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To the Avenues Community
Dear Friends -
Brooklyn Avenues opened February 6. In its first three months, the program already had provided support to 36 young people experiencing homelessness. It was full within two weeks of opening and has been full ever since.
Mitzi Heath, homeless youth liaison at Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park, recently talked with two of the youth she has referred into Brooklyn Avenues. Here's what they told her matters most to them about living there -- "1. They feel encouraged and supported to make good decisions. 2. They are relieved that their things are in one place. 3. They play together like family with laughter and belonging. 4. At the end of the day, they are safe and in a home."
Your support makes all that possible! A special thank you to the over 150 people who attended our Building on Dreams breakfast, and the corporate sponsors (listed below). We were especially honored to welcome 45 new friends who came to learn about and support Avenues. Over $31,000 was raised that morning!
With the opening of Brooklyn Avenues, we now have a budget that exceeds $2 million. About half comes from government grants and contracts, leaving just over $1 million to be raised every year from the private sector -- individuals, foundations, corporations, faith and civic organizations, and events. Every single dollar and in-kind gifts contributed is critical. Thank you!
Thinking about possibly doing even more? Avenues' new and improved Volunteer Program is up and running. See the article in this issue for information.
Sincerely,
Deborah Loon, Executive Director
1708 Oak Park Avenue North, Minneapolis MN 55411
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You did it! Building on Dreams Hits Goal
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Clockwise from upper left photo: Building on Dreams guests; Makeda Lacking; Avenues Board President Shawn Gensch with Brooklyn Park Rotarians Eldon Tessman, Duane Jones, Daryll Cameron; Mitzi Heath and Shawn Gensch
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Over 150 friends of Avenues gathered May 5 for our second annual Building on Dreams breakfast fundraiser, presented this year by Brady Kroll of Edina Realty. Corporate sponsors were Borenstein & McVeigh Law Office LLC, Gravie, Gray Plant Mooty, Johnson Printing, KPMG, LHB Corporation and Messerli & Kramer Attorneys at Law.
Avenues' staff members, Makeda Lacking and Michael Lee, inspired the audience with stirring comments and a spoken word performance. Makeda, an Avenues youth worker who had previously lived at Avenues while she was homeless, shared how important the stability and support she received at Avenues was in her journey... and that she always planned to come back as a staff member. And Michael wowed us again with his original spoken word poem, "Shelter," which you may view here. Our fundraising goal was exceeded, thanks to a challenge gift from the Rotary Club of Brooklyn Park. We raised $31,000 that morning on top of the Rotarians' gift of $15,000!
We are grateful to the following table hosts who invited guests -- Kojo Baafi, Paul Blom, Eve Borenstein, Angie Brown, Robert Brandt, Erin Campbell, Lisa Jacobson, Jenny Javitch, Natalie Johnson Lee, Ellen McVeigh, Kate Nilan-Uding, Doris Pagelkopf, Best Buy Pride, Amanda Scherer, Godson Sowah, Chuck Tombarge and Jane Windmeier.
Please plan to attend next year and bring friends -- mark your calendars for the Building on Dreams breakfast with Avenues on May 3, 2016.
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A Reading to Raise Awareness - A Recap
Some of the most exciting voices in contemporary literature read from their works recently to raise awareness of youth homelessness and
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Clockwise from upper left: Saeed Jones, Nick Flynn, Melissa Febos and Marlon James
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shine a light on the services provided by Avenues' host home programs. The reading was organized by Avenues as part of the 2015 Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference. Award-winning writers Marlon James, Roxane Gay, Saeed Jones, Nick Flynn, Stephen Elliott, Melissa Febos, Eduardo Corral and Eileen Myles all read in support of the organization. Introducing the event, Executive Director Deb Loon said, "I'm proud to say that 10% of Avenues' staff are published writers. Both writing and youth work demand a lot of empathy, commitment and care for one's community. We're honored that authors of such caliber agreed to read on behalf of the youth supported by our programs."
Avenues' Minneapolis & Suburban Host Home Programs seek Action Council members. Interested in joining the team to help recruit hosts? Email Ryan Berg at rberg@avenuesforyouth.org.
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Is a young person crashing at your home (or a friend's home)? Call us if you need help supporting that youth.
Avenues' three Host Home Programs train and support adult volunteers who are willing to host, or are already informally hosting, a young person in their home.
If you would like additional information about the Minneapolis & Suburban Host Home Programs, contact Ryan Berg at 612-522-1690 x 114 or rberg@avenuesforyouth.org.
For information about the GLBT Host Home Program, contact Rocki Simões at 612-968-8771 or rsimoes@avenuesforyouth.org.
This three-minute video shows the difference a host home can make for a homeless young person!
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Dan Weinand: Putting the Art in Heart
When area artist, Dan Weinand, toured Avenues recently, he noticed the lack of art on the walls.
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Left to right: Steve Schuett and Dan Weinand
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Weinand decided to change that. He invited Avenues staff and youth over to his studio in the Northrup King Building where they were able to choose a number of works by Dan. The youth had a lot of fun picking and choosing, discussing which walls would feature a new piece of Dan's art. But that's not all. Dan worked with staff to select a new palette of colors, then organized a group of volunteers to paint to our halls, common areas, offices and bathrooms at Minneapolis Avnues. We're incredibly grateful to Dan for the gifts of his time and effort. Visit Dan's website to view more of this art.
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We have always welcomed volunteers at Avenues, but today our Volunteer Program is much more organized and intentional than ever before. Our objective -- to engage in a rigorous process that matches the skills and interests of qualified volunteers with our needs at Avenues.
We are looking for volunteers in three categories:
(1) Individuals and groups who make a one-time or periodic commitment to complete a project, such as painting, cleaning or doing yard work
(2) Individuals who make a commitment to become part of our team and regular schedule for a period of time (e.g., weekly for six months) and
(3) Individuals, couples and families who want to become a host in one of our host home programs, sharing their home with a young person for as long as 1 or 2 years.
Because the youth we support at Avenues have experienced trauma and are vulnerable, we are not able to welcome volunteers on a drop-in basis or who have not gone through our training. We respect how important privacy, consistency and relationships are for our youth.
The first step in the process is to attend an Information Session to hear about the mission, programs, and how you can get involved at the Brooklyn Park or Minneapolis Shelter & Transitional Living Programs. Upcoming Information Session dates and times are:
* Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on July 21 & September 15 in Minneapolis
* Thursday from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on July 9 & September 10 in Brooklyn Park
* Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on July 18 & September 19 in Brooklyn Park
Register at http://vols.pt/Pdzatf
Please note:
* The information is the same at both locations.
* You must be 21-years-old or older to participate.
* This session is required for all prospective volunteers.
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Board of Directors
The following individuals currently serve on Avenues' hard-working Board of Directors. They provide overall governance for the organization and leadership to build community support.
President Shawn Gensch - Co-founder & CEO, iAMroyalist
Vice President Doris Pagelkopf - Nonprofit Consultant
Treasurer Kojo Baafi - Director, Risk Consulting, KPMG LLP
Secretary Godson Sowah - Advisory Consultant, Ernst & Young
Directors: Paul Blom - Owner / CEO, Right at Home
Robert J. Brandt - Ombudsperson/Vice-Provost, Walden University
Erin Campbell - Lobbyist, Messerli & Kramer PA
Eric G. Gilseth - Account Director, Fallon
Jenny Javitch - Director of Education & Enrichment,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Twin Cities
Natalie Johnson Lee - Director, Girls in Action and Principal Consultant, Power of People Leadership Institute Kate Nilan Uding - Attorney, Gray Plant & Mooty
Andrea Seeger-Friesen - Vice President Global Structured Finance, US Bank NA
Chuck Tombarge - Chief Public Relations Officer / Deputy Chief of Staff, University of Minnesota
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Connect With Us
Avenues for Homeless Youth
1708 Oak Park Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
612.522.1690 phone
612.522.1633 fax
If you would like to make a donation or volunteer, please contact Melissa Peterson via email or at 612-844-2005.
Visit us online:
Facebook and Twitter
 
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Volunteer Highlight: Rochelle Sweeney
Rochelle can often be found helping our community engagement manager with data entry, sorting in-kind donations and teaching computer skills in our youth computer lab. We're grateful for her dedication to supporting Avenues' youth. Thanks, Rochelle!
I'm a lifetime resident of Minnesota. Currently, I live in Brooklyn Center with my husband, Ed, and two dogs, Tito and Chance. I'm a stepmom to three  grown children and grandma to four grandkids. In my spare time, I like to read and scrapbook.
I had been considering for several years volunteer opportunities with organizations that supported homeless youth. I chose to support Avenues when I learned their organization would be managing a residence in Brooklyn Park close to my own community. My husband had an insecure childhood. He spent time couch-hopping and lived with several foster families. He was fortunate, however, to have the support of several caring adults along the way. I know first-hand the positive results those relationships had on the person that my husband is today. I want to pay-it-forward!
The staff at Avenues is warm and welcoming! They are always very appreciative of the time I spend volunteering. I began last November supporting Melissa, Community Engagement Manager, in the administrative office. I assisted with donation intakes, processing thank you letters, and organizing the holiday gift program. After attending volunteer training the beginning of this year, I began providing assistance to the youth in the computer lab at the Minneapolis residence. The youth are respectful and receptive to support. My volunteer experience at Avenues has been positive and personally rewarding!
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RefillMN - Spreading Good Will & Good Food around the Twin Cities
Mick Sterling, founder and director of the 30 Days Foundation (as well as a 2015 MN Music Hall of Fame inductee), has a new nonprofit venture wheeling around the Twin Cities: the RefillMN food truck. The plan: sell food to raise enough money so that the truck can donate food to people in need and support its charity partners, including Avenues. One could call the endeavor a combination of the Meals-On-Wheels model and the foodie craze sweeping the city.
Keep an eye out for the RefillMN truck on your next lunch break. For more information on RefillMN; follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
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Thank You, March & April Donors!
Organizational Donors
3M, Ameriprise Financial, Brady Kroll-Edina Realty, Gravie, Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, Jungle Red Salon & Spa, LHB Corporation, Messerli & Kramer, Northeast Bank, Saint John's University Campus Ministry, Thrivent Choice, Thrivent Financial Foundation, Zachry Group
Avenues General Donors
Yasimen Aboubaker, Tina M. Ackermann, Robert Aderhold and Audrey Kingstrom, Maria Ambrozich, Anonymous, Ceasar Archuleta, Douglas Armato, Keeshwana Barnes Morrison, Grace Bechle, Joseph Beranek, Ericka Binns, Deborah Bowers, Darius Brown, Shannon Butler, Mary Bydlon, Timothy Cariolano, Elaine Caspers, Kara Chudecke, David and Laura Clements
Sherry Daehn, Lily Dzubay, Diane Fillips, Sue and David Finstrom, Colleen Fletcher, Steven Frampton, James Fry, Amanda Galvin-Davis, Clarice Gensch, Maria H. Ghassemlou, Linda Gondringer, Max Gries, David Groenheim, Heidi Guetzkow, Jerry Haines, Richard Halvorson, Andy Hein, Lee Henderson, Kirstin Hibbard, Richard J. Hilber, Barbara Hillesland, Ashley Hooker, Jason Iwasko, Balvis Jaimes, Daniel Jones
Bridget Kalow, Bonnie Kloos, Barbara Knoll, Douglas Koch, Crystal Kory, Patricia Kurt and George Weyer, Ruth Kurth-Schai, Brian Law, Sophia Leenay, Laurie Leung, Mary Liska, Julie Ludowese, Kelly MacGregor, Matthew Marakovitz, Marie Margl, Tracey McCoy, Laurie Mikkonen, Brian Moher, Jason Moore, David Morrison, Brady Moss, Debra Mueller, Brian Ness, Kate Nilan and Chris Vaughn-Uding, Michael Nowak
Kirsten Ohnsorg, Terry and Natalie Ostrom, Sandra H. Overland, Amanda Pederson, Gerald Pelofske, Helen Peterson, Kenneth Peterson, Brady Pettis, Melissa J. Rajewski, Kristin Rantala, Maureen Reinhart, Marisela Rios, Laurence Risser, Laura Robertson, Megan Schletty, Jason Schwengels, Paul Scolardi, Ross Scott, Wendy Showers, Matthew Smith, Melinda Staff, Timothy Strehlow, Karen Stuhlfeier, Maria V. Svetaz, Steve Swedberg, Lily Tharoor, Brandon J. Thompson, Mary Thomson, Philip Traeger, Erika Wachholz, Karl and Julie Weisenhorn, LuAnn Werner, Carole Whitney
Brooklyn Avenues Donors
Anonymous, Brooklyn United Methodist Church, Thomas and Patricia Cooley, Discover Church, Connie Hoffart, James R. Hoffner, Mary and Donald Karas, Merna M. Kingsley, Robert and Carol LaFrenz, The Nadeau Family, Charles and Katherine Nelson, Osseo United Methodist Church, Crossroads Alliance Church, Servant of Christ Lutheran Church, Geri M. and R. B. Timperley, Mike Trepanier, Delvin and Jo Anne Wilkinson, John and Sylvia Winkelman
GLBT Host Home Program Donors
Anonymous, Dustin Bronson, Cast of HIR at the Mixed Blood Theater, Jay Owen Eisenberg, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Have a Heart Drive, Elizabeth Johnston and Brian Nalezny, Ryan McGuire Grimes, Marcus Waterbury, Roy G. & Naomi Harmon Johnston Family Foundation, The Braun Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Sally Ann Wingert, Tim Zehta
Tributes in Celebration
Marriage of Jason Moore and Craig Ashby -Leah Kondes, Lincoln McCabe, Angela Mitchell, Linda Sutton and Mike Gilgosch
Scott Steen's Birthday - Clarice Gensch
Marriage of Karin Tellekson and Amy Ihlen - Willa Tellekson-Flash
In-Kind Donations
Brookdale Covenant Church, Julie Davis, Destination Hotels, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Have Heart Drive, Girl Scout Troop #13935, Gray Plant Mooty, Cathy Kennedy, Kristen Lunde, Christina Nadeau, Meena Pothini, Shrey Pothini, Rainbow Foods, Lynn Richards, Second Harvest Heartland, Marian Trautmann, Mike Vecellio
Volunteers
Roxanne Anderson, Anthony Bates, Sara Blood, Jon Brandon, Angie Brown, Samantha Brown, Katie Burgess, Greg Burstad, Wendy Darst, La'Niya Dixon, Henry Dolopei
Elks Lodge #44, Ron Engh, Linda Forkey, Emily Gus, Richard Habstritt, Brent Haglund, Lisa Jacobson, Terry Johnson, Heidi Johnson McAllister, Kristopher Knodle, Andrea Knoll, Jim Koon, Michael "Doobie" Kurus, George Larson, Mayor Jeffrey Lunde
Sol Ras, Pete Raynor, Brenda Reeves, Matthew Schmidt, Cindy Shevlin-Woodcock, Jodi Spoden, St. Theresa's Catholic Parish, Rochelle Sweeney, Temple Israel, Marney Thomas, Paula VanAvery, TyTanya Watson, Coya White Hat-Artichoker, Claire Wilson, Jane Windmeier, AsaleSol Young
Thank you, donors and supporters! You are the fuel that makes Avenues run. Your gifts directly support our youth.
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Brooklyn Avenues FAQ Sheet
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Click on this image to watch a new video about Avenues
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