Every night while most of us are going to sleep, there is a group of empathetic and persistent employees at YouthLink endeavoring to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community – teens and young adults experiencing homelessness. “Youth come in at all times,” said Perris Johnson, YouthLink’s Overnight Supervisor. “From providing a…
Written by Kate Lucas and Sarah Johnson “You are amazing.” These simple words of encouragement, on a present given from a YouthLink client to a dedicated staff member, demonstrate the impact an adult can have on a young person’s life. Tanisha*, age 21, was three months pregnant when she first came to visit Kelsey, YouthLink’s…
A beautiful spring day to celebrate community and honor the life of George Floyd recently brought together YouthLink’s Young Professionals Board, a 13-member group of Twin Cities business professionals dedicated to providing opportunities for young people experiencing homelessness. Faical Rayani, a Business Analyst at Hayworth Marketing and Media, is the chair of this dynamic group….
On Tuesday June 1 Sirius XM Radio Host Jeff Sammut and Special Co-Host Louie Anderson interviewed Dr. Heather Huseby, YouthLink’s Executive Director, about issues surrounding homelessness in Minneapolis. Click on the link below to listen to the interview! One of the many topics discussed is that YouthLink has an Amazon wish list where you can…
Tenacious. Fearless. Tatiana Vargas, a former YouthLink client and member of the YouthLink peer outreach team, could be a case study in perseverance. “I arrived in Minnesota looking for a fresh start with two backpacks full of clothes and about $50,” says the Arizona native. “That’s all I had.” After arriving in Minneapolis at 24,…
In an effort to meet people where they are at, YouthLink’s peer outreach team is a consistent presence on the streets of Minneapolis. Leaving the drop-in center four days per week, they will walk about five miles around downtown handing out basic necessities like food, water, and in the past year, masks and other personal…
When the pandemic hit last year and so many places were closing their doors, YouthLink stayed open to serve one of the most vulnerable populations in our community – youth experiencing homelessness. These young people know they can rely on YouthLink to be a resource for basic needs like food, shelter and clothing, as well…
One thing is for sure over the past tumultuous year – a global pandemic has not slowed down Minnesota’s desire to volunteer. As demonstrated by the work done on behalf of YouthLink, residents of the north star state, ranked second in the nation (behind Utah) for its rate of volunteerism by the Corporation for National…
Finding safe shelter for youth experiencing homelessness is always the most important work for YouthLink. But once a young person’s basic needs are met, we also strive to provide life enriching activities to assist youth in becoming self-sufficient. Such is the case for our new partnership with the JK Movement’s Youth Mentorship Program. The JK…
Often in their quest to “do good” nonprofit organizations forget to represent and incorporate the wishes of those they are trying to help. This cannot be said about YouthLink. With our new youth advisory council, Voices of Youth, we are committed to empowering the youth we serve and elevating their voices to create change in…