Blog

On Friday May 19th, as a part of the international Rotary Day of Service, the Minnesota Pride Rotary Chapter (on the third LGBTQ+ Rotary Club in the country) surprised the staff at Avenues for Youth with a “a dinner and show” in appreciation of all the critical work being done…

Thank the Social Justice Board of Pax Christi Catholic Community for the $8,000 grant award. The funding will help Avenues to provide home furnishings and support for young families as they transition out of homelessness and into their own apartments. It was so fun to gather with the other grantees…

On Sunday May 21st, The Pilgrim House community welcomed Avenues for Youth to lead a “Pride Chat” conversation about LGBTQI+ youth homelessness. Over 400+ laws have been introduced over passed across 21 states that specifically target the LGBTQI+ community, and trans and non-binary youth in particular. This ugly political and…

The Osseo Lions Club is one of the most generous and consistent supporters of Avenues for Youth. Ever since ground was broken on the Brooklyn Park Avenues shelter in 2013, this club has consistent showed up and shown support for young people experiencing homelessness. Each year the Lions, a club…

During February and March, the Topline Financial Credit Union Community collected hundreds of diapers and baby wipes for the Young Families Program at Avenues for Youth. This collection will provide critical support for 15 families that include over 20 toddlers under the age of four. Approximately 35% of youth experiencing…

A group of brothers living in Minnesota from the Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. donated welcome bags to Avenues for Youth. This organization’s mission to build better brotherhood and promoting unity among gay men and supporting progressive social and civic welfare. The members act as ambassadors of the African-American LGBTQ+…

Avenues for Youth owes a special thank you to the Minnesota chapter of Gay for Good. This organization is purposed at volunteering in order to promote diversity, inclusion and strengthening ties to the community. Avenues’ annual event, Building on Dreams, could not have happened without the dedicated and determined help…

Thank you Mike and everyone at the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management Alumni Group. Last month they got together for a volunteer day and assembled, packed, and delivered healthy shelf-stable snacks to community groups across the Twin Cities. Mike know of Avenues through his wife’s old med…

The biggest and baddest club on campus at the University of St. Thomas is none other than the Badminton Club! They not only care about having a good time whacking a shuttlecock back and forth, but also taking care of their community, and they do so delicisouly. For the Spring…

We are so honored to share that Avenues for Youth has been selected for the 2023 Damus Award! Executive director, Katherine Meerse, accepted the award at a dinner in McNeely Hall on Thursday, April 20, 2023 along with board member Jenna Shermoen, program manager Ryan Berg, and director of development…