Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! We all have mental health, and just like physical health, it is also something we need to take care of. With the stress and isolation of over a year of the pandemic, taking care of mental health is important now more then ever. However, between work, school, and taking care of our families, it can be hard to find the time. In this newsletter I share information on Brighter Days Family Grief Center and the wonderful work they are doing involving mental health support in our community. If you or someone you know would like more mental health resources, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. |
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Reta Johnson, MSW
Community Resources Specialist
Eden Prairie Schools
Phone #952-975-7030
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EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOONER DAYS: 6.4.21-6.6.21
The 2021 EP Lions & Lioness Club's Schooner Days are back at Round Lake Park! There is free admission and fun for the whole family. Enjoy the thrill of carnival rides, children's games, adult games, and tasty food. All you can ride wristbands will be available at Steve's Auto World located at 8100 Flying Cloud Dr at Singletree Lane. These wristbands will be $30 at Schooner Days. Schooner days opens at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 4th and lasts until 11:00 p.m. On Saturday, June 5th, the hours are 11:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m. and on Sunday the hours are from 11:00 a.m.-5:00.
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2021 LIVE & VIRTUAL STOP THE TRAFFICKING 5K WALK/RUN: 6.12.21
On Saturday, June 12th at 8:30 a.m., the live Stop The Trafficking 5K Walk/Run event will be held at Purgatory Creek Park in Eden Prairie (13001 Technology Dr.). There is also a virtual option where you can run or walk 3.1 miles in your home, at a park, or through your neighborhood. The virtual event can be completed anytime between June 12th-June 20th. All proceeds from this race will be designated to organizations working to help sexually exploited youth and women. To learn more about this event or register, visit stopthetraffickingrun.org.
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KIDSTOCK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 6.15.21-8.10.21
The Kidstock summer concert series is set to begin on June 15th. Concerts will run at Staring Lake Park Amphitheatre located at 14800 Pioneer Trail every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Visit The City of Eden Prairie's Community Events Calendar to learn who will be performing each week.
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MYHEALTH CHILDREN'S DENTAL CLINIC: 6.16.21
A low cost dental care clinic will be offered at 15 8th Avenue South in Hopkins on June 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This clinic provides services for children from birth to age 26 years old and pregnant women. Services that are available are exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, oral health education, fillings, crowns and extractions. Covid procedures are in place to protect patients and staff. Children's Dental accepts all forms of insurance and offers reduced cost care under an income based sliding fee scale. To set up an appointment, call 612-746-1530 and ask to have your appointment at the myHealth for teens and young adults location.
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This month, we bring you the Brighter Days Family Grief Center, whose Eden Prairie location will have a new address beginning June 1st, 2021!
Brighter Days Family Grief Center is a nonprofit serving the state of Minnesota, focusing on helping families heal after the death of a loved one by addressing the many psychosocial and logistical needs of each family member. Trusted by Minnesota hospitals, hospices, schools, and community partners, they provide the compassionate and comprehensive care that children, young adults, and the entire family deserve.
Brighter Days recently acquired the Fairview Health Youth Grief Services program, a renowned 20+ year evidence-based program that provides free and trauma-informed grief support to children, teens, and their family members. Their curriculum uses age-appropriate activities to help youth learn about death and grief through experiential learning techniques such as art, games, discussion, and play. Their goal is to ensure that the needs of grieving youth are recognized, understood, and met—both within their family and within their community.
Brighter Days is also an approved partner of the Eluna Network, a national program providing grief camps for youth ages 6-17. Brighter Days will hold their first in-person day camp, Camp Erin - Twin Cities, on September 25th in Eden Prairie.
Whether you have lost a child, spouse, parent or sibling, and regardless of your age, Brighter Days mission is to support the entire family. All services are free and all are welcome. You can visit their website at www.brighterdaysgriefcenter.org, or check out this great video to learn more.
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EDEN PRAIRIE SENIOR CENTER TO RESUME INDOOR PROGRAMMING
The Eden Prairie Senior Center is excited to share that they are transitioning back to indoor programming beginning on June 7th, 2021. To maintain the safety of all guests, attendees must sign in for each activity, have their updated contact information on file with the Senior Center, and bring in their own outside beverages. It will still be expected that attendees self-monitor for Covid symptoms before attending an event and it is encouraged to wear a mask if not fully vacinated and respect those around you.
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PROP'S SUMMER FOOD FOR KIDS PROGRAM
Prop's Summer Food for Kids Program is set to begin this year on June 1st. This program remains a vital part of Prop's mission to keep everyone fed. When school is out, the families that rely on free or reduced meals find their budgets are stretched to the limit. This program, now in its ninth year, provides supplemental fresh produce and kid-friendly food choices for school-aged children, entering grades 1-12 during the summer months. There is a menu of available food items-including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and sandwich meat, pasta, cereal, canned meat and other protein rich snacks. To learn more, email [email protected] or call 952-937-9120.
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FREE NUTRICIOUS SCHOOL MEALS FOR KIDS 0-18
Only a click away, the Free Meals for Kids mobile app will help families and kids find free meals at schools and other sites across Minnesota during school closures.
How it works:
1 Download the Free Meals for Kids app to your cell phone.
2 Use the app to find the nearest site providing meals and meal packs by GPS.
3 Click on the nearby site and use the Meals Updates tab for more details.
4 Share the app with friends, neighbors and on social media.
Free Meals for Kids can be downloaded at Apple or Google Play app stores.
There are free meal sites across the state at schools, bus stops, libraries, community centers and parks. The app provides location, directions to the site and hours and days of distribution. More sites are added daily. For more information: www.hungerimpactpartners.org
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RENTAL ASSSITANCE GRANTS
The City of Eden Prairie is partnering with PROP to distribute Community Development Block Grant funds to prevent homelessness. Grants serve low-income households by easing the burden of past-due rent so residents in need can focus on other aspects of financial recovery in this tumultuous time. Contact PROP at 952-937-9120 to learn more and apply.
Minnesota Housing's new program, RentHelpMN, is accepting applications for assistance with past-due rent and utilities dating back to March 13, 2020. To check your eligibility and apply for RentHelpMN, visit RentHelpMN or call 211. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about RentHelpMN Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
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HELP LOCAL ARTIST CONNECT WITH EDEN PRAIRIE RESIDENTS
Please help local artist, Cadex Herrera, connect with Eden Prairie residents to talk about their experience with immigration. Cadex is an immigrant himself and would like to bring forth the voices of fellow immigrants in our community. Cadex's artwork is titled First Person Plural and it is to be installed at Purgatory Creek Park in July/August 2021. First Person Plural will be ten 8'x8' outdoor panels that will depict portraits of immigrants in Eden Prairie at Purgatory Creek Park. In combination with this, a webpage will be created that will house photos, videos, and transcripts from Cadex's meetings and interviews with participants so viewers can get more information after seeing the outdoor pieces. There are also plans to have an unveiling and artist discussion on August 8th to celebrate the immigrant residents that make the city of Eden Prairie great. If you know anyone or are interested yourself, please send your name, email, and phone number to [email protected].
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PROP JOB OPENING
Prop in Eden Prairie is currently seeking a Manager of Business Operations to join an innovative and passionate nonprofit team.
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