“Every day I just keep pushing to get better,” says Marshall*, a YouthLink client and resident at Nicollet Square, who has come a long way in a short time since being introduced to the Minneapolis nonprofit 1 ½ years ago. “I grew up in St. Paul and was never around an environment where people took…
“It was the best and worst moment of my life,” said Antonio*, who came to the United States as a refugee from Africa. “I had to leave my mom, brother and sister but I knew I came here for a better life.” After arriving in Minnesota, he struggled to find acceptable housing and often stayed…
Red, Black, White and Yellow are colors that guide Jackson*, a young Native American and current YouthLink client, every day. “Red stands for spiritual healing, black stands for emotional healing, white stands for intellectual healing and yellow stands for physical healing,” he said. “They also represent the four seasons to me and I use all…
When opportunity knocked, he answered. Clifton Traxler-Owens, a YouthLink client and resident at Nicollet Square, is a testament to the resiliency young people need to forge a positive path in today’s tumultuous world. “It’s hard to grow into an adult during this time,” he said recently. “Without the opportunities I have had at YouthLink I…
YouthLink today announced that Heather Haynes will be joining the organization as its Director of Development on Monday, May 16. YouthLink, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit providing supportive resources to teens and young adults experiencing homelessness, has been serving the community for more than 45 years. Haynes brings to the role more than 24 years of diverse…
Even though the nursing profession dates back to ancient times, these skilled and empathetic caregivers have been in the spotlight over the past couple of years as a result of their tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic. At YouthLink, one of the services we offer to young people experiencing homelessness is access to low barrier…
Minneapolis, MN, March 28, 2020. New findings from an interdisciplinary team of researchers funded by The Kresge Foundation shows that young people experiencing homelessness benefit from services provided by drop-in centers staffed with case managers, a key resource for such youth supported by taxpayers, foundations, and individual donors. These findings were presented today at the…
Rich Melzer, who recently started at YouthLink as its new Chief Executive Officer, knows firsthand the power of positive role models. A south Minneapolis native, he experienced some challenging situations in his teenage years and found himself in the same position as the young people experiencing homelessness who frequent YouthLink’s Drop-In Center on a daily…
March 17, 2021: YouthLink CEO Rich Melzer with Mike Max on WCCO Radio
As the Voices of Youth Advisory Council, we are heartbroken by the loss of more young people in our community at the hands of police and community violence. True justice would be for Amir Locke, Jahmari Rice, Deshaun Hill and so many others to still be here with us today. We stand with their families…