Focus Area: Early Childhood

Grant Amount: $10,000

Located in South Minneapolis. Established in 1993, UV addresses opportunity gaps in academics, nutrition, physical activity, parenting resources, and more—all with the overarching goal to prepare and send every youth in their neighborhood to college or postsecondary education. It operates a youth center south of Lake Street with opportunities in STEM and music production as well as parenting and family support programs. In 2021, UV established the Cornwell Early Learning Center (CELC) early learning program to give a strong start to children from the Phillips and Central neighborhoods. CELC received a 4-star Parent Aware rating in 2022. The children served are primarily Spanish speaking and the CELC staff reflects this community.

Grant supports CELC’s new literacy program, which provides literacy tutoring for children within the CELC and reading readiness for parents with children in the CELC.