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Incidents of bullying against Muslim youth
have risen, resulting in concern for schools and youth organizations. What can
mentoring practitioners do to build supportive and inclusive programs that meet
the needs of Muslim youth and families, while promoting the safety and
inclusion of all participants?
Sameera Ahmed, Ph.D., Director of The
Family & Youth Institute (FYI) and a leading researcher on American Muslim
youth emphasizes that we cannot ignore the hate and ostracism experienced by
Muslim young people and their families. Youth development professionals must
acknowledge these experiences, provide opportunities for youth to express their
fears and concerns in safe settings, and help them channel their energy in
healthy ways.
Dr. Ahmed and her team recently published “The
State of American Muslim Youth: Research and Recommendations” that outlines eight areas of
recommendations for youth-serving organizations which may be valuable to
mentoring practitioners seeking to create culturally inclusive, safe and
supportive youth mentoring programs. The FYI also worked with the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to develop two webinars: “Helping
Educators and Counselors Prevent Bullying of and Discrimination Against our
Nation's Muslim Youth” and “Strategies
for Educators, Counselors, and Community Members To Build Protective Factors
for America’s Muslim Youth”.
Source
Youthprise established the Somali Youth
Development Fund to support positive youth development programs, community
engagement partnerships, and capacity building for Somali-led community-based organizations.
The fund is a part of a public-private partnership that seeks to build the
capacity of the Somali community, facilitate better coordination of resources,
and provide a holistic approach to youth development.
In 2016, Youthprise received state funding
from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to
reduce disparities and address challenges facing Somali youth. The organization
is currently offering grants through a competitive application process to:
- Build the capacity of small to mid-size
organizations serving Somali youth in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area
- Build the capacity of small to mid-size
organizations serving Greater Minnesota
- Strengthen partnerships by investing deeper
in a limited number of projects that effectively engage youth and families from
the Somali community
Learn more
and apply.
The Summer Camp Scholarship Program
provides families with young people between the ages 7 and 16 with financial
assistance to attend residential camping programs intended to enrich a child’s
life experience. The Foundation will award up to $450,000 in scholarship funds
to nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to financially
disadvantaged children and families in Minnesota. Grants to organizations will
range from $5,000 to $18,000.
Eligible organizations are Minnesota-based 501(c) (3) organizations that:
- Provide direct services to economically
disadvantaged families and/or youth (e.g. human/social service, affordable housing,
education)
- Do NOT own or operate residential summer
camp programs
- Have staff available during the summer to
respond to any needs or issues that arise
To learn more about how to apply for this grant, please click here.
Hundreds of Minnesota children who have
suffered the trauma of being removed from their birth parents, and are now
living in foster care, could soon receive state-funded intensive psychotherapy
services to give them safer, more stable lives.Until now, many of these children have gone
years without receiving psychiatric treatment for their emotional problems.
Statewide, nearly one in five foster
children in Minnesota bounce back to care within a year of being placed with
families — among the highest so-called “re-entry” rates in the nation.
At least 600 Minnesota children in foster
care should benefit from the new service, which will cost the state-federal
Medicaid program about $1.2 million in its first year, state officials
estimate.
The new benefit comes as the state and
counties wrestle with swelling numbers of children being removed from their
biological families and placed in foster care.
Source
STEP-UP
Applications Are Open
STEP-UP trains and places more than 1,500 Minneapolis young people (ages 14-21) in paid summer internships with participating
businesses.
The STEP-UP online application for summer
2017 is available here.
The application deadline is February 10, 2017.
YouthBuild
Now Enrolling
YouthBuild works to unleash the intelligence and positive energy of youth to rebuild their
communities and their lives. Participants receive a weekly stipend while in training. Class starts January 30,
2017.
YouthBuild is for:
- Young men and women, ages 16-24
- Not currently enrolled in school and
looking to obtain a GED
- Interested in starting a career in construction
- Available Mon-Fri from 8:30am to 3:30pm
To learn more, Contact Kristi at (651)
379-5837 or email kweberg@goodwilleasterseals.org. Link
“Let’s
Get IT” Program Now Recruiting
“Let’s Get IT” is a free 13-week training in Information Technology (IT) with an emphasis on Web Design and
Application Development.
Participants also receive professional workforce skills including
resume development, and interview and job search skills.
Students attend 3-hour classes twice a week
on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 9pm at Asian Media Access in Northeast
Minneapolis.
The next class starts February 7, 2017. Let's Get IT Application
Recruiting
Teens for Tobacco Compliance Checks
Minneapolis Licenses and Consumer Services
is recruiting teens to conduct tobacco compliance checks in the City. These checks consists of a
teen entering a store that sells tobacco and requesting to purchase tobacco
products. If underage teens are allowed to purchase tobacco, the business and
clerk are cited for the violating the law.
Teens are supervised at all times by experienced inspectors.
Teens must meet the following requirements:
- Be between the ages of 15 and 17.5
- Have a picture identification card (State
ID, permit or driver’s license)
- Fill out an application
Teens will be paid $9.50 per hour. Hours
are limited and intermittent (most compliance checks are done on school
holidays, summers and a minimal number of evenings). Transportation will be provided if the teen
lives within the Minneapolis city limits. On the job training is provided.
For further information, please call
Mohamed Ismail at 612-673-3904.
Sign
Up for Summer Nudging
Summer Nudging helps college-bound
students successfully enter into college in the fall after high school
graduation through weekly text messages, or "nudges."
Any student who intends to go to college
can participate, as well as parents, guardians and counselors. You will receive texts January-December 2017. Opt out any time by
texting, "STOP" or "CANCEL."
Text COLLEGE to 651-243-9980! Check out the
music
video.
PEACE (Pathways to
Emergency & Academy Career Experiences)
- A paid summer internship learning about careers
- Hands-on experience that can support education goals and lead to
justice or emergency careers
- A mentor from police, fire, emergency services, law and legal services
to support your career goals
Email ShaVonda Allen or
call 612-673-6221 for more info. See Flyer
Urban
Scholars Leadership Development Program
Urban Scholars is a 12 week paid internship for college students that includes leadership and professional development training. Scholars spend four days a
week working alongside organizational
leaders at a variety of sites. One day a week, Scholars come together to learn and practice skills in leadership, professional development, and
public speaking. Urban Scholars also provides mentors/networking advisors and
additional panels, tours, and overviews.
The 2017 Urban Scholars application is now
available until Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 11:59pm CST. Apply here.
Scrubs Camp 2017
Scrubs Camp provides a unique opportunity for middle school and high
school students to explore careers in the health sciences. Learn more and register here. Scholarships are given on a first come
basis.
Employment and Opportunity Guide for
Minneapolis Youth
What’s Up 612! is an online resource of things to do in
Minneapolis. The program finder is a citywide resource where youth, parents,
educators, youth workers and persons who know young people can find afterschool
and summer activities for children and young adults ages 5-21.
YouthLink Opportunity Center Calendar
Child
Care Aware of Minnesota Bill Tracker
The Bill
Tracker is a great resource to stay informed about early care and education
legislation. It is updated through each Friday
and made available the following Tuesday. Link
Tix
for Tots
Tix for Tots is a nonprofit organization
that collects tickets to sporting events, concerts,
theater performances, and museums and gives them to low-income kids. Last year it gave away 26,000 tickets. Learn more.
A Guide for Helping Students Make Informed College Choices
This guide is designed for counselors,
teachers, and advisers who work with high school students from low-income
families and students who are the first in their families to pursue a college
education. It offers strategies for helping students identify, consider, and
enroll in “match” colleges, selective colleges that are a good fit
for students based on their academic profiles, financial considerations, and
personal needs. Open the guide.
Changing
Minds about Children’s Exposure to Violence
Changing Minds is a national public education
campaign to raise awareness, teach skills, and prompt public action in response
to children’s exposure to violence in the U.S. The campaign features digital
and print content intended to reach adults who interact with children and youth
in grades K–12. Learn More: ChangingMindsNow.org.
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