Minnesota Alliance With Youth

2013 Lt. Governor’s Red Wagon Awards Recipients

Hannah — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:36:25 +0000

We are excited to announce this years Lt. Governor’s Red Wagon Award Recipients! We received over 50 nominations for amazing young people and youth groups throughout Minnesota! From these, our selection committee reviewed all of the incredible nominations and selected 10 Individual Award Winners and 5 Group Award Winners who demonstrate academic achievement, civic engagement & service and/or exemplary leadership. So with no further ado, here are the 2013 Red Wagon Award Recipients:

Individual Award Winners

Nikia Baker – Minneapolis
Ellie Bauer – Hawley
Adyiam Kimbrough – Worthington
Lasasha Martin – Savage
Divya Melachuri – Woodbury
Logan Monroe – Federal Dam
Emma Olson – Naytahwaush
Kristina Packer – Zimmerman
Alexis Soto-Marquez – Brooklyn Park
Heather Weller – New York Mills

Group Award Winners

Augsburg Fairview Academy, Hope Closet Group, Minneapolis
Teen POWER, St. Paul
Destination ImagiNation Team, Oakwood Elementary School, Hamel
6^th Grade AmeriCorps Group, Lincoln Park Middle School, Duluth
Girl Power!, YWCA, Duluth

For questions, please contact Hannah Nemetz at hnemetz@mnyouth.net or 651-340-0758.

Youth Voice Becomes Law in Minnesota!

Hannah — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:02:09 +0000

Dear Friends and Supporters -

We are so excited to be sharing with you good news! For the first time in state history, Minnesota youth now have an official voice in legislation that affects them directly.

The Minnesota Youth Council Committee Bill passed Wednesday, May 22 - part of the education finance omnibus bill. Thanks to all of you who helped make this aspiration a reality! Special thanks to Chief Authors Representative Marquart and Senator Dahle, as well as Representatives Bly, Clark, Davnie, Dehn, Dorholt, Nornes, Radinovich, Selcer, Ward, and Woodard, and Senators Carlson, Eaton, Dibble and Wiklund. Thanks also to Kori Redepenning, the Alliance’s Director of Engagement and Policy, the Alliance staff, and all the MYC members who worked tirelessly to advance this legislation. Youth voice is now the law!

As many of you know, the Council draws 72 youth and adult representatives from each of the congressional districts statewide - which include eight representatives who serve “at-large” - in a unique partnership to address issues of interest to young people. The bill formalizes a relationship that has been underway since 2005, led by the Alliance. Eighth- through twelfth-grade Council members provide guidance to the legislature, governor, and Department of Education on issues affecting young people.

Already the Council has developed and administered a statewide survey assessing top issues of concern to young people, made more than 65 individual visits to legislators to share information on the bill, and testified before both houses. Of these efforts, Council member Nick Plaza, a senior at Kennedy Secondary School in Fergus Falls, most enjoyed “connecting issues in my community to a statewide stage” by meeting with his legislators. This year the Council had the added support of Minneapolis-based youth intermediary Youthprise and the nonprofit youthrive, partners in building youth capacity to lead change in their communities.

Minnesota is one of fewer than a dozen states nationally to formalize this relationship between policymakers and those too young to vote. As Kori says, “The signing of this bill is the first step in providing opportunities for youth all across Minnesota to be part of the legislative process.”

With passage of the bill, Council member Kevin Nguyen - a sophomore at Highland Park high school in St. Paul - is already thinking beyond Minnesota. “I hope that the MYC becomes one of the state models for other upcoming state councils in the U.S.,” he says.

You all know that youth voice has been an important and integral part of the Alliance’s work since our inception. Passage of this legislation underscores that importance.

We look forward to partnering with you on youth issues of concern to us all!

Sarah Dixon, President & CEO, Minnesota Alliance With Youth

MYCBill.PressRelease.5.24.13

Promise Fellow Host Site List ’13-14

Hannah — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:29:27 +0000

Dear AmeriCorps Promise Fellow Applicants,

Thank you so much for your interest in serving during the 2013-2014 year!

The Host Site Contact List for this upcoming service year is now available! Please take a look at what sites will be hosting AmeriCorps Promise Fellows starting fall 2013.

PDF: Available Host Sites ’13-14

To apply for a position at a host site, please send your cover letter and resume directly to the lead contact listed. Host sites may have additional application requirements. Please make sure you have already completed your AmeriCorps Promise Fellow Application on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Zelmer, Administrative Assistant, at 651-528-8589 or email recruitment@mnyouth.net.

Happy applying!

Promise Fellow Host Site RFP- Now Available!

Hannah — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:32:48 +0000

Dear Community Partners,

The Minnesota Alliance With Youth invites community organizations, schools, government agencies, and others to submit a Host Site Application to host AmeriCorps Promise Fellows in 2013-2014. As the state’s leading youth development capacity-builder, convener, and collaborator, the Alliance catalyzes communities, helping all Minnesota youth graduate from high school on time with plans for ongoing success in education, work, and life. The Alliance helps communities statewide develop a framework of common goals, shared agendas, collective measures, and unified messages. To support Graduation For All efforts, the Alliance serves as a backbone intermediary, impacting individuals and systems, and creating life-changing outcomes.

The complete Promise Fellow Host Site application, instructions and background information can be found online at www.mnyouth.net. Applications are due no later than March 1^st.

AmeriCorps Promise Fellows provide a powerful and cost-effective solution for school districts and community-based organizations striving to meet the needs of youth in grades 6-10. Too many young people are in the process of disengaging and dropping out. We know that by connecting them to caring adults, engaging them in school and learning, and giving them opportunities to lead & serve, we can begin to turn the tide and ensure they are on track to graduate, ready for college, career, and life.

AmeriCorps Promise Fellows increase the capacities of the organizations in which they serve, tracking student attendance, monitoring behaviors and supporting course performances; helping young people succeed, and employing an array of research-based approaches with the goals of:

Increasing youth engagement;
Fostering youth voice; and,
Helping youth acquire the skills needed to be successful in school, work, and life.

Each Promise Fellow serves at least 30 youth in grades 6-10, providing an integrated set of supports including connections to caring adults, service-learning opportunities, and academic enrichment. Over the past seven years, Promise Fellows have helped more than 160,000 Minnesota youth significantly improve their academic outcomes.

The Minnesota Alliance With Youth invites partnerships between schools and community-based organizations to submit an application to request AmeriCorps Promise Fellows to provide additional support in delivering wrap-around services to youth at risk of dropping out of school. Each host site is responsible for providing a Cash Match of $6,500 per Promise Fellow in addition to in-kind support.

To learn more about how Promise Fellows might be deployed in your community or to discuss whether your organization would be a good fit for hosting Promise Fellows, please contact Melissa Burwell, Director of Strategic Initiatives, mburwell@mnyouth.net, 651-528-8561. Complete application materials and instructions for how to submit an application online can be found at www.mnyouth.net/promise-fellows/host. Applications are due March 1^st.

Thank you for your interest and commitment to serving Minnesota’s youth!

Sincerely,
Melissa Burwell

Serve a Smile Grant Available!

Hannah — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:11:30 +0000

Minnesota Alliance With Youth and Delta Dental of Minnesota are pleased to announce the 10^th Anniversary of the Serve a Smile grant program! Applications are now available and are due January 31st!

For more information and to apply, Click Here.

Northfield Success Story!

Hannah — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:12:41 +0000

From the Star Tribune-

Editorial: Northfield closes achievement gap

Article by: Editorial Board

Updated: October 10, 2012 – 9:19 AM

TORCH’s success shows what works. But can it continue?

The latest American K-12 school demographic statistics are in, and they contain a milestone: One out of every four children enrolled in the nation’s K-12 public schools is Latino, a record high, the Pew Hispanic Center recently reported.

The same report brings the good news that more Latino youth are graduating from high school and pursuing postsecondary study. It found 76.3 percent of U.S. Hispanics ages 18 to 24 had a high school diploma or its equivalent in 2011, up from 72.8 percent just one year earlier.

It behooves Minnesota to join in this positive trend. Unfortunately, the latest accounting by the National Center for Education Statistics shows a persistent high school graduation gap that parallels the state’s notoriously wide achievement gap between white and nonwhite students. In 2008-09, the most recent years with data available, Minnesota Latino ninth- to 12th-graders were more likely to drop out before graduation than students of any other ethnic group save for American Indians. They were more than four times more likely to exit without graduating than white students, the center reported.

Those are worrisome numbers for Minnesota, given the growth forecast for the state’s Latino population. The State Demographic Center forecasts that by 2015, Latinos will constitute the largest non-white Minnesota subgroup. They are already the fastest-growing segment of the population.

But academic trend lines aren’t moving in the wrong direction everywhere. Take Northfield, for example. The graduation rate for Latino students at Northfield High School climbed from 36 percent in 2004 to 100 percent this year, thanks to a few passionate visionaries, concerted community effort and a little help from taxpayers.

The home of two premier liberal-arts colleges, Northfield has long prided itself on its high-quality public schools. The low graduation rate a decade ago among the small but growing share of Latino students at Northfield High was met with alarm. TORCH (Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes) was born in a conversation of concerned parents and educators around someone’s coffee table.

Beth Berry, a TORCH founder and coordinator of its high school program, credits the effort’s homegrown design for its success.

It begins mentoring and tutoring students one on one in sixth grade, and offers a summer program for younger children. Each student is served individually. High school students meet with Carleton and St. Olaf college students and take college-credit courses with their help. More than 75 local volunteers supplement a small staff that includes several workers funded by the federal AmeriCorps program.

TORCH stays with those students not only through high school but also during their college years, offering advice, academic coaching and, for some, financial aid to see them through to a two-year or four-year degree.

In 2008, TORCH expanded its target population to include any student from a traditionally under-served population.

The result has been impressive: Last year all 23 TORCH high school seniors graduated. Many of them had already earned some college credits and college-going skills. This year TORCH is serving 332 students, including 165 college students — some now preparing for graduate school.

Yet for all its success and local support, TORCH is fragile. It started with a $40,000 grant from the state Office of Higher Education and still receives $48,000 a year from that source. “I don’t know where we’d be without it,” Berry said. She’s nearing retirement and has been willing to work at a starting teacher’s salary. Recruiting her successor will be a challenge.

TORCH illuminates the larger challenge facing Minnesota. It demonstrates that it’s possible for this state to keep its brainpower edge as its population changes — but only if Minnesotans individually and collectively make that task a priority and fund it accordingly. TORCH should be a model for other Minnesota communities. It needs to keep shining.

Minnesota Alliance With Youth is excited to announce Partnerships with Youthprise & youthrive

Hannah — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:04:32 +0000

Minneapolis, Minn. (May 31, 2012) – Minnesota Alliance With Youth has been awarded a capacity building grant from Youthprise. Youthprise announced today partnership investments in two Twin Cities nonprofits in the youth development field: Minnesota Alliance With Youth and youthrive. Together, the three organizations will work to elevate youth voice in policy decisions and build more effective youth-adult partnerships in the out-of-school time field.

As an intermediary, Youthprise is committed to harnessing the collective ideas, resources and capacity of the Minnesota community – including youth – to promote more systematic approaches to delivering and supporting high quality learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

“We are eager to work in partnership – not in competition – with youth, youth-serving organizations, policy makers, funders and others stakeholders to ensure all Minnesota’s youth thrive,” explained Youthprise President Wokie Weah. “Our partnerships with the Minnesota Alliance With Youth and youthrive will ensure that youth have a place at the table as we work to improve quality and promote greater access in the out-of-school time field. Youth and adults working together in partnership will create new solutions that help move us forward as a state.”

The Minnesota Alliance With Youth will develop a replicable model for youth engagement and authentic youth-adult partnerships through the expansion of the Minnesota Youth Council (MYC). The MYC is a statewide body of 36 youth and their adult partners from all eight Minnesota Congressional Districts. A bill currently in the Minnesota Legislature would authorize the MYC to represent youth constituents to Minnesota policy-makers. In addition, MYC members play an instrumental role in their communities as leaders in civic and youth engagement. “We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Youthprise in the expansion of the Minnesota Youth Council. It’s truly a fundamental shift in how young people have been involved. The potential for real systemic change not only at the local level, but in how we will ultimately change young people’s role in the decision making process at the legislative level is highly significant, and in the end, will benefit all of Minnesota’s citizens,” said Sarah Dixon, President & CEO of the Minnesota Alliance With Youth.

Youthprise’s partnership with youthrive will provide training to elevate the skills of individuals, programs and organizations targeting under-served and under-engaged youth in the out-of-school time field through youthrive’s Circle of Youth Engagement, an interactive training program that promotes youth-adult partnerships. The reputation of youthrive for authentically engaging youth throughout the organization and its past success in developing curriculum and training tools were important considerations in the decision for Youthprise’s significant investment. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to leverage this transformational partnership and work to immediately reduce barriers for professional development around youth-adult partnerships,” said Donna Cook, founder and Executive Director of youthrive.

Youthprise also announced recently that it has approved $2.1 million in grants to 101 organizations throughout the Twin Cities to expand access to quality learning opportunities beyond the classroom. A full list of organizations receiving funding is available at www.youthprise.org/grantees.

MORE on Youthprise: Youthprise was founded in 2010 by The McKnight Foundation to increase the quality, accessibility, sustainability and innovation of opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. Youthprise works collaboratively with municipalities, funders, policymakers, program providers, youth and parents to ensure that all Minnesota youth, especially young people who are traditionally underserved, have access to affordable, quality learning opportunities during out-of-school time. For more information on Youthprise, visit www.youthprise.org.

MORE on Minnesota Alliance With Youth: Founded in 1997, the Minnesota Alliance With Youth is Minnesota’s leading convener, collaborator and capacity-builder for youth development, working with and for youth to ensure that all young people have access to the Five Promises: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others. The Alliance is the Minnesota affiliate of the America’s Promise Alliance and contributes resources to schools, communities and partner organizations across the state in the form of 116 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. For more information about Minnesota Alliance With Youth, visit www.mnyouth.net.

MORE on youthrive: Incorporated in 2005, youthrive has inspired and engaged youth and adults through education, leadership, and service to integrate peace-making activities into their lives, their communities, and the world. It is the lead organization for the International PeaceJam Foundation’s Upper Midwest region and trains students and adult allies on a standards-based curriculum rooted in the lives of thirteen Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. Through the Circle of Youth Engagement training, youthrive provides technical assistance and professional development on how to build and maintain effective youth-adult partnerships. http://www.youthrive.net/

Minnesota Alliance With Youth Sponsors Global Youth Service Day!

Hannah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:35:15 +0000

ST. PAUL, MINN. (April 4, 2012) – Minnesota Alliance With Youth, an organization committed to advocating with and for youth to ensure that all young people in Minnesota have access to the fundamental resources they need to be successful, will host a Global Youth Service Day celebration on Saturday, April 14, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mall of America’s main Rotunda in Bloomington, Minn. The event, intended for children of all ages and their families, will feature youth performers, entertainment, prizes, and on-site service projects. More information about the celebration can be found on the organization’s website, www.mnyouth.net.

Global Youth Service Day, held in 100 countries, involves millions of youth globally. This annual event highlights and celebrates the contributions of youth to their respective communities through volunteer service; supports youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement; and educates the public, the media, and policymakers about the year-round leadership and community contributions of young people. Minnesota consistently leads the service movement nationally, with the most youth service projects registered at www.gysd.org.

The Global Youth Service Day celebration at the Mall of America is sponsored by Minnesota Alliance With Youth in partnership with Delta Dental of Minnesota and Youth Service America. Talented young people will perform while on-site service projects supporting local and global concerns will be carried out. Youth from Journeys Secondary School in St. Paul and The A-List (Brooklyn Park) will be featured, as well as hip hop/spoken word, Aztec dance performers, and dance of many types! Scheduled youth performances also include: Minneapolis group “BARS & MEASURES”, Sojourner Truth Academy’s Step Team – “Lil’ Soujas”, El Colegio Charter School’s Lyrics and Beats club, and more!

In support of Global Youth Service Day, Delta Dental of Minnesota also recognizes the winners of its 9^th annual Serve A Smile mini-grants program, with more than $30,000 donated to support 40 youth-led service projects in Minnesota taking place over the week. One recipient, Northwest Youth and Family Services (NYFS) STEP program, will host a Healthy STEP Community Health & Wellness Fair at New Brighton’s Family Service Center on Saturday, April 21^st, 11-5pm in the Discovery Center at Northwest Youth and Family Services. “Youth involved have gained an excellent understanding of how they’re helping individuals and their communities. Delta Dental’s funding provides critical support to help make the student’s volunteer work successful,” Holly Walters, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at NYFS. The event will feature health and wellness practitioners, education and activities for families. “Kids Who Care” hygiene kits will be assembled and donated to a local emergency shelter. The Healthy STEP Fair is open to the public.

President and CEO of Minnesota Alliance With Youth, Sarah Dixon shares, “Global Youth Service Day is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the meaningful commitments area youth make to volunteer service. We’re excited to honor the many young people who contribute to the well-being of our communities with an event that is truly designed with them in mind.”

About the Minnesota Alliance With Youth

Founded in 1997, the Alliance is Minnesota’s leading convener, collaborator and capacity-builder for youth development. The Alliance seeks to strengthen youth success in school and learning, increase youth engagement in communities, develop and magnify youth voice, and advance collaboration and innovation with entities that share our vision. The Alliance is the Minnesota affiliate of the America’s Promise Alliance and contributes resources to schools, communities and partner organizations across the state in the form of 116 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows.

For more information about Minnesota Alliance With Youth or Global Youth Service Day, visit www.mnyouth.net.

Delta Dental of Minnesota Announces 2012 Serve a Smile Winners

Hannah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:01:56 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minnesota Alliance With Youth Contact:
Sarah Ullmer sullmer@mnyouth.net
Office: 612-554-6019

Delta Dental of Minnesota Contact:
Dana Jensen, djensen@deltadentalmn.org
Office: 651-994-5002

April 4, 2012 (EAGAN, Minn.) – Delta Dental of Minnesota, in collaboration with the Minnesota Alliance With Youth (the Alliance) and Minnesota FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), announces that the company has awarded more than $30,000 in annual youth service mini grants and in-kind donations¹. The competitive-based grants are awarded through Delta Dental’s Serve a Smile mini grant program which promotes youth volunteer activities coinciding with Global Youth Service Day on April 14-22.

Click here for a list of grant winners and a description of their projects.

“This year many of the Serve a Smile projects continue to incorporate oral health education and awareness, in addition to nutrition and exercise,” said Ann Johnson, Executive Director of Delta Dental of Minnesota Trust and Director of Community Affairs at Delta Dental of Minnesota. “These Serve a Smile projects support our mission of improving health and increasing health literacy.”

“Serve a Smile is based on the belief that when creative and resourceful youth volunteers are given an opportunity to participate in public service initiatives with their family, friends, school and community leaders, they can contribute in meaningful ways to help solve community issues,” continued Johnson.

Global Youth Service Day is the largest youth service event in the world, involving over 3 million youth in service projects. While celebrated in over 100 countries in every region of the world, Minnesota ranks among the top three states for number of service projects in support of Global Youth Service Day.

“Once again, we are very excited to partner with Delta Dental of Minnesota and FCCLA for the ninth year on this important initiative,” said Sarah Dixon, President & CEO, Minnesota Alliance With Youth. “Through our work across Minnesota, we know that when young people are actively engaged and contributing members of their communities, the possibilities are endless and produce amazing results such as increases in high school graduation and service to their community.” Dixon said.

“Minnesota is fortunate to have such outstanding youth organizations with a deep understanding of the needs of children, families and community and strong track records in providing programs and services that make a difference. Delta Dental of Minnesota is pleased to be able to help these organizations carry out their vital work” said Johnson.

¹In-kind donations include items such as children’s toothbrushes, adult toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and oral health educational materials geared toward specific populations.

About Delta Dental of Minnesota

Delta Dental of Minnesota’s oral health initiatives are part of its tax-exempt mission to provide educational information and support community programs that help enhance the oral health of all Minnesotans. An independent, tax-exempt health services company, we take seriously our mission to serve Minnesotans’ oral health needs. Since 1969, we’ve accomplished this mission by providing the best access across the state to oral health care through affordable dental plans. For more information, visit www.deltadentalmn.org. Delta Dental is a registered mark of Delta Dental Plans Association. Delta Dental of Minnesota is an independent tax-exempt dental services company and is an authorized licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association of Oak Brook, Illinois.

About the Minnesota Alliance With Youth

For more information about Minnesota Alliance With Youth or Global Youth Service Day, visit www.mnyouth.net.

“One Voice” video campaign aims to keep youth in school

Hannah — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:01:09 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Minnesota Alliance With Youth

Spencer Neitzel

651-528-8584

Twin Cities Public Television (tpt)

Kathleen O’Donnell

651.229.1376

Minnesota Department of Education

Charlene Briner

651-582-1145

“One Voice” video campaign aims to keep youth in school

ST. PAUL, MINN. (March 19, 2012) A youth-driven public awareness campaign was launched in March using internet videos and public service announcements on public television stations statewide to address the importance of staying in school. The videos are available at http://mnyouth.net.

The Minnesota Alliance With Youth (Alliance) and Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), are proud to present the “One Voice” video campaign. “The most powerful and unique part of this campaign is hearing from the voices of our young people directly. They speak very openly and honestly about what young people really need in order to be successful. We very intentionally created this unique partnership with youth and adults, in order to have a more unified shared voice in addressing this critical issue,” said Sarah Dixon, CEO and President of the Alliance.

At a February premier celebration of the videos, one of the students described the achievement gap and dropout problem as “the civil rights issue of our generation.” Each year more than 10,000 youth in Minnesota drop out of school, and Minnesota’s academic achievement gap has grown to one of the largest in the nation. The partners hope the messages will help all youth stay in school and close the gap.

Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius stresses the importance of high quality education for all youth. “Minnesota’s economic future and quality of life depend on making sure every student is well prepared for college or career. Governor Dayton and I are committed to making real progress to close Minnesota’s unacceptable achievement gap, including improving our graduation rates. We welcome the voices of the outstanding young people who are speaking directly to their peers about the importance of staying in school.”

Some of the videos will appear on tpt MN (2-2 in the Twin Cities) and on the Minnesota Channel state-wide. “The unique element about this project is that it’s created not only for youth, but by youth,” said Kathleen O’Donnell, Director of Children’s and Family Programming and Engagement for tpt. tpt staff worked with members of the Alliance’s Minnesota Youth Council to determine the messages they hope will keep students from dropping out of high school. “By providing their personal perspective, youth involved in the project seek to communicate the message to those who need to hear it most: those not currently engaged in school,” added Dixon.

Youth Council members are featured in the videos describing personal, poignant stories about the value of education. The videos were not pre-scripted because it was important to the youth that the messages be extremely authentic.

The videos also feature two current state legislators. In January, Minnesota Youth Council members Esther Lee of Chaska and Jem Nelson of Minnetonka met with and interviewed Representative Paul Marquart and Senator Chuck Wiger. Both are passionate about students staying in school, but for very different reasons. Marquart is a teacher with a history of educators in his family. Wiger was a dropout himself. He returned to school after learning for himself the importance of education. Both Lee and Nelson were impressed by each legislator’s commitment to youth and education. “I was very surprised and encouraged by the energy that both Senator Wiger and Representative Marquart had when talking about the importance of youth voice in legislation,” said Lee.

Production of the videos was funded by a grant from the National Center for Media Engagement. The “One Voice” project is part of a nationwide public media initiative that addresses the dropout crisis called “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen” which is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB, in partnership with America’s Promise Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is working with public media stations in 20 “Hub Markets” where the dropout crisis is most acute to raise awareness of the issue and coordinate action with community partners – all with the goal of helping students stay on course to graduate from high school.

The videos are available at http://mnyouth.net. Read more about the Minnesota Youth Council at http://mnyouth.net/council.

About the Minnesota Alliance With Youth

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