ENGAGING YOUTH AT VENTURE NORTH BIKE WALK & COFFEE
The old corner hardware store became the perfect venue to teach our youth about commerce. With the help of the City of Minneapolis’ Communities Putting Prevention to Work program, we’re transforming the space into the Twin Cities’ newest bike shop. Located at 1830 Glenwood Avenue, just one mile west of Target Field,Venture North Bike Walk & Coffee is a joint venture with Redeemer Center for Life that sells bikes rehabbed by youth in the community as well as biking and walking accessories. In partnership with Dogwood Coffee of Calhoun Square, we serve gourmet coffee and sell single-source beans– including a special Venture North blend. All profits from Venture North will support ongoing job training for youth on the North Side, teaching gratitude, not attitude. It’s all about living well together, engaging youth in job opportunities, and creating a new center for well-being in North Minneapolis. Stop by, Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM.
CULTIVATING THE SOUL AT THE URBAN FARM
At one time, the Redeemer apartment windows looked out over a trash-strewn piece of back alley property. Today it is an urban farm that has become the symbol of hope and healing that defines the Redeemer community. People come together in collaboration, sharing their culturally diverse practices around growing food, the different foods these ethnic groups eat and how they prepare them. In the end, they come together to share more than food—they share a part of themselves over the weekly meal prepared from the bountiful garden-fresh produce. The door is always open to anyone who’d like a seat at the table; cultivating a spirit of community that began with the seeds of spring.
FEEDING THE MIND IN THE LIVING ROOM
In its first year of operation, visits to The Living Room grew steadily, becoming a meaningful gathering space in the Harrison neighborhood for more than 500 people per month. To say that such a community center was a necessary addition to RCFL’s campus is an understatement. No wonder folks like to gather in the large storefront room. They’re greeted by a welcoming host, a cup of coffee and frequently, a pot of soup. Find a comfortable spot on a sofa or pull up an easy chair for lively conversations on everything from wardrobe to credit ratings to when to turn the other cheek. It’s where relationships and trust are built and ties to the community are strengthened in spite of differences.
MENDING THE SPIRIT WITH SHELTER
A homestead is one of the chief influencers to successfully holding a job. RCFL’s commitment to affordable housing for people in transition is a keystone of their mission. The 24 apartments on the campus include efficiencies, two-bedrooms and a family-size unit. Residents learn to care for their own household, keep their accounts and contribute to the community. In one case, RCFL found a way to shelter two siblings—parentless teenagers—and kept them from living out on the street. In this village on Glenwood Avenue, the pair grew up within a supportive community, prepared to live on their own. Former RCFL residents frequently return to the neighborhood to help pay it forward, volunteering at summer suppers or other activities. As long as a supply of affordable housing continues to be an issue, RCFL pledges to do what it can to fill the void. Because the evidence is clear: when people feel that they belong to and are invested in a community, they become productive members of that community.
