initiatives

Communities Empowering Youth – Minneapolis

Area: Youth Development

Description: The Twin Cities Christian Foundation (TCCF) has received a three-year grant of $750,000 ($250,000 per year) from the Compassion Capital Fund - Communities Empowering Youth (CEY) Program to establish Communities Empowering Youth – Minneapolis. The project, through the Department of Health and Human Services, is a collaboration of TCCF and 8 faith-based and/or community organizations serving at-risk youth in disadvantaged communities in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Through this project, TCCF will assist partner organizations by providing technical assistance and training in the four CEY critical areas (leadership development, organizational development, program development, and community engagement) and providing financial assistance to support capacity-building needs of partner organizations. CEY–Minneapolis will serve disadvantaged communities in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focusing on the North, Central, and South Urban Core areas, which include two of the three areas of the Minneapolis Empowerment Zone. This area of the city is the most affected by youth violence, gang activity, and child abuse and neglect.

Approach/Solution:

The following elements will be available to faith-based and community groups that participate:

1. Community assessment; the purpose of which is to identify needs related to gang activity, youth violence, and child abuse/neglect and to develop a strategy for CEY-Minneapolis partners to address them.
2. In-depth organizational assessment of all partners annually.
3. Creation of a capacity building plan for each partner annually.
4. TCCF will implement training for CEY partners through a series of monthly large-group workshops, supplemented by small-group sessions for groups that are ready for more in-depth training. Training will be conducted by TCCF staff and contracted capacity building service providers around the Twin Cities.
5. CEY-Minneapolis partners will receive up to 40 hours of ongoing, specialized one-on-one technical assistance from TCCF staff and additional capacity building service providers to assist in achieving their individualized capacity building plans.
6. Direct financial assistance is also budgeted for those in the project to build the capacity of the collaborating faith-based and/or community partners.
   

Projected Outcomes:

Increase the capacity of TCCF and our 8 collaborating faith-based and/or community partners to meet the needs related to youth violence, gang activity, and child abuse

1. Participation of 8 collaborating partners in the program for a total of three years.
2. The completion of individualized capacity building plans by at least 85% of participating organizations each year.
3. Provide at least 1200 hours of training and technical assistance during the life of the project.
4. $750,000 in new or expanded funding being secured by partners by project end.
5. Collaborating partners will accomplish at least 70% of their highest priority capacity building objectives.

Establish a collaborative spirit among and between partners with respect to addressing issues of youth violence, gang activity, and child abuse and neglect

1. The CEY-Minneapolis collaboration will respond to the community assessment with two initiatives by the end of year three.
2. At least 5 new partnerships will be established involving project participants.

Staff:
Brian Dejewski - Executive Director, Community Engagement
Sarah Trenda - Manger of Partner Relations
Diane Reed - Bookkeeper

Executive Committee:
Brian Dejewski - Twin Cities Christian Foundation
Sarah Trenda - Twin Cities Christian Foundation
Jessica Meyerson - Wilder Research Center

Advisory Board:
Bryan Barry - Leadership Foundations of America
Greg Owen - Wilder Research Center
Lee Buckley - Governors Office on Faith Based and Community Initiatives
Sheryl Kabat - Weed and Seed - Central

How others can help:
Consulting Match $32,000
Matching funds raised for this project would enable consultants engaged in the project to accomplish the deeper work required with each organization

Financial Assistance Match $100,000
Current levels of financial support are limited due to the scope of the federal grant award. Increased financial assistance would be leveraged within the project toward greater outcomes.

< Return to Initiative Descriptions