GENERAL MILLS 2005 COMMUNITIES OF COLOR GRANT RECIPIENTS

Fifty nonprofit groups serving communities of color in the Twin Cities area received “Celebrating Communities of Color” grants from the General Mills Foundation. Grants of $10,000 were awarded to each of these groups.

1. Ninijanisag (Our Children) Program

Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Shelter
St. Paul, Minn.

Ain Dah Yung provides culturally specific emergency shelter to 100 American Indian children and teens who are either homeless, runaways, dealing with a family crisis, or involved with juvenile corrections. The Ninijanisag program addresses negative influences youth experience once they leave the program. Focusing on alcohol/drug/tobacco abuse prevention, suicide prevention, and leadership opportunities, the program encourages healthy social and recreational activities that reflect the American Indian culture. Activities such as drum and dance, smoke-free dance troupe, traditional mask making, outfit making, and spiritual purification sweats put young people in touch with their culture and instill pride in their heritage. Parents participate through family feasts, powwows and community conferences. Youth share their wellness journey at community gatherings, serve on the program’s advisory youth council or become Peer Educators.

2. City Indians

American Indian Neighborhood Development Corporation (AINDC)
Minneapolis, Minn.

City Indians is a new and original community arts project at the Ancient Traders Gallery that will connect 3,000 visitors to a historically and culturally significant period for Indian people. The exhibit also will deepen understanding of what it means to be an urban American Indian today. The work of award-winning Dakota artist, Mona M. Smith, explores the history of the 1940s forced relocation of American Indians to the Twin Cities, through taped relocation stories told by members of the area’s diverse tribes, and in film images of policies, history and first person stories. Indian youth and others will have access and exposure to the rich tradition of American Indian art, which breaks down stereotypes and racism. The exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to connect with and reflect on the role that American Indians have played and continue to play in our national consciousness and identity, as well as explore the impact urbanization has had on the Indian culture.

3. City Children’s Nutcracker Project

Ballet Arts Minnesota
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The City Children’s Nutcracker project, a collaborative of Ballet Arts Minnesota and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, makes dance accessible to 125 low-income children and families from diverse neighborhoods. Focusing on participants’ self-esteem, creativity, perseverance, sense of standards and striving for excellence, Ballet Arts Minnesota offers free or low-cost dance classes as well as free dance attire and transportation to classes and performances. People of color serve as instructors and guest dancers and are role models in a program that melds the traditional Nutcracker with various forms of current dance, such as Hip Hop and ethnic dance forms. Classes and rehearsals are held during the school year at two Minneapolis parks and at Ballet Arts Minnesota studios, culminating in performances of the Nutcracker at public venues. Participants and their families can attend the performance at little or no cost. Free admission is also offered to people living in shelters and to kids from boys and girls clubs. Classes for first-time dance students are offered during the summer, also.

4. Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) High School Technology Program and Community Youth Technology Program

Black Data Processing Associates Education Technology Foundation (BETF)
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The Black Data Processing Associates Education Technology Foundation promotes workforce readiness in African-American youth through highly technical computer programs. The Twin Cities chapter of BDPA provides information technology programs to 30 urban youth to make them aware of information technology as a career option. The ten-week Community Youth Technology program exposes 10-18-year-olds to various IT topics, after which they may advance to the high school program. The High School Technology program involves preparation for possible participation in national computer competition. Students attend classes learning technical, project management and presentation skills. Twenty students will be selected to participate at the national conference, where they will be exposed to the world of professional and entrepreneurial IT.

5. Club-to-Camp Initiative

Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The goal of the Club-to-Camp Initiative is to give young people and families from low-income communities the opportunity to experience and enjoy nature. This program provides a multitude of outdoor activities at the same time offering a neutral place where children of different communities can interact in a stress-free setting. Field trips and overnight campouts teach new skills, increase children’s leadership abilities and build confidence. Camp Fire USA also partners with other organizations, such as a youth club that is part of the Lyndale Neighborhood Latino Women’s Club. In addition, Teens in Action Clubs bring together 50 teens from across the Twin Cities area to build awareness that they’re part of a larger community as well as help them explore service learning. This program serves 500 people from diverse backgrounds.

6. Eating Healthy and Exercise: Addressing Diabetes in the African-Born and African-American Communities

Cedar Riverside People’s Center (CRPC)
Minneapolis, Minn.

CRPC provides health and wellness care to diverse, low-income neighborhoods in Minneapolis. The Eating Healthy and Exercise program addresses a critical healthcare need facing CRPC’s patients of color who are at serious risk for diabetes and obesity, particularly African immigrants and African-American adolescents. The program responds to the high incidence of diabetes in East African patients and the increase in obesity in adolescent African Americans by providing health care education on diabetes, nutrition, and exercise. Besides providing diabetes screening for adolescents and adults, CRPC also conducts community outreach, with education on diabetes, diet, nutrition and exercise, as well as access to specialty care for complex cases in the targeted populations. Serving 31,000 people, CRPC’s major goals include a 10 percent reduction in diabetes crises encounters in East African immigrants, refugees and their families.

7. Hmong School Partnership Project

Center for Asian & Pacific Islanders (CAPI)
North Minneapolis, Minn.

CAPI helps immigrants and refugees become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. The goal of the Hmong School Partnership Project is to meaningfully engage newly arrived, low-income Hmong parents (75% of whom speak little or no English) with their children’s schools, so they can support their children’s educational experience. The project includes a full-time Hmong/English-speaking school navigator who will help parents learn about available resources and develop advocacy skills to enable them to get their children the help they need. Communication between parents and schools will be improved with this program so parents can be more informed about their children’s activities, their progress, and know when a child needs help. This project will serve over 100 Hmong families.

8. Art Saves Us

Center for Hmong Arts and Talent
Minneapolis, Minn.

The Center for Hmong Arts and Talent nurtures and develops Hmong artists to enhance the community. Responding to the need to invest in Hmong youth, the Center’s Art Saves Us program offers free art classes for at-risk youth from 5 18-years-old in a 12-week, after school program. Students are introduced to and taught art as a positive alternative for self development and expression. Through formalized training, the students focus the first 11 weeks of the program on building skills and creating projects, both individually and in groups. A field trip the final week of class helps students connect the art form they have learned with practical applications in life. This program will help 180 students develop a sense of identity, independence and discipline, while strengthening the vitality of the whole community.

9. Latina Leadership Institute

Centro Legal, Inc.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Centro Legal, Inc. provides legal assistance and advocacy for low-income Latinos. Addressing the noticeable absence of Latinas from leadership positions in the community and political office, the Latina Leadership Institute was created to give Latinas a stronger voice in decisions that affect them. This community education project trains and prepares young Latina women for leadership in civic life and the public policy process. Three full-day workshops include training in civic participation and the public policy process along with a panel discussion by elected officials who are women of color and will serve as mentors. Participants will job shadow their mentors, create personal action plans and attend follow-up sessions to share their experiences in civic engagement and to receive ongoing training and support. About 500 Latina immigrants will be served by this project.

10. Padres Saludables/Niños Saludables (Healthy Parents/Healthy Children)

Chicanos Latinos Unidos En Servicio (CLUES)
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

CLUES serves families that face significant barriers that impact their ability to be good parents. The Padres Saludables/Niños Saludables program helps improve the lives of economically disadvantaged Latino children, youth and their families, most of whom are non-English speaking new immigrants with limited education. Linguistically appropriate and culturally proficient parenting education classes, a support network and other family services will be provided to families. Participants meet for ten weeks to gain healthy parenting and family life skills and learn ways to deal positively with crisis situations to help end violence in the home. By learning how to create and sustain a healthy environment for children and by developing healthy co parenting skills, parents will be able to help their children be successful. This program will serve 140 Latino children and 100 parents.

11. 360° Health Project

Circle of Discipline, Inc.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

This innovative project encourages underprivileged young people from 10-25-years-old to live positive, safe and healthy lifestyles. The 360° Health Project provides mental support to 125 young people through group activities and peer leadership training. Year-round amateur boxing and martial arts activities teach job and leadership skills, responsibility, self-respect and respect for others. The program also helps build self-esteem, confidence, and discipline. In addition, the Youth Accepting Challenge (YAC) after-school program is designed to improve academic performance, behavior and attendance issues, and conflict resolution.

12. “Let’s Talk About Race” Forums

The College of St. Catherine
North Minneapolis, Minn.

Partnering with NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, The College of St. Catherine will host 11 monthly “Let’s Talk about Race” Forums in North Minneapolis. This project brings girls of color together with older women to learn how to deal with everyday racism experiences. In addition, teen girls of color will gather with older women of color and health care providers of all ethnicities to discuss racism, healthcare and other vital issues and to find ways to eliminate both racism and perceptions of racism in healthcare. A long-term goal of the project is to reduce depression and low self-esteem due to internalized racism in teen girls of color. As a result of these forums, two forum dialogue guides will be developed and distributed to local churches, mosques, community organizations, schools and other health providers, so they can replicate the forums in their communities. The forums also will identify actions to dismantle racism at the systemic level. This project will serve 200 teen girls of color, women of color, and health care providers of all ethnicities.

13. Weekly Mentorship Program

Free Arts for Abused Children of Minnesota
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Free Arts uses drawing, painting, dance, drama, sculpture and photography to help abused, neglected and at-risk children from ages 3-18 years old develop healthy relationships with adults, increase their sense of self-worth and learn new ways to communicate. Maintaining a consistent, loving and trusting relationship between volunteers and children, 26 teams of trained Free Arts volunteers mentor children in art groups on a weekly basis. Up to 250 children living in residential treatment centers, battered women’s shelters and other facilities will be served. The children learn to model appropriate behavior in a fun, creative atmosphere. Volunteers also encourage the children to express their creative talents, while at the same time helping them to learn to express their emotions and become more socially interactive.

14. KFAI’s Youth News Initiative—Youth of Color Voicing Their Choice

KFAI, Fresh Air, Inc.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

KFAI is a volunteer-based community radio station offering programming for a diverse audience. KFAI’s Youth News Initiative is a fun, interactive broadcast journalism-based training program that teaches a diverse group of youth from 13-18-years-old how to create professionally produced evening news reports. The goal of the initiative is to get the participants excited about learning and help develop career skills. The eight-week program includes learning about news research, producing, creative writing, voice training, digital editing, and reporting. The program will be taught by KFAI staff and mentors from the Twin Cities journalism community. The participants will have access to state-of-the-art technology in radio production, broadcasting and digital editing, with each participant’s news stories aired locally, regionally and internationally on KFAI and its radio media partners.

15. Teaching Underserved Children About and Exposing Them To The Natural Environment

Great River Greening
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Based on the concept that experiencing nature firsthand is vital to a child’s life as well as to the future of our culture and the natural world, this program exposes minority, immigrant and other young people from underserved groups to nature in the metro area. Through Great River Greening’s community-based restoration of natural areas, youth can participate in service-learning opportunities that will help them become stewards of the environment. Mentored by local teachers-in-training, 120 youth will go on half day outings consisting of activities such as exotic weed control, seed collection and stacking cut brush, followed by interpretive hikes and opportunities for personal reflection.

16. MINI KIX Soccer League

Hawthorne Area Community Council, Inc.
North Minneapolis, Minn.

This project uses soccer, a favorite sport of the East and West African, Hispanic and Southeast Asian communities, to bring a diverse group of neighbors together and instill a sense of pride in North Minneapolis’ Hawthorne neighborhood. A multicultural youth soccer team will be assembled, consisting of 10-15 children from six-eight-years-old. A second piece of the MINI KIX Soccer League project includes an annual soccer league for youth of color in North Minneapolis. This project will serve 200 people.

17. School Partnerships Program

Highpoint Center for Printmaking
Minneapolis, Minn.

The School Partnerships Program helps bring the art of printmaking to schools without an arts program. Highpoint Center for Printmaking, with its professional printmakers and equipment, offers educational printmaking classes to students from seven inner-city elementary and middle schools. The program provides hands-on participation in classes that enhance and support their schools’ art programs or core curriculum. Public exhibitions of students’ work will emphasize their contribution to their schools, their culture and their communities. Students will not only increase their artistic skills, but also boost their academic achievement. About 1,100 students will be served by this program.

18. Mej Koob Training Project

Hmong American Family
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The goal of the Mej Koob Training Project is to build stronger families who will provide a safe nurturing environment for their children. The project involves training Hmong marriage negotiators, known as Mej Koob, to avoid the practice of performing underage and culturally forced marriages. Their leadership with this issue in the Hmong community and the education they will provide to the families will prevent early marriages, reducing the risk of family violence, abusive parenting, orphaned children and a community in distress. The training will focus on Hmong rituals, cultural norms for marriage and Minnesota’s marriage law as well as leadership development. A directory of certified trainers will be distributed. This program will serve 500 people.

19. After School (Success Express) Program

Homeless and Refugee Children, Inc.
Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Homeless and Refugee Children, Inc. provides various support services to African immigrant/refugee children and their families to help them succeed in their new community. The After School Program for 75 students from K-12th grade aims to improve academic performance, reduce behavioral issues, increase involvement in social and recreational activities and encourage parental involvement. Besides participating in a daily supervised homework session, students will learn social skills, cultural competency training and service learning. Cooking, sewing and carpentry are some of the activities offered. The program also familiarizes students with recreational activities of the U.S. Other topics of discussion include anger management, drug and alcohol awareness and teen pregnancy prevention. Opportunities for parental involvement are offered, as are classes of interest to parents, such as computer literacy and helping their children succeed in school.

20. Urban Learning Center

Hospitality House Youth Directions
Minneapolis, Minn.

Designated an Area Learning Center for the Minneapolis Public School District, Hospitality House Youth Direction offers a variety of educational, outreach and athletic programs to at-risk children and youth from low-income North Minneapolis families. Partnering with the Minneapolis School District and the State of Minnesota, the Urban Learning Center (ULC) provides after-school and summer tutoring to a diverse group of 400 students in K 12th grade, the majority of whom scored 40 percent or below in standardized testing and are a grade level behind in school. Children and youth get help on basic skills in math, reading and language arts, and in social skills, relationship-building and behavior management. The goal is to provide programs that support and offer extra learning time to students so they can meet district and state standards.

21. IFP Minnesota High School Shorts Program

Independent Feature Project/North
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

This innovative new outreach education program targets the next generation of media artists by offering training in high-quality filmmaking and exhibition to high school students. About 225 students from five area high schools and two media groups will be taught by IFP Minnesota artist instructors, with students having access to professional equipment. The ethnically and economically diverse group of students will learn through lecture and screening of locally produced short films, then spend four-five weeks creating their own short films. The students will benefit from talks given by local artists as well as from seminars on such topics as screenplay writing, producing and video shooting/editing. Their final projects will be screened at their schools and entered into a metro-wide high school competition, with winning entries shown at an evening screening.

22. Model Development, Family Literacy and Family Support Programs

Joyce Preschool
Minneapolis, Minn.

Joyce Preschool addresses the need for quality early childhood education in the Latino community using the child’s first language as the basis of instruction. In classes of equal numbers of Spanish and English speaking students, the school provides pre-school bilingual education to children 3-5 years old from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. About 150 families will be served, most of who are new Latino immigrants. Joyce also supports families by helping their children succeed in school with the Padres de Familias pilot program, which enables Latino parents to be more engaged in their children’s education, and encourages parents to serve on the school’s board. Family literacy is encouraged by providing materials such as books and bilingual tapes to each student’s home. Ongoing development of the school’s bilingual educational model will increase its capacity to be a valuable resource.

23. Sustaining Cultural Assets in Latino Youth

La Escuelita
Minneapolis, Minn.

La Escuelita offers homework assistance and enrichment programs to 150 Latino youth from 12 18-years-old and supports parents/families in helping their children succeed. The Sustaining Cultural Assets in Latino Youth after-school program focuses on nurturing the students’ culture and language through writing, dance, reading, performance art and events. For example, the ¡Soy Única! ¡Soy Latina! celebration strengthens 9- to 14-year-old Latina girls’ self-worth, dignity, and pride in their heritage. Likewise, middle school and high school students can take a class called Chicano/a Studies: Indigenous Thought, Art, History And Culture, which exposes them to issues faced by all people and to which all students can relate, whether they identify with the culture or not. The VOCES poetry/performance program on Latin American/Latino poets and writers helps students work on their self-expression and writing skills and culminates in a performance of students’ written projects.

24. YES: Passages

Lao Family Community of Minnesota, Inc.
St. Paul, Minn.

The goal of YES: Passages is to help Hmong and other non-English-speaking young people complete their homework assignments and improve their English language and computer skills. About 300 youth from 10-18 years old participate in year-round, after-school programs. Once their homework is completed, participants can use the computer lab to improve their computer skills and work on creative projects such as the creation of a web page detailing their experience as an immigrant in the U.S. High school students can research career and post-high school education options and apply for college entrance and financial aid. Other elements of the program include tutoring for state achievement tests, field trips, outdoor recreation, one-on-one support and advocacy with parents and schools as needed.

25. African-American Culture Camp

Minneapolis Urban League
Minneapolis, Minn.

This program offers 35 African-American urban youth over 12-years-old a camping experience that teaches African-American heritage, outdoor skills, visual arts and martial arts disciplines. Participants gain a new perspective of their world, improve decision-making skills and develop a greater respect for others and for their own traditions. The program begins with the Libations Ceremony, honoring ancestors and past leaders and involving African music and ethnic foods. Following the ceremony is the Rites of Passage, which actively takes participants through the history of the Underground Railroad, sharing the tales, fables and stories of heroic Africans and African Americans. Another activity involves the youth finding and using objects from the woods for sculpture projects directed by the Juxtaposition Arts organization, then presenting and commenting on their own completed work, with fellow campers offering their critique and reaction to the piece. An art exhibit concludes the camp experience.

26. African Girls Initiative for Leadership and Empowerment (AGILE)

Minnesota African Women’s Association
Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Park Minn.

The goal of this year-round program is to affirm the bicultural identity, build the self esteem, advance the skills and broaden the horizons of 105 socially isolated Pan-African girls in third 12th grade. A network of age-appropriate AGILE clubs meet weekly during the school year, creating opportunities to explore new interests, meet new people and develop new friendships. In addition, members develop leadership skills and learn about setting and meeting goals. AGILE’s core values are integrated into each group’s planned activities and members can earn awards for projects/activities associated with the core values. Club members can display and be recognized for their talents at community building events for all members. Summer activities include a three-day mini-camp on African cultural visual/performing arts activities, overnight leadership retreats and large-group events for all members.

27. Youth Caddy Program

Minnesota Minority Junior Golf Association
Minneapolis, Minn.

Partnering with other organizations, MMJGA offers the Youth Caddy Program to 60 diverse youth from North Minneapolis. This program gives youth a chance to learn the lifelong sport of golf, develop life/entrepreneurial skills and benefit from regular physical exercise. The Youth Caddy Program provides the opportunity for post-secondary education scholarships for eligible participants. Once students complete the training, they are assigned to area golf courses where, as caddies, they can earn income and free rounds of golf. Requirements of the program include a two-year commitment by participants and their pledge to maintain good grades at school and a good character. Those who graduate to “honor caddy” status receive a new set of golf clubs. While learning the game of golf, participants will also learn humility, discipline, honesty, integrity and self-respect.

28. Killing Time: A Community Exploration of the Arab Coffee House in America

Mizna
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The mission of Mizna, an Arab-American organization, is to provide a forum for promotion of Arab culture and give voice to Arabs through literature, art and community events. The organization plans to present an interactive art exhibit, Killing Time, which explores the Arab coffee house in America through the photographs by New York Arab artist Aissa Deebi. In conjunction with the exhibit, Mizna will conduct community gatherings with lectures and interactive activities to open up discussion about themes that come out of the exhibit. An Arabic café culture, where tea, coffee and water pipes will be served, will be created in three locations in the heart of Minnesota’s Arab-American community. Scheduled discussions will be centered on topics such as gender issues in Arab café culture and in Arab society in general. Local scholars as well as exhibit visitors will be invited to enter in the discussions. It is expected that 2,500 people will participate in this project.

29. Hmong Family Resettlement Program

Neighborhood House
Minneapolis, Minn.

This program assists newly arrived families from the Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp in making a successful transition to U.S. culture. Designed to strengthen families and provide a safe, nurturing environment for children and youth, the program is made up of five components. Two of the components are basic needs, such as culturally appropriate foods and emergency assistance, and a 14-week acculturation and parenting/life skills course, in which they will learn about public transportation and healthcare, schools and legal systems. In addition, a Hmong youth group and a summer teen program are offered, from which children and youth will get help with their English language and academic skills, and teens will be involved in service projects and be exposed to new experiences and recreational opportunities. The fifth component is a functional work English course to help parents with employment opportunities. This program will serve 1,000 family members.

30. ACHIEVE! FIT and FUN

New Americans Community Services
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

This program for African immigrants addresses the leading causes of overweight children, particularly those with a sedentary lifestyle. Fifty youth and their families will learn new ways to live a fun, healthy lifestyle through demonstrations on healthy food and beverage choices and by learning recipes for healthy low-fat snacks and meals, including healthy ethnic foods. cookbook of healthy recipes will be distributed at the end of the program. The group also will discuss the importance of being active and the harmful effect television viewing has on health. Each session will include 45 minutes of physical activities, and participants and their families will receive an individualized exercise plan. Parents will be invited to one session to encourage them to join in making lifestyle changes along with their children.

31. Listening Project

OutFront Minnesota Community Services
Minnesota

OutFront Minnesota Community Services aims to make Minnesota a place where GLBT Minnesotans have the freedom, power and confidence to make the best choices for their own lives. The Listening Project is geared toward developing a greater understanding of the needs of GLBT people of color in local Minnesota communities. To accomplish this, a consultant will review materials and programs of OutFront Minnesota Community Services and facilitate a Listening Project. GLBT people of color in the Twin Cities will be invited to two listening sessions to reflect on the unique challenges and barriers this group faces in participating in OutFront Minnesota programs and services. An advisory board will use the information gathered from the listening sessions for future programming.

32. African-American Male Recruitment Initiative

Page Education Foundation
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The goal of the Page Education Foundation is to increase the number of African-American students going on to post-secondary education. In the African-American Male Recruitment Initiative, the Foundation and targeted Twin Cities schools will partner to focus on getting African American young men enrolled in college. Potential Page scholars, identified by high school teachers and counselors, receive encouragement to stay in school, work hard to graduate and set goals for post-secondary education. With the help of role models and mentors, students are encouraged to reflect on their potential to attend college, apply for financial aid, and receive help completing the Page Foundation grant application. Support also is provided to help these students remain in college. The goal of this initiative is to have 70 African-American young men applying for first-time Page grants.

33. Twin Cities American Indian Women’s Co-op

Peta Wakan Tipi
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

This project grew out of Peta Wakan Tipi’s American Indian heirloom seed-saving and agricultural program, in response to requests by Indian women for help reviving indigenous cooking and cultural practices around foods and tradition. Over a six-week period, the women will participate in learning circles on seasonal, cultural foods and activities, with access to heirloom foods such as indigenous beans and corn. At community feasts, they will prepare and serve foods from traditional recipes and later, share with others what they’ve learned. Reconnecting the urban American Indian people to their traditions and the foods of their homelands will improve the cultural and physical health of a community at risk for obesity and diabetes.

34. Academic Achievement Program

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Inc.
Hennepin County (Minneapolis) and Anoka County, Minn.

This year-round academic enrichment program targets 125 at-risk young people to help them do better in school and have a more positive learning experience. Instructors work with the participants’ teachers in setting goals for each individual, providing structured after-school activities for K-6th graders during the school year and in all-day summer sessions for K-9th graders. Students focus on math, reading, science, creative arts, computer training and financial literacy. The positive attention they receive will help them improve academically as well as increasing their self-esteem and personal well-being.

35. Hip Hop Enterprise

Redeemer Center for Life
North Minneapolis, Minn.

This project reaches out to African-American and urban youth in the Harrison Neighborhood to promote healthy nutrition, increase physical activity and healthy development of individuals. In addition, participants benefit from leadership development and learn music and dance performance skills. Activities offered in daily programs are dance and martial arts, on-site recording studio work, and computer lab. The Hip Hop Enterprise also offers workshops at neighborhood schools to promote African-American culture, positive self image, healthy nutrition, exercise and non violence. Staff members include professional performing artists, a licensed social worker and licensed elementary teacher, instructors in video production and martial arts (Black Belt), and a computer trainer. As many as 200 youth per week will be served.

36. Latino Organizing Project

Resource Center of the Americas
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The Latino Organizing Project is made up of three components designed to strengthen immigrant Latino families as they navigate through economic, social and judicial systems in the metro area. The first component involves bringing parents and school personnel together to improve academic achievement for Latino students. An aspect of the project is weekly workshops with Latino parents in three schools to help them understand the school system. The second component engages the Somali, Hmong and Latino immigrant communities to help improve community relations with the police. For example, one action step includes the development of an “interpretation card” to help with communications during a crisis. The final component educates Latino immigrants as they learn about their rights and responsibilities as workers, tenants and new U.S. residents. Workshops on workers’ rights and ESL classes are offered as well as other activities to support Latino workers. This project will serve 2,000 Latinos.

37. Music & Movies in District del Sol

Riverview Economic Development Association (REDA)
St. Paul, Minn.

REDA partners with the City of St. Paul, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Film Arts, KFAI Radio and District del Sol businesses to offer a free, outdoor film and music series for eight weeks during the summer to neighborhood residents and visitors. The event, held in the Parque Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side, features live music that reflects the diversity of the community. The music is followed by a family/adult-appropriate outdoor film. Additional activities for families, including food and arts markets, and child-centered learning opportunities will be offered. This program will provide family entertainment/education for 2,000 individuals, with the potential of families taking advantage of the artistic and commercial opportunities in the District del Sol business area across the street from the park.

38. Healthy Teens Initiative

Sabathani Community Center, Inc.
Minneapolis, Minn.

This program will encourage 60 low-income African-American and newly immigrant youth from 14-21-years-old to have healthier lifestyles and to make informed choices about sexuality, tobacco/alcohol/chemicals, and violence prevention as well as health and wellness. Participants take part in activities such as Hip-Hop aerobics, dance, weight training, YMCA trips, cooking, basketball, field trips and support groups. For example, the “Born 2 Survive” basketball clinic, allows male and female participants to compete while maintaining upbeat and positive attitudes and displaying good sportsmanship. The players work at their basketball skills by focusing on the fundamentals and teamwork. To participate in the basketball clinic, a youth must also participate in one of Sabathani’s Morris Miller Teen Center support groups.

39. Salem, Inc. Educational Initiative

Salem, Inc.
North Minneapolis, Minn.

The Salem, Inc. Educational Initiative is a complete academic support program serving about 95 children/youth from low income families in the Jordan and Hawthorne neighborhoods of North Minneapolis. Tutoring is provided for K 12th grade students in math, reading and advanced academic liberal arts classes. Students also receive assistance to help them prepare for ACT/SAT college entrance exams. Additional help is given in finding and securing financial aid along with providing continued academic support while the student is in college and beyond. Individual or small-group tutoring sessions are held either at the student’s home or in a New Salem Missionary Baptist Church classroom with transportation provided.

40. SAVE (Somalis Against Violence)

Somali Education Center
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Recognizing that Somali students still face major educational challenges, the Somali Education Center strives to close the achievement gap by offering students educational assistance. The center provides age- and culturally appropriate bilingual after-school tutoring, homework assistance and classes to 250 new immigrant youth in grades K-12 from low-income families as well as offering parent education. Additional youth programs on character development and social skills are integrated into the program to help youth reject involvement in drug activity and crime. Students each have an individual performance plan and teachers meet with parents quarterly to ensure their child gets the help needed to meet goals.

41. Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Services

Tubman Family Alliance
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The goal of Jobs, Education and Training Services is to provide key financial empowerment tools to women of color who are survivors of abuse. Promoting financial stability and self reliance, this program will give 290 low-income women who are single heads of household and their children the opportunity to live safe, nurturing lives. Participants are offered financial literacy education, support for job success, life skills coaching and resources for financial success. For example, classes on managing a checkbook and planning for long- and short-term goals are offered. In addition, the program provides information on vocational training programs, employment leads, how to dress for interviews and on the job, as well as child care contacts.

42. The Seeds Project (Gitigayminon)

TVbyGIRLS
Minnesota

TVbyGIRLS is an organization of women media professionals who mentor and partner with 10 18-year-old girls to inspire them to lead, use their imagination and intellect and develop the ability to create compassionate change. The Seeds Project brings together girls from the Twin Cities who have completed TVbyGIRLS’ one-year mentorship program with girls from the Cass and Leech Lake Reservations. The two groups will explore their different experiences and issues that are important to them, then create a video that shares their thoughts, feelings and solutions with peers around the state. In the process, they will develop collaboration skills, learn how to use the media to communicate important issues and ideas, and establish long-term relationships with girls in a wide variety of communities--representing the true voices of girls in America. About 40 girls will be served directly, with as many as 600 benefiting indirectly from the project.

43. The Learning Lab

Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation
Minneapolis, Minn.

The Learning Lab offers after-school programs for about 450 at-risk students of color from families in the Central and Phillips neighborhoods. Middle-school and high-school youth receive homework help, tutoring and mentoring. Students get help to achieve their appropriate grade levels in math and reading, to improve school attendance and to boost computer/technology skills. Another goal of the Learning Lab is to form a group of ten promising students and prepare them for a four-year, fully funded college education. The program addresses the negative factors that prevent students from being successful—providing support groups, one-on-one mentoring and parent/school relationships. A partnership with the University of Minnesota and the Kevin Garnett Foundation exposes students to a variety of career options that encourage them to think about college and offer other insight into business ownership.

44. Suburban Vietnamese Youth and Family Support Project

Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota (VSSM), a bilingual/bicultural community-based program for Vietnamese youth in the Twin Cities, will work with 30 at-risk suburban youth and their parents to help them understand and cope with their bicultural experience, negotiate their way across cultures and succeed in school. Participants will learn about Vietnamese history and traditional Vietnamese music, dance and drama, and they’ll perform at various venues. Other activities include recreational events with peers, such as volleyball, karaoke and overnight camping. A monthly youth/parent workshop will be offered as well as other workshops on self esteem, cultural conflict, gambling, and teen pregnancy.

45. Las Américas Unidas: Music of the Americas

VocalEssence
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

In this project, VocalEssence will serve the local Latino/Hispanic community by focusing a new artistic program on the Minnesota Mexican-American culture. A cross-cultural exchange program between Mexican and Mexican-American composers and the Latin-American and VocalEssence communities will result in a new body of Spanish language works for voice and instruments to be performed at local events including a community music festival. The project will provide audience members and students with a deeper understanding of the collective Latin American music traditions.

46. Hmong Elder Connections

Volunteers of America of Minnesota
Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Minn.

Hmong Elder Connections is the only program in Hennepin County that targets elderly Hmong refugees from Laos by offering them bilingual/bicultural services. The goal is to keep Hmong elders active, healthy and safe. The program services 175 elderly people, many of whom live alone. It also eases the burden on family members and caretakers by connecting them with supportive services. The program provides one-on-one social services such as counseling, home visits and case management. Large-group activities including games, guest speakers and exercise classes are offered, along with the “drop in” center, where elders can spend time visiting with each other and enjoying traditional music and crafts. Highlights of the year include celebrating their heritage with family members and others at cultural celebrations, such as the Hmong New Year and a three-day camping trip.

47. World Press Institute Fellowship Program

World Press Institute at Macalester College
Worldwide

In an effort to promote intercultural understanding and celebrate diversity, The World Press Institute awards annual fellowships to mid-career international journalists, a majority of whom come from developing countries. As WPI fellows, up to 10 journalists spend four months each year in the U.S. learning about the role and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy. Traveling across the U.S. visiting a variety of social, cultural and economic organizations, the fellows observe first-hand and develop an understanding of the diversity and complexity in America. At the same time, they share their cultures and values with hundreds of Minnesotans, including the host families, students, and attendees of seminars and public forums. The strong bonds that are formed among the colleagues and between them and their host families help dispel misperceptions of cultures and countries. It is estimated that 7,500 people will benefit from the program.

48. Youth Engagement Program

YO! The Movement
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

The Youth Engagement Program provides opportunities for young leaders from 13 to 24 years old to make real change by directly connecting them with community leaders, policymakers, artists, activists, business owners and their peers. Members of ENGAGE, a civic involvement program, take part in community gatherings and focus groups, and plan positive events for youth. They receive high school elective credit hours for their participation. For example, an ENGAGE participant could take part in organizing and coordinating the July National Hip-Hop Political Convention in Chicago. Another program, YO! Fellows, gives young people the skills, opportunities and support to empower themselves and others to change their communities, schools, and their world. Leadership, group dynamics, public policy and coalition-building are some aspects of the intensive training that is provided. Other programs include YO! Shows, an art-based project, and Youth Summit.

49. Lovin’ The Skin I’m In Project

YWCA of St. Paul
St. Paul, Minn.

Inspired by Sharon Flake’s novel, The Skin I’m In, this social impact youth development initiative for at-risk girls and young women of color aims to counteract the negative images of young people portrayed in the media. A group of 12 participants from 12-18 years old will address issues concerning identity, self-image, peer pressure and socio-economic status. Collaborating with another local youth group in expressing their voices and visions, the participants will create an artistic, multi-media production project that presents their personal reflections of what it means to “love the skin they’re in.”

50. Young Women’s Mentoring Program

YouthCARE
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

This year-long program builds the academic, employment, leadership and mentoring skills of young women/teens as well as their self-esteem. About 180 low-income, urban girls from 7-18 years old from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds will join to promote intercultural cooperation and cultural appreciation. Nine of the young women will be trained as mentors, learning about leadership models, employment skills and career development. They’ll also learn about self-sufficiency and healthy lifestyles. The young women will act as mentors and role models for the younger girls in a program that provides positive alternatives to negative lifestyles. The younger girls will participate in Girls Group and Adventure Girls activities, including educational field trips and cultural events, such as powwows, the Hmong New Year and Black History Celebration.