YCB Cited by National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families

The YCB was acknowledged in the new National League of Cities Institute for Youth Education and Families publication Strengthening America’s Families: An Agenda for Municipal Leaders. The YCB is highlighted in the section “A New Way of Doing Business: Launching and Sustaining Efforts to Strengthen Families”. One of the key strategies listed is building and infrastructure to strengthen families. The YCB is recognized as an successful example of local officials joining together to create a broader structure that supports family strengthening by establishing a coordinating council that includes key agencies within, and outside of, city government. The full report can be downloaded at the Institute for Youth, Education and Families’ website at www.nlc.org/iyef .

YCB welcomes new staff member

The YCB and the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support are pleased to announce that Janice Fondell will be joining our staff to focus on youth development and other adolescent health related issues. The position, which is being shared between the two agencies, will be focused on strengthening youth development opportunities in Minneapolis. Specifically Ms. Fondell will provide oversight and manage the activities of the Youth in Minneapolis After-School Programs (YMAP) funding, technical assistance and advisory assistance to neighborhood groups and community organizations regarding the application of youth development principles, policy and program development regarding youth development and other health-related issues, and identify and secure grants and other resources to support YCB and MDHFS initiatives.

Ms. Fondell brings 18 years of successful program experience in diverse social service settings, particularly around youth homelessness. Since 1997 Ms. Fondell worked as the Homeless Prevention Coordinator for Dakota County. She has also worked with Freeport West, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. She received a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, and has had extensive training in community youth development models and strategies.

Reminder:

The next YCB Board meeting is June 1, 2005 from 12-2 PM.

YCB Welcomes New Board Member Peggy Flanagan

The YCB is happy to welcome Peggy Flanagan to the board. Ms. Flanagan is a newly elected member of the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education. She has long had an interest in youth issues as shown through her career field and volunteer activities. A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, she is the first Native American to serve of the Board of Education. Professionally, Ms. Flanagan has worked as Project Manager of Parents Plus, a school readiness program for Native American children and their families at the Division of Indian Work and taught young people about poverty and social justice for Urban Immersion Service Retreats, a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. She has recently moved on to a new challenge, as the Director of Community Outreach for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.  In this position, Ms. Flanagan will direct the community outreach efforts of the DFL to increase the DFL’s visibility in underrepresented communities and help increase involvement in Minnesota elections. She serves on the board of directors for Parents United Network and Progressive Minnesota. She is also a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based mentoring program at Anishinabe Academy. Ms. Flanagan has a B.A. in Child Psychology and American Indian Studies from the University of Minnesota.

Executive Committee Slate Elected, Sharon Henry-Blythe to Represent School District

The 2005 Executive Committee Slate of Officers was elected at the February YCB board meeting. Officers are Mayor R.T. Rybak, Chair; City Council Member Natalie Johnson-Lee, Vice-Chair; and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Secretary. In addition to the officers, the other members of the Executive Committee are Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and Park Board Commissioner Walt Dziedzic. The Executive Committee approved Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education member Sharon Henry-Blythe to fill the vacancy left by departing Board member Dennis Schapiro. She will be added to the Executive Committee pending approval from the full board.

YCB Youth Summit

The YCB will convene a youth summit on May 24th, 4:00-6:00 pm, that will focus on the work of the young people who participated in the youth asset mapping project and celebrate their contribution to developing the Minneapolis Children and Youth Agenda. A formal announcement and invitation will be mailed in early May.