The mission of the Park Avenue Foundation is to build up and support urban youth and families in the Minneapolis community. We do this primarily through programs, partnerships and advocacy, in the Central, Powderhorn and Phillips neighborhoods.

The Park Avenue Foundation is organized as a separate 501 (c)(3) non-profit affiliated with Park Avenue Methodist Church. The Foundation was organized to give a stronger identity to the outreach programs started by the church as early as the late 1960s, and to enable greater access to a variety of resources. 

Since 1985, the Foundation has strived to reach out to, nurture and empower the children, youth and families of our community through academic programs, summer camps, and family services.  Foundation programs are open to everyone, regardless of religious beliefs.

Program/Partner Name

Mission/ Activities

Times/Date/Locations

Contact

Cheer America/Young Americans Schools of Self-Defense – partnership with Park Avenue Foundation

To offer low cost cheerleading and self –defense (karate style) for children ages 6-12.

Self-Defense – Monday nights, 6-8 pm in dining hall.

Cheerleading-
Thursday nights, 6-8:30 pm in youth center.

Jeff Wood
952-997-7732

Early Childhood Resource and Training Center – partnership with Park Avenue Foundation

Provide classes for low-income adults who are doing child care in their homes, taking them through the licensing process so they can become licensed providers. They take students through referrals and will take up to four a session from Park Avenue.

Tuesday and Thursday nights, 5:30-8:30 pm, currently in the Lower Level Foundation Classroom.

Oth Lo
oth@ecrc1.org
612-721-0112

Legal Clinic – partnership with Park Ave Foundation, Volunteer Lawyers Network and Advocates for Human Rights.

Offers referrals and one time  legal assistance to urban poor on a drop-in basis. They do not take cases, but try to help connect, inform and consult. They serve 300+ people a year, on a first come first serve basis. In recent years 95% of the inquiries have been immigration related.

Thursdays, 3 pm, in the lower level of the Park Avenue UMC building. They will see people up to 5 pm, but on a first come, first served basis.

Colleen Beebe
612-728-9118
cbeebe@advrights.org

Medical Clinic- partnership with the Park Ave Foundation and St. Mary’s Health Clinics of the Sister’s of St. Joseph of Carondelet

To offer free health care services to uninsured persons. They cannot see people who have insurance, or who are receiving government assistance. People should call for appointments – 651-690-7029. They have 11 clinics in the Twin Cities and ours is one of the busiest.

Currently they are open Thursdays from 2 – 6 pm, by appointment. They use the children’s village in the lower level of the church building.

Barbara Dickie
bdickie@stmarysclinics.org
651-690-7021

Tronix Team - Program

To reach urban students on the wrong side of the achievement gap by igniting their imagination and curiosity. They do this by leading science projects at schools, libraries, parks and other community partners in urban neighborhoods. Annually they serve 200-200 students.

The Tronix Team sessions usually run 5 weeks, and are at different locations , dates and times throughout the Twin Cities.

Catalina Carbonell
612-825-6864 x578
catalinacarbonell@tronixteam.org
www.tronixteam.org

Urban Summer Program-Program

To transform lives through Christian growth, academic excellence, and leadership development. The program hires young adults to lead 20-25 camps for over 350+ from across the Twin Cities.

June – August, summer. Most camps take place at or leave from Park Avenue UMC.

Tessa Trepp
612-825-6864 x561
tessatrepp@parkavefoundation.org