GREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

Youth:the youth deserve safe, nurturing spaces to grow and opportunities to learn and cultivate skills; find and build a caring, supportive community; and develop into 21st-century global citizens. The organization's neighborhood of phillips, minneapolis has a larger-than-average number of school-aged children and high poverty levels. This, combined with persistent educational disparities across minnesota, is why gmcc invests in youth development and education. Gmcc's out-of-school, year-round educational programming is called lakestreet youth labs (lyl) and provides underserved youth with steam-focused (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) curricula; homework help; and wraparound services including meals and groceries. Lyl's goals are to decrease educational disparities; increase skills in independent living, decision-making, and conflict resolution; improve family relationships; and provide opportunities for intercultural learning. The organization's curriculum is designed and delivered by experienced teachers, social workers, youth experts, and community partners and helps youth develop knowledge in a variety of academic topics and skills in communication, problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. School year programming includes after school courses for middle schoolers; steam activities on saturdays for elementary youth; and all-day camp during school breaks. Gmcc's lakestreet youth labs steam summer camp is a summer camp for grades 1-8 helps to curb summer learning loss. Gmcc also runs a leadership and career exploration program for high schoolers during each school year that provides opportunities to develop skills in areas such as goal-setting, resume writing, and interviewing, and to explore a variety of educational and career paths.