For Homelessness Awareness Month, YouthLink’s Housing Director, Kevin Nye, reflects on what it really means to be aware of homelessness. In this month’s blog post, Kevin explores why awareness matters, challenges common misconceptions about what homelessness looks like, and shares ways we can turn awareness into meaningful action. Because ending homelessness starts with seeing it—and…
YouthLink is planning our annual holiday party and Santa Shop, and we need your help to make it a success. You can make a real difference this holiday season by donating items to our Santa Shop, where youth can “shop” for gifts for themselves and their children. Last year, your generosity provided gifts for a…
The Voices of Youth Advisory Council (VOYAC) is making sure young people experiencing homelessness have the information and opportunity they need to participate in the democratic process. VOYAC is a youth advisory council made up of young people with lived experience of homelessness. Through their work, council members help shape YouthLink programming and advocate for…
A Reflection of Gratitude for Rachael Scherer By Rich Melzer, YouthLink CEO There are people who serve on boards, and then there are people who become part of the fabric of an organization and its culture. Rachael Scherer is the latter. As Rachael concludes her time as Chair of YouthLink’s Board of Directors, I’ve found…
This month, we’re pleased to welcome YouthLink’s Senior Director of Programs, Ms. Shennika Sudduth, as our guest blogger. Drawing on years of experience serving young people experiencing homelessness, Ms. Shennika shares her perspective on what truly creates lasting change. In The Legacy of Belonging, she explores why housing is only the beginning—and how trust, relationships,…
Every young person deserves access to food, clothing, and other essentials in a space where they feel welcomed, respected, and treated with dignity. At YouthLink, our Clothing Closet and Food Pantry are more than places to meet basic needs—they’re places where young people are met with compassion, dignity, choice, and care. Now, we’re preparing to transform these spaces into more welcoming, trauma-informed environments designed to better serve…
This month, we’re excited to share a reflection from YouthLink’s Director of Development, Danny Lee. As he reaches his first month with the organization, Danny offers his perspective on the people, partnerships, and shared belief that make YouthLink’s work possible. Read Futures Worth Investing In to learn why he believes meaningful change begins with investing…
YouthLink is excited to announce Danny (Daniel) Lee as its next Director of Development, signaling a continued commitment in the organization’s mission to empower at-risk youth. Danny will work closely with YouthLink’s CEO, Rich Melzer and Board of Directors, leveraging their leadership to further deepen impact and community trust. Danny joins YouthLink with a proven…
One of the best kept secrets in South Minneapolis is the garden behind Nicollet Square. Only visible from the alleyway parking lot, this oasis boasts an annual harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, berries, herbs, and flowers. In 2025, it was even featured on the Kingfield Neighborhood Association’s Garden Tour. Residents of Nicollet Square tend…
This month, we’re excited to feature a guest perspective on the YouthLink blog from our Housing Director, Kevin Nye. With more than a decade of experience working in homelessness services, Kevin brings a thoughtful, on-the-ground understanding of what it truly takes to support young people on their path to stability. In this blog post, Kevin…