At the May 6, 2021 Public Health & Safety Committee gathering, we were given time to speak about the Youth Engagement Survey on Reimagining Public Safety. The video has since been uploaded to YouTube and you can now view it on demand. Our section begins around the 48:40 mark. Big thanks to Mikayla, Mazine & Elise! 

UNICEF had an online presentation titled "Lifting Children's Voices: UNICEF's Child Friendly Cities Initiative" and Kai Sanchez of our Minneapolis Youth Congress (MYC) was a panelist. Kai's section begins around 10:30 mark. We thank Kai for representing Minneapolis and speaking up on behalf of youth.

Kai also leads the production of MYC's podcast titled "How WE View It." You can listen to the show on Spotify HERE. 

"What's Up 612!" is an ongoing project of the Minneapolis Afterschool Network. We are hoping to build an all-in-one program finder for the people in Minneapolis. If you would like to learn more about "What's Up 612!" please visit our full "What's Up 612!" page by clicking HERE. Recently, we've created a short instructional video to help program providers get started if they want their program(s) to show up on "What's Up 612." Please check it out and share with others so we can make "What's Up 612" the best service it can be. 

The Minnesota Department of Education has updated their family webpages on the Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year. The updates include additional information about COVID-19 Saliva Testing for Minnesota Students, which may now be taken at school for middle and high school students, and on COVID-19 Vaccinations for Minnesotans age 12 and older. Webpages are available in English, Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish.

It is a tough time for people around the world and especially here in Minneapolis when it comes to discussions about race. As the Derek Chauvin trial begins, educators might need extra support and ways to process emotions with the people around them. We were given 2 resources that you might find helpful. Please check them out and share with your network. 

Our Director of Youth Operations, LaToya Balogun, was included in Hennepin County Library's "Black History Makers." During the month of February, HC-Library highlighted a different inspiring black individual every day. Our friend & colleague LaToya was their February 28th feature. Please join us in congratulating LaToya and all the others honored in this wonderful work by HC-Library. See all the Black History Makers HERE. 

We're always thrilled when youth work and youth workers get acknowledged. We get extra excited when the person being acknowledged is a part of the YCB family. Our very own Ramiro Vazquez Jr. was recently highlighted in a LatinoLEAD piece. A big thanks to LatinoLEAD for sharing this story and thanks to Ramiro for all the great work he does! 

Find full article HERE.