Dear friends,

I'm still celebrating our amazing Neighborhood Program* staff and the creativity of Summer Leaders campers. On August 1st a bus load of donors, board members, partners, friends and staff of Interfaith were treated to a program put on by 6th and 7th grade Summer Leaders campers at Sunset Hill Elementary School. The program included a delightful song, riveting poetry and the unveiling of a stunning mural all created by some justly proud kids. Coached by Learning Dreams, a project based in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota that builds a culture of learning by unleashing the hope and dreams of families and kids, these young artists not only created a beautiful work of art but discovered some very important life lessons along the way.

In their own words:
"I learned it was a blank canvas and we used our imagination to turn it into something." 

 "We can make a whole work of art together."
"Community is more than just the people around you."
"We work better when we are together."

Makes you want to jump up and down and double down on community wide resolve to make opportunities like these available to all of our kids. It's what we're after with the Great Expectations Initiative. Please join us and bring your friends to the Great Expectations Breakfast on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. at Wayzata Community Church. Keep reading to learn more!

LaDonna Hoy
Executive Director 

*formerly CONECT