YWCA of Minneapolis

Focus Area: Youth Development

Grant Amount: $10,000

Located in Minneapolis. A leader in early childhood advocacy, the YWCA of Minneapolis helps develop early childhood educators and the parents/caregivers of young children into advocates. The Y also does public policy work in the area of youth development. The Y offers the Beacons afterschool program for youth, transforming schools into active youth centers after school and in the summer, providing free educational, recreational, and leadership activities for youth and their families.

Grant supports the social-emotional elements a new program based on the Beacons afterschool program through the YWCA Minneapolis at the Hmong International Academy in north Minneapolis. The school and the Beacons program focus on Hmong culture and programming. Families are attracted to the tight community spirit and high academic standards, and the program honors other cultural experiences as well. The staff is trained in SEL and trauma-informed learning and teaching practices, and they develop long-term relationships with the youth, who stay in the program for a long time, progressing through the elementary programming to become teen leaders.