YouthLink MN

Join us for a relaxing yoga class with a purpose on Saturday, October 26, hosted by YouthLink's Young Professionals Board! For just $30, you can unwind while making a difference, as 100% of proceeds will directly to supporting and empowering youth experiencing homelessness. A special thanks to TaraNa Yoga for generously donating their space, time, and instructor, ensuring all funds raised go toward our mission. Don't miss this opportunity to stretch, breathe, and give back. Register here: www.givebutter.com/tarana

YouthLink has the privilege of announcing our two newest board members, Devan Heinsen, and Jamal Knight.   A locally renowned fundraising consultant, Devan Heinsen brings to our Board of Directors over a decade of experience in diverse campaign planning, donor management, and strategic fundraising. Devan is passionate about service, has worked with organizations such as the Guthrie Theatre, Ecumen, Living Well Disability Services, CCS Fundraising and now leads at Brave Fundraising. Devan worked alongside of our CEO, Rich Melzer during their time together at the YMCA of the North, where Devan and Rich successfully shared their passions for fundraising and helping others, particularly young people in need. A Minneapolis based attorney, Jamal Knight currently practices at Taft Law Firm, and represents developers, owners, non-profits, and investors in all aspects of commercial real estate and finance. Prior to relocating to Minneapolis, his passion for global environmental issues led him to work alongside former President Barrack Obama in the Council on Environmental Quality. Jamal is a prominent civic leader, who has maintained a presence on various non-profit boards. We are honored to announce our newest members to the YouthLink Board of Directors. It’s great to have you here!

The Clothing Closet at YouthLink is about more than just clothes—it's about fostering dignity and confidence. 🌟👚🧥 Read our latest blog post to see how this vital resource supports youth experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities, and learn how you can help keep it stocked! 👇 https://lnkd.in/g4y7YRC5

We are thrilled to announce that this year's Todd Klingel Star of Hope Award goes to The JK Movement. The award was accepted by Johnny Allen Jr.., founder of The JK Movement, last week at Stand up for Youth. In memory of Todd Klingel, an inspiring leader and advocate for youth, this award celebrates those who share his passion for empowering young people. The JK Movement's lived-experience mentors have guided countless young people toward self-belief, by inspiring their dreams and helping them build sustainable futures. Since their first session at YouthLink in 2021, where over 70% of participants wanted to re-enroll, The JK Movement has continued to make a profound impact. Their dedication truly embodies Todd Klingel's legacy. Congratulations to The JK Movement, and thank you for your unwavering commitment to local young people! To read more about the impact of JK Movement at YouthLink, check out YouthLink’s blog: https://lnkd.in/gNRCbZJD #StandUpForYouth #StarOfHopeAward #YouthEmpowerment #YouthLink

Thank You for Making Stand Up for Youth a Success! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended YouthLink's Stand Up for Youth breakfast last week! It was a joy for our staff, board members, VOYAC, and volunteers to connect with such a passionate and supportive community. Together, we uplifted the vital work YouthLink is doing for youth experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities. We are thrilled to announce that, thanks to your generosity, we raised an incredible $115,206 to benefit young people experiencing homelessness! Your support comes at a critical time, as the need for our services continues to rise. From January to August, YouthLink has seen 12,366 youth visits to our Drop-In Center—106% of where we were the same time last year. - Presenting Sponsor: Choice Bank - Bronze Program Sponsor: Scherer Bros Lumber Co - Project Sponsors: Minnesota Timberwolves & Minnesota Lynx, Wanner Engineering, Inc., The Minneapolis Foundation - Youth Sponsors: Rachael Scherer & Stephen Imholte, Kumar & Kathy Das Gupta, Old National Bank, Ryan Companies US, Inc., Xcel Energy - Host Sponsors: Chris & Jess Garcia, Upsher-Smith - In-Kind Sponsor: Kelber Catering We were inspired by our keynote speaker, Clyde Quarles, Chair of VOYAC, whose powerful testimony reminded us that overcoming adversity is not just about surviving—it's about thriving. Thank you for being part of this incredible event and for your unwavering support. Together, we are helping young people achieve stability and reach for their dreams. #YouthLinkMN #StandUpForYouth #CommunitySupport #EndYouthHomelessness #ThankYou

Thank you to Xcel Energy and the amazing volunteers who joined us for their Annual Day of Service! We’re so grateful you chose YouthLink for your service project. With your help, we accomplished so much – from sorting donations and stocking our Clothing Closet to organizing a large diaper donation for youth in need. Nearly 1,000 Xcel Energy volunteers participated across Minnesota at over 55 projects, and we’re proud to have been a part of it. Partnerships like this are what make our work possible -- Your time and effort make a huge difference! Thank you! #YouthLinkMN #XcelEnergy #DayofService #CommunityImpact #CommunityPartners #XEPartner 

It's been a busy summer at YouthLink, with up to 118 young people seeking our services in a single day. Thanks to Allianz's incredible donation of 1,000 hygiene kits in May, we've been able to keep these essential items in stock despite increased needs. These kits include culturally-relevant hair products from The Human Of Color Haircare tailored to the needs of youth served, who are majority Black and African American. Thank you, Allianz Life for making a real impact for hundreds of young people in the Twin Cities!   

⚡ Last Chance to RSVP! ⚡ YouthLink’s Stand Up for Youth breakfast is just around the corner, and this is your final reminder to secure your spot! Join us for a morning filled with community, inspiration, and the chance to make a lasting impact for young people in our community. ✨ RSVP by **Monday, September 9th** to be part of this unforgettable event! We can't wait to share powerful stories and important updates on how YouthLink is working to prevent and end youth homelessness in the Twin Cities. 💙 Click through the photos for some highlights from last year’s event, and don’t forget to invite friends and family who might be interested! 🔗 http://bit.ly/SUFY24 #StandUpForYouth #YouthLink #TwinCities #MakeAnImpact #YouthHomelessness #RSVPToday

We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and partnership we’ve received from Huntington National Bank since 2022. Their leadership and development teams have played an instrumental role in furthering our mission to support youth experiencing housing-insecurity and homelessness. We want to especially recognize Marcio Thompson for his exceptional dedication and efforts in championing our cause. At YouthLink, partnerships like these are vital in creating pathways to stability and success for our youth. Thank you, Huntington Bank, for standing with us every step of the way! 🙌 #PartnershipsThatMatter #YouthSupport #CommunityImpact #Gratitude

Curious about how YouthLink supports young people experiencing housing instability who are currently involved with the criminal legal system? 🏠✨ Check out our latest blog post to learn about the InReach Program, our partnership with Hennepin County Housing Stability and Hennepin County Corrections’ Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Unit. You can also read an incredible story of resilience from one young person who was recently housed through the program. Don't miss out—head to our blog now to read more! #YouthLinkMN #InReachProgram #HousingSupport #YouthEmpowerment https://lnkd.in/gqS7VaNc