Thursday, April 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. YouthLink will host a “door opening celebration” marking the beginning of a major building renovation that will create space for the new Youth Opportunity Center (YOC).

The YOC is part of Heading Home Hennepin, the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County community’s plan to end homelessness by 2016.  In 2008, Hennepin County designated YouthLink to be Youth Opportunity Center identified in the Heading Home Hennepin Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Supported by Hennepin County, Heading Home Hennepin, and several major private funders, the YOC will be a multi-disciplinary network of public and non-profit agencies collaborating to serve homeless, precariously housed, and marginalized youth in one convenient, accessible and welcoming location.

“The YOC’s goal is to create new ways to collaborate with our strategic partners in engaging homeless young people and helping them achieve and sustain long-term stability,” said Heather Huseby, Ed.D, YouthLink executive director. “It is clear that Hennepin County and our private funders expect the YOC will bring about systemic change in the delivery of services to young people, address existing gaps in service and deliver improved long-term outcomes for young people.”

The event begins at 4 p.m. with refreshments and building tours at YouthLink’s headquarters in Minneapolis, located at 41 N. 12th St. The formal program takes place at 5:30 p.m. with presentations by: Dr. Huseby; Freddie Davis English, YouthLink board chair; Hennepin County commissioners Peter McLaughlin and Gail Dorfman; and Minneapolis City Council member Lisa Goodman.  The program also will feature YouthLink youth clients and alumni who will share their stories and various forms of art. The photos and drawings above represent the look and feel of the new YOC.