We envision a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. We bring people together to find solutions that benefit the entire region because we believe we’re better together. To do good work together, we recently awarded nearly $60,000 in grant funding to 17 partners across the region who help create belonging by: providing a strong foundation for youth to develop essential skills and resilience; fostering thriving communities by empowering them to prioritize mental wellness; and creating a sense of belonging through collaborative projects that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Appleton Area Health to purchase 200, 20-punch bus passes from Prairie Five Rides
- City of Willmar to support Willmar’s events to grow inclusion and belonging
- Common Cup Ministry to provide food over the weekends and school breaks to those in need throughout McLeod County
- Community Connector Services to host monthly meetings and activities to learn how to address mental health and substance abuse challenges
- Conexiones to host family-friendly activities during the summer of 2024 with KMS Community Education to foster a greater sense of community
- Creative Healing Space to promote healing, connection and empowerment through community events
- Department of Public Transformation to provide community space for collaboration and creativity
- ISD #2895 Jackson County Central to purchase supplies that can help with anxiety
- ISD #423 Hutchinson to support multilingual parents and students in tenets of school success
- Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota to provide living skills group training to southwest Minnesota youth who are underserved
- Luverne Area Community Foundation to reinforce messages normalizing brain health conversations through theater and books
- McLeod County Emergency Food Shelf to help alleviate hunger insecurity
- Teuby Continued to provide teen mental health first aid training to 10th graders in McLeod County
- United Community Action Partnership, Inc. to support the costs of three regional projects that help the youth connect to an event, service or entity
- Worthington Christian Church to support food insecurity needs
Congratulations to these partners on receiving funding to support their projects. We are grateful for the work you’re doing to build healthy and welcoming communities in southwest Minnesota!