The Minneapolis Foundation Continues Focus
on Youth Violence Prevention in Minneapolis

Phase two grants of multi-year initiative targeted to South Minneapolis efforts

June 6, 2006 Minneapolis, MN - The Minneapolis Foundation distributed more than $360,000 in grants to south Minneapolis community organizations that use intervention strategies to deter youth violence in Minneapolis. The grants represent an on-going effort of the Foundation to stem the tide of youth violence in Minneapolis. Last summer, the Foundation's Board of Trustees responded to rising violence by launching a two-phase funding program. More than $370,000 was awarded in August to six Northside organizations focused on preventing youth violence in the community. The Southside grants incorporate lessons learned from the first grant round.

Grantmaking is one component of a larger violence prevention effort. Other related initiatives have included support for Project Ceasefire, a "gun buyback" effort which has resulted in 340 fewer guns on the streets and in homes in Minneapolis. Project Ceasefire is a collaborative effort among 30 organizations, including the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Police Department, The Minneapolis Foundation, and community and civic organizations.

Phase two (Southside) grantees include:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities – Gang Prevention Through Targeted Outreach: case management and activities for youth at-risk of gang involvement at Southside Village and Jack Cornelius Clubs.

Circle of Discipline – Mentoring, athletic training and leadership skills for at-risk youth in schools and at the gym.

Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota – Somali street outreach workers and increased youth engagement activities at Brian Coyle Center .

Employment Action Center – Expanded outreach and street recruitment for the Young Dads program, intensive case management for disadvantaged, disengaged young fathers.

Holy Rosary Church – Talitha Koum: faith-based, bilingual program that partners with parents, the justice system, and schools to track and engage youth at-risk for gang involvement.

Legal Rights Center – Partnership with Legal Rights Center and Heart of the Earth to provide restorative justice practices to youth and families living on the edge of the justice system as perpetrators or victims combined with cultural teaching and youth engagement activities.

Sabathani Community Center – Partnership with Life Long Mentoring services and Sabathani youth programs to provide intensive case management to a small group of gang-involved or almost-gang-involved individuals and also support general wrap-around arts, athletic, and academic youth services.

Southeast Asian Refugee Community Home (SEARCH) – Southeast Asian Youth Diversion Program: culturally appropriate case management for juvenile court referrals of Asian youth.

YWCA of Minneapolis – Girls RAP program: diversion groups for female first time offenders and prevention groups for girls referred by school officials as at-risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system.

The grants were awarded through a request for proposal (RFP) process. The Northside RFP was issued and selected projects were funded in the summer of 2005. The Southside RFP was distributed in March 2006, with grants awarded in April.

Requests for Proposals solicit requests for time-sensitive funding for a particular issue, population, or approach. Grant guidelines, funding criteria, requests for proposals, and a complete list of recent grant awards are available on-line at www.MinneapolisFoundation.org .

Established in 1915, The Minneapolis Foundation is the oldest foundation in Minnesota. With more than $640 million in assets and more than 700 individual funds, it is also one of the nation's largest community foundations. The Minneapolis Foundation distributes grants totaling approximately $40 million per year throughout Minnesota , and engages the community on critical social issues through public information campaigns and convenings. For more information, visit www.MinneapolisFoundation.org .

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