YWCA Beacons Doubling Youth
YWCA Minneapolis is doubling the number of young people participating in Beacons afterschool programming!
During the current school year and into summer 2024, YWCA Girls & Youth will serve upwards of 850 youth in Beacons afterschool programming. Among them are 450 students at YWCA’s new Beacons Learning Center: South High School!
Many YWCA fitness members may recognize South High School as a neighbor across the street from our Midtown location. South is the second-largest of nine Minneapolis Public High Schools. Launching Beacons at South, with the capacity to serve some 30% of the school population, marks a significant way that YWCA is living into our vision of a “Community Hub” anchored by YWCA Midtown.
“Beacons” refers to a specific program model that transforms public schools into youth centers during after-school hours – where they engage in activities designed to improve academic, social and life skills development of youth in low-income communities.
YWCA Minneapolis operates three of the 18 Beacons program sites in the Minneapolis area. Providing this high-quality after-school programming is possible through our longstanding collaboration with the Minneapolis Beacons Network. The Network – now celebrating 25 years – serves more than 3,000 youth annually through a robust public-private collaborative that joins Minneapolis Public Schools and some of the largest and most effective youth-serving organizations in the Twin Cities Metro region.
The Beacons model aligns with the mission of YWCA Girls and Youth programs: advance systemic change in schools and communities by promoting the value of youths’ lived experiences, ethnic and racial identities and diverse perspectives. Importantly, Beacons is effective and cost-efficient: programming utilizes precious public resources wisely – rent-free program space at public schools, district-provided student transportation, after-school snacks and participation of licensed teachers as well as school support staff – in delivering tremendous value back to the community.
Beacons welcomes engagement by the community in several ways:
- Volunteer to lead an activity (can be art, craft, game, sport, leadership group, affinity group)
- Contribute supplies on a program’s “wish list”
- Connect a Beacons site with a group you engage in (community organization, neighborhood association, company or agency)
YWCA Beacons youth had a blast playing Bingo with 12 judges from across the country from the National Bar Association, gaining insight into their journey to becoming a judge.
YWCA Beacons Learning Centers:
YWCA Beacons at Hmong International Academy “HIA” (in Northside)
YWCA Beacons at HIA serves students in grades K-5. Program Coordinator Pheng Moua (“Mr. P”), whose career with YWCA began 14 years ago as a part-time direct service staff, leads a team of 5-6 part-time youth counselors facilitating activities like edibles-crafts, flag football, gaming, dancing and “photographer of the day”. Youth just took 718 photos in one week, which combined into a 9-minute video slide show (complete with music) to celebrate fall programming!
YWCA Beacons at Franklin Middle School STEAM Magnet (in Northside)
YWCA Beacons at Franklin serves 200 students in grades 6-8. Our fantastic program coordinator, Aisha Wright, has been connected with Beacons for more than two decades! She began as a volunteer more than 25 years ago, and now Aisha has led the YWCA Beacons program at Franklin for nearly 20 years. Aisha expertly coordinates dozens of licensed teachers, school support staff, part-time youth counselors and community-based organizations in this robust program that includes a professionally-produced podcast by the group “Future Boys and Girls.”
YWCA Beacons at South High School (in South Minneapolis)
YWCA Beacons at South High School serves 450 students in grades 9-12. Cassandra Telae (“Telae”) enthusiastically teams up with unshakeable Rahma Omar (Youth & Adult Coordinator at South High School through Minneapolis Community Education) to launch this inaugural year of Beacons. A highlight was the stage play, "Inspired by Claudette and Rosa" recently produced and performed by 45 youth.
A special thanks to our excellent Girls & Youth staff and volunteers at our Beacons Learning Centers! We are proud to double the youth we serve in this important and impactful program!