YMCA News Archive

YMCA Hosts Soccer and Track Events for Youth on July 29-30

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 14:43:58 +0000

YMCA Hosts Soccer and Track Events for Youth on July 29-30 jeffrey.needham Wed, 07/26/2023 - 09:43

White Bear Lake, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, will host a metro-wide soccer tournament and track and field Meet for youth from ages 6 to 14 on Saturday, July 29 (soccer) and Sunday, July 30 (soccer and track).

More than 800 participants will compete in both the soccer games and races through the weekend. The event is the culmination of the eight-week season where participants engaged in sports programs at their local Ys.

“YMCA sports are built on the idea that everyone has an opportunity to play,” said Glen Gunderson, president of the YMCA of the North. “YMCA athletes come from all backgrounds to unite as a team and participants, develop lifelong friendships and engage in healthy, positive competition.”

WHAT:
YMCA Cup Soccer Tournament

WHERE:
White Bear Area YMCA
2100 Orchard Lane, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

WHEN:
Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 at 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

AND

WHAT:
YMCA All-City Track Meet

WHERE:
White Bear Area High School South Campus
3551 McKnight Rd N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

WHEN:
Sunday, July 30 at 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10-day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcanorth.org.

PERIS Hill Launches New Foster Youth Housing Partnership with YMCA

jeffrey.needham — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:21:20 +0000

PERIS Hill Launches New Foster Youth Housing Partnership with YMCA jeffrey.needham Tue, 07/25/2023 - 08:21

The new partnership creates innovative collaboration for youth exiting foster care

Minneapolis, Minnesota – PERIS Foundation, whose mission is to oversee and champion PERIS Hill, an intentional housing community in Hennepin County that supports and empowers young people who have experienced foster care to develop and thrive, launches a partnership with the YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA of the North was selected as the new partner to provide supportive services at PERIS Hill due to their demonstrated success with youth housing services, foster youth experiences and opportunities, and strong commitment.

First of its kind, PERIS Hill includes 45 units of affordable housing with 15 units of deeply affordable, supportive housing designated for young people aging out of foster care. PERIS Hill is an innovative model created through research and with the guidance of a foster youth advisory council with the goal to interrupt the foster care to homelessness pipeline through an environment of supported autonomy and interconnected independence.

YMCA Youth and Family Services provides goal-oriented life coaching and supportive services to prevent homelessness, identify and address barriers to stable housing, and promote long-term stability. Services include financial and monthly budgeting assistance, food support, employment help, connection to community resources and more.

“At PERIS we get to work closely, in a learning posture, with young adults who have experienced foster care, direct service providers, and public entities, collaborating for greater impact,” said PERIS Foundation executive director Carla Godwin. “We are thrilled to partner with the YMCA of the North as we build best practices with tenants, giving young adults who have experienced foster care a real say over their housing.”

“Both the Y and PERIS are committed to preventing foster youth homelessness by providing caring support that helps all learn, grow and thrive,” said Annastasia Collier, executive director of YMCA Youth and Family Services. “The Y knows this desired outcome can only be achieved through strong collaboration and partnership with PERIS.”

The YMCA will provide services and engagement in a beautiful onsite space, designed with youth input. PERIS Hill provides market competitive amenities available to all tenants, including in-unit washer and dryer, fitness center, bike lounge/repair station, community spaces and large windows in every unit and is centrally location in Lowry Hill is close to multiple transit options, parks, Uptown, Downtown, numerous grocery stores, restaurants, and retail shops.

Funding for YMCA’s supportive services at PERIS Hill has been provided through a 10-year commitment by The Graves Foundation as well as ongoing operational support from the PERIS Foundation.

About PERIS Foundation

PERIS Foundation oversees and champions PERIS Hill, an innovative housing model created through research and with the guidance of a foster youth advisory council that incorporates supportive housing for young adults who have experienced foster care into a larger affordable housing community. At PERIS, our goal is to interrupt the foster care to homelessness pipeline through an environment of supported autonomy and interconnected independence. To learn more about the PERIS Foundation’s work and PERIS Hill, visit www.perisfoundation.org.

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcanorth.org.

YMCA Center for Youth Voice Hosts Premiere National Legal Competition for High School Students from 15 States

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 13:30:43 +0000

YMCA Center for Youth Voice Hosts Premiere National Legal Competition for High School Students from 15 States jeffrey.needham Mon, 07/24/2023 - 08:30

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, is hosting the 2023 National Judicial Competition (NJC), an annual competition for high school students who have participated in model judicial programs as part of Youth in Government, Mock Trial or Model United Nations. The competition will take place July 25-27 at the Minnesota Capitol Complex in St. Paul, MN.

NJC consists of a model U.S. Supreme Court and a national-level Mock Trial tournament, both of which require students to prepare and argue authentic court cases. High school students from any state who have previously participated in Youth in Government or Mock Trial can compete. This high-achieving group of high school students expand on the legal processes learned in their state programs and compete against over the three days of the competition.

There will be 218 students from 15 states participating in the competition, which will culminate in a showcase of the top teams on Thursday morning. In addition, more than 50 adults – Minnesota attorneys, judges, paralegals and law students – will be serving as volunteer evaluators to provide feedback and scores to the student participants.

“This year our YMCA National Judicial Competition is exceptionally relevant given the prominence of recent judicial decisions,” said Amy Anderson, executive director for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice. “Giving young people immersive experiences with the law provides them with a set of reasoning skills important in many areas of their lives. We are excited to welcome the best and brightest high school legal minds from across the U.S. to Minnesota to further enhance their skills as they pursue their legal education and careers.”

WHO:
YMCA of the North’s Center for Youth Voice

WHAT:
YMCA National Judicial Competition

WHERE:
Minnesota State Capitol Complex

WHEN:
July 25-27, 2023

Media Invited:

Wednesday, July 26 from 10-11:30 a.m. or 2-5 p.m. to observe court proceedings and talk to student participants.
Thursday, July 27 from 9-11 a.m. for the Final Showcase (held at the Historic MN Supreme Court Chamber) or during the closing from 11:15 a.m.-Noon (in the Minnesota House of Representatives Chamber).

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcanorth.org.