wolfensen In-Honor Donations -- Laraine and Harold Klane
In-Kind Donations -- Lareina Dominick, Paradyszmatera, Second Harvest Heartland
Volunteers -- Don Brewer, Ryan Li Dahlstrom, Kelly Brazil, Sara Olsen, Beth Zemsky, Avenues Board of Directors, GLBT Host Home Advisory Council
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| About Us
Avenues for Homeless Youth provides shelter and transitional housing with support services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. Through such service, Avenues seeks to help youth achieve their personal goals and find a positive transition into young adulthood.
At its North Minneapolis house, Avenues has 15 short-term beds and 1 emergency bed for youth ages 16 to 21. Youth receive basic needs and 24 x 7 caring of Avenues staff. While at Avenues, all youth work with case managers to pursue their individual goals of education, employment, housing, mental health and physical wellness.
Avenues also operates the GLBT Host Home Program, a community-based program that provides safe, supportive homes for homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.
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News/Updates
Documentary on homeless youth gets Emmy nomination
Twin Cities Public Television and Wilder Foundation's documentary Homeless Youth: Finding Home has been nominated for an Emmy by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
The half hour documentary will next air on statewide TPT MN 2 on:
Thursday, October 15 at 7:30pm
Friday, October 16 at 1:30am
Friday, October 16 at 7:30am
Friday, October 16 at 1:30pm
You may also view the documentary at
Wilder Research Foundation.
Congratulations and thanks to our friends at TPT and Wilder Foundation!
The Laramie Project: Ten
Years Later reading will
benefit Avenues
On October 12, as many as 100 theaters around the U.S. are expected to present The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. The original Laramie Project premiered in 2000 and told the story of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay 21 year old, in Laramie, Wyoming.
The Gay Straight Alliance of Blake High School will host and perform a reading of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later at Blake's MacMillian Performing Arts Center. This event is open to the public.
What: The Laramie Project: Ten
Years Later
When: October 12, 2009 - 7pm
Where: Blake High School auditorium
110 Blake Road South
Hopkins, MN 55343
Price: $5
For more information, click here.
Proceeds from this event will benefit Avenues for Homeless Youth. Thanks to the Blake High School students, alumni and faculty for hosting this event and supporting Avenues.
Sounding Out!
5th Annual Teens Alone Homeless Youth Summit
The Mainstreet School for Performing Arts will give a special performance on October 21 to benefit Teens Alone. An ice cream social follows the performance.
What: Sounding Out!
When: October 21, 2009 - 6:30pm
Where: Eisenhower Community
Center
1001 Highway 7, Hopkins
Teens Alone provides free and confidential counseling and crisis services year round to youth and parents in the western suburbs.
To learn more about Teens Alone, click here.
GLBT Host Home Program seeks hosts
The GLBT Host Home Program is looking for people interested in becoming hosts. For more information contact, Raquel (Rocki) Simoes, 612-522-1690 or hosthome@avenuesforyouth.org
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Immediate Wish List
- Provide food for Avenues upcoming holiday meals
- Umbrellas
- Winter coats (all sizes for adults)
- Sweatshirts (all sizes for adults)
- Sweatpants (all sizes for adults)
- Target or clothing store gift cards
- $10 bus passes
View Our Full Wish List | |
