There are few things in the world as transformative as an education, but it’s important to remember education is just one step along the greater journey. When working with young people to help them plan their future, we must consider both the path ahead and the road behind before deciding on a school, a major […]
At the age of 17, after a bully beat him so badly for being gay that he ended up in the hospital, Jamie Nabozny ran away from home, eventually finding himself at YouthLink. Jamie’s case manager connected him to basic needs and housing, and encouraged him to consider what he wanted in life—not just what […]
So often youth who come to seek service somewhere like YouthLink are in crisis. They come to us with an immediate need that has to be addressed, and that need becomes the focus—instead of the whole person. While food, shelter, job assistance, etc., are all critical, we realized we could be more impactful and transformative […]
It’s been a four-year-long journey, but it’s been worth every step. The Downtown View housing development has finally opened its doors to young people experiencing homelessness in Minneapolis. The result of a partnership with Project for Pride in Living (PPL), this development fills a critical need for youth ages 18 to 24. Downtown View is […]
“Jobs can open the door to opportunity for young people. But they are not a golden ticket,” Quinn explains. At YouthLink, Quinn works with young people as a Career Specialist with the Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (GESMN) Youth Heading Home program. Through the Youth Heading Home program, youth are given access to a number of services […]
Married for forty-seven years, Ann Marie and David Hintz have stood together through lots of stormy weather, including worries about their son—a bright young man who lost his bearings for a time. “We first learned of YouthLink when it was known as the ‘Minneapolis Youth Diversion Program.’ We were in ‘crisis mode’ at the time […]
A native of southern Minnesota, John Dorman has lived in Minneapolis for 25 years and calls it home. Years ago, when his employer established an internal Twin Cities Pride network in the workplace, John began looking for volunteer opportunities to assist the local LGBT community through engagement and support. John eventually found a program that […]
Our donors make an enormous difference to the young people served by YouthLink (and its Youth Opportunity Center partners). Without their generous financial contributions, our mission—to help young people move from homelessness to hope—would lack the resources needed to build lasting change. We believe there’s something unusual about YouthLink’s donors, too. Their compassion goes well […]
