Justice Propels YouthBank Discussions |
|
Following the killing of George Floyd last summer, amid the ensuing social unrest and the concurrent pandemic, members of Northfield YouthBank met (safely) to have honest, heart-to-heart conversations about racial justice.
The short-term result was the crafting of a commitment to anti-racism statement that the group posted on its website. But the discussions also propelled the students to commit to including both justice and equity in their philanthropic decision-making process.
Funded by Youthprise, YouthBank is an innovative youth philanthropy program in which a team of trained youth grant-makers award funds to youth-led projects in the community. In the past six years, Northfield YouthBank has given out $120,000 to projects created by and for youth. Northfield’s chapter is the most established in Minnesota, and Faribault’s chapter is one of the newest.
“This summer, we worked a lot on educating ourselves first. We did a lot of reading, and shared a lot of perspectives. It led to us incorporating the justice piece in our YouthBank values and priorities, when it comes to reviewing grants.” said Northfield High School (NHS) senior and YouthBank member Meg Tomonari.
Click here to read more about YouthBank, a Northfield Promise initiative.
|
|
“I know things can be stressful right now, so I hope this cheers you up!”
Thanks to a grant from YouthBank, the Students Supporting Students (SSS) group at Northfield High School recently distributed care packages and messages of support to about 200 high school students during Semester 1 finals week. The SSS members – a group of trained peer helpers – and their advisers spent 40 hours and covered 275 miles assembling and delivering the packages, which contained chocolates, hard candies, a worry stone, a fidget, a list of stress management strategies, and information about mental health resources. See more bright spots from Students Supporting Students!
|
|
WINGS helps NCCC Students Dare to Dream |
|
Books Help Kids Dream Big |
|
Northfield area residents, families, and organizations together donated more than 1,000 new and gently used children’s books to the recent Northfield Promise Book Drive.
Throughout February – I Love to Read Month – people were encouraged to donate books for readers ages birth through eighth grade. The books were collected at a drive-through collection event on March 2 at the First United Church of Christ, 301 Union St. in Northfield.
“We saw donations in bulk from several faith communities and student groups at both Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges,” said Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Coordinator Laura Turek, who provides support to the Northfield Promise Reading Action Team. “Also, many kind individuals and families donated to this great effort.”
To read more about the book drive, click here.
|
|
|
|
Like Northfield Promise on Facebook! |
Facebook can be a great way to spread the news of all that is going on with Northfield Promise. If you are on Facebook, please like us, comment and share! |
|
Share the Northfield Promise e-news with your friends and colleagues! |
|
Northfield Promise exists to ensure all children in Northfield reach their full potential.
|
|
Northfield Promise has been recognized as a Proof Point community by the national StriveTogether network. StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose: helping every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, zip code or circumstance. In partnership with nearly 70 communities across the country, StriveTogether provides resources, best practices and processes to give every child every chance for success. The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network reaches 13.7 million students, involves 10,800 organizations and has partners in 29 states and Washington, D.C.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
