Happy New Year!

Opportunities for Achievement... Guaranteed

Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) Project Coordinator Michelle Palo is officially on the job now and will be working from NorthWay Community Trust offices. The NAZ is a collaborative effort, facilitated by NorthWay and the Peace Foundation, working to guarantee opportunities, support and education for all children growing up in designated "Achievement Zones" in North Minneapolis. You can reach Michelle at 612-521-4500 or email at mpalo@northwaycom.org.

Northwest Area Foundation backs three key NorthWay initiatives

The Northwest Area Foundation has awarded NorthWay a three-year, $1.75 million grant to support three initiatives: the Northside Achievement Zone; the Twin Cities Center for Arts and Technology, a model for building a skilled, competent workforce in North Minneapolis; and the Main Street Corridor Project, a program to prepare North Minneapolis residents for small business ownership.

NorthWay and the Northwest Area Foundation are changing their relationship to a more targeted one where Foundation support will assist Northway’s efforts to develop the three projects. The Foundation’s approach aligns with its new strategic plan, which seeks to reduce poverty in three outcome areas: increasing assets and wealth, building capacity and leadership, and improving public policy solutions.

After five years, NorthWay Community Trust is adjusting the way it works in the community. We will maintain our role as convener and change agent with efforts centered on building and sustaining community coalitions necessary to measurably reduce the rate of unemployment, improve high school graduation rates, and increase the number of locally-owned and operated businesses. However, we will no longer be making partnership investments in the community.