NorthWay welcomes Kaying Thao to its staff

Kaying Thao recently joined Northway’s staff as Outreach Associate. Kaying comes to NorthWay as a participant in the LISC Careership Program, which is designed to train new leaders, particularly people of color, for professional positions in the community development field. The participants work 15 hours per week with the organization.

Kaying gained youth programming experience in several Minneapolis communities. She will be working with NorthWay on youth issues doing outreach and research. Please join us in welcoming Kaying to NorthWay.

Northside Neighborhood Alliance seeks feedback from residents

The Northside Neighborhood Alliance (NNA) will be hosting community meetings in 10 North Minneapolis neighborhoods to get input about proposed commercial opportunities. The presentations will provide residents with a chance to review proposals and share thoughts about recommendations. For more information about the presentations, and get dates and locations, contact Lance Knuckles, NorthWay Outreach Manager, 612-521-4500 or email lknuckles@northwaycom.org.

One Voice for the Northside

NorthWay is a partner with the PEACE Foundation, Urban League and West Broadway Business Coalition to cultivate an organized presence at the State Capitol around North Minneapolis issues. The Northside Lobbying Coalition will work to:

• Address health disparities, including gun violence, and establish youth violence as a public health issue
• Reform policies and develop resources to create opportunities for ex-offenders to re-integrate into positive citizenship
• Increase resources for economic development, establish Local Government Aid back to funding levels prior to 2003 cuts, and support legislative strategies that help people keep their homes

Two lobbying training sessions will take place at the PEACE Foundation offices (above the Cookie Cart at 1119 W. Broadway) on:

• Wednesday, February 20, 6:30-9pm
• Saturday, February 23, 12:30-3pm

"A Day on the Hill" will kick off this effort on Thursday, February 28 at the Capital with a 9am rally, and appointments with Legislators from 10am-Noon.

For more information, call the PEACE Foundation at 612-512-4405.

Get financially fit!

Women Venture, in partnership with NorthWay Community Trust, is bringing Financial Literacy Services to North Minneapolis. FREE classes (held on Wednesdays in March) will help you become empowered and in control of your money. You’ll learn how to:

• Reduce debt
• Open a checking account
• Create savings
• Budget
• Increase your credit rating

And find out more about these classes and services coming to North Minneapolis during a free Information Session on Wednesday, February 20 from 6-7pm at NorthWay Community Trust. For more information, call Shawna Thompson at WomenVenture, 651-646-3808.

Helping develop North Minneapolis youth leaders

NorthWay is seeking interested youth to participate in an intensive leadership training program that teaches valuable lifelong skills and builds character, competence, confidence, connections and caring in their lives as a foundation for SUCCESS.

There are two program sessions, which combine for the last two classes. Youth can sign up for either March session, and then must attend both April classes. The dates are:

• Monday-Thursday, March 3-6, 5-7:30pm or
• Monday-Thursday, March 10-13, 5-7:30pm

concluding with

• Tuesday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 15, 5-7:30pm

The training program includes dinners and a stipend upon completion of the six classes and a group project. For more information or to enroll, contact Lance Knuckles, Outreach Manager, 612-521-4500 or email lknuckles@northwaycom.org.

University Northside Partnership completes three community meetings

The last of three University Northside Partnership (UNP) meetings was held January 30 at NorthWay Community Trust with Darlyne Bailey, Dean of the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development. She reviewed the UNP plan and process with more than 30 participants who attended the meeting. Previous meetings were held January 15 and December 11, 2007. For more information, contact Katrina Uhly, Research Fellow, Dean’s Office, 612-626-5684.