Education Youth Remodel

Vital Stats

Heather K

Menomonie, WI

people helped100
People Doing It 22

The Problem

We have large church building that is becoming more and more vacant as the years go by. In Menomonie, WI, there is a growing number of homeless, under-educated and non-skilled youth. Our goal is to create a room that allows families to meet in a mediated safe space, offer basic life-skills education classes and be a meeting area for youth and their mentors. A room remodel includes (but not limited to): dry-wall repair, fresh coat of paint, remove old shelving, remove old carpet and refinish hard-wood floors. Install a kitchenette and new furniture for hospitality: comfortable chairs, a round table, warm lighting, inspirational photography by area youth, and green plants.

Plan of Action

The goal is to start after Easter 2013. Two local businessmen can complete the hard-wood floor and wall repair and a member of the church has envisioned the space. We have started meeting with various community organizations who labeled the issue regarding homeless youth in our area. Our hope is to work in phases so that we recognize the concern, build relationships and foster partnerships that last. We need to have a sense of trust with area teens, as they are used to being abandoned from family members, "couch surfing" and only have virtual-families. Our accomplishments are: gathering data (140 homeless teens in the Menomonie area), gathering community organizations who work with youth to partner, gathering a list of potential community people to be mentors for teens, continuing the relationship building with homeless/runaway teens.

For More Info

NA - www.plcmenomonie.com

Hunger