Focus Area: Youth Development

Grant Amount: $10,800

Located in south Minneapolis. Founded in 1999, Watercourse is a nonprofit organization serving the mental health needs of people of all ages from communities in Minneapolis. Watercourse is committed to ensuring the staff, agency leaders, and board reflect the community, ensuring that no school-based clients are turned away from receiving services, and ensuring their training focus will include that from professionals who understand and acknowledge the systems of oppression that impact Watercourse’s clients.

Grant supports expansion of the CIRCLE, a program dedicated to healing from trauma and resettlement stress among children and their families in Minneapolis who have moved here from other countries. It is carried out in partnership with 6 Minneapolis public schools with the help of “cultural brokers” who assist with family engagement, promote self-advocacy, and help improve understanding of the family’s specific situation, needs, cultural factors, and societal pressures.