Northfield's Youth First Receives National Award

Youth First received national recognition in August for its work in ensuring that Northfield’s young people have their voices heard at local decision-making tables and are actively engaged in civic life.

The organization — a partnership between Healthy Community Initiative (HCI), the City of Northfield, and Youthprise, a Minneapolis-based youth development organization — received the 2022 Harris Wofford Common Good Award for its efforts to give young people a place at every decision-making table in Northfield through the Youth on Boards initiative and for supporting youth-led community activities through the YouthBank and Youth Grants programs.

“Working with the youth of Northfield is a constant source of inspiration for me; they are thoughtful, resourceful and unafraid to ask the tough questions,” said Meleah Follen, HCI’s director of youth engagement. “I am grateful to the City of Northfield, Youthprise and all the adults in the community who support these important programs to lift youth voice and ensure the decision-making tables in Northfield represent as many diverse voices as possible.” For more about the award, click here.

Northfield Community School Expansion

The first Bridgewater Community School Open House was a success!

Community school programming is expanding this fall to serve students and families in all three public elementary schools in the Northfield district.

Bridgewater and Spring Creek are joining Greenvale Park in offering free out-of-school-time programming for their K-5 students Monday through Thursday, immediately after school until 4:45 p.m., starting Oct. 3. Students can receive homework help and can participate in a variety of other programs, like art club, STEM club, and LEGO builders.

Erin Bailey, director of community education for Northfield Public Schools, said the district is excited about the program expansion.

“Full-service community schools lead to better learning environments for all students, stronger families, and a healthier community,” she said. “Each of the Northfield Community School sites can and should look a little different, as they are responsive to the needs, opportunities, and resources at the individual schools.”

Programming will also be offered for all students and their families on weeknights from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Evening events and classes – things like Zumba, Spanish and English language lessons, and open gym time – will be scheduled at Spring Creek on Mondays, Greenvale Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Bridgewater on Wednesdays.

Although parents are required to sign up their children in grades K-5 for the after-school programming, the evening programs don’t require registration.

“Students and families can attend evening Community School programming at any site that works for them – Bridgewater, Greenvale Park or Spring Creek,” Bailey said

To keep up with the latest community school news, follow the Northfield Community Schools Facebook page.

ACES Program to Start at Middle School

Starting in early October, Northfield students in grades 6-8 will have the opportunity to participate in an innovative after-school program that boosts foundational academic and life skills through projects and games.

ACES (Athletes Committed to Educating Students) will serve up to 50 students, providing project-based curriculum and learning experiences that bring math and social-emotional learning to life through the lens of sports. The program will operate Monday through Thursday from 3-4:45 p.m. at the Northfield Middle School.

The program is free and is open to all students, said Nadine Bartolo, the ACES site coordinator for the middle school. Registration has begun, and enrollment will continue throughout the year as space is available. Parents can register their students online. Paper registration forms are also available in the school’s front office or from the math teachers.

“Students don’t have to like sports or be athletic to be in the program,” Bartolo said. “Since we are sponsored by a lot of Minnesota teams, our curriculum has a sports focus, but we’re not talking about sports the whole time, nor do we obligate students to participate in sports. It’s supposed to be a hook, not something to discourage them.”

HCI Staff Attend the 2022 StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network Convening. See Them?

Four representatives from Healthy Community Initiative – Interim Executive Director Sandy Malecha, Senior Director Jodi Lundell, Public Health Initiatives Director Laura Turek, and Growing Up Healthy Family Engagement Navigator Cindy Santa – connected with people from across the country at the 2022 StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network Convening, held Sept. 21-23 in Chicago.

Northfield Promise has been recognized as a Systems Change community by the national StriveTogether network. StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose: help every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, 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 more than 14 million students, including more than 8 million children of color and over 6 million children experiencing poverty. The network spans 30 states and Washington, D.C.