Avenues for Youth

With your support, Avenues partners with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. We do that by providing emergency shelter, short-term housing, and wrap-around services to more than 300 young people every year. The future for young people who leave Avenues is very bright. Last year, 78% of the young people that we partnered with exited to stable housing. Read our newsletter to hear from two youth who have successfully moved out! Both lain and Dakiya stayed at Brooklyn Avenues while working on their goals for the future. Last fall, lain moved out after saving up enough money to put a down payment on their own home! lain says, "It has a beautiful view of the Minnesota river. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else." Dakiya has also found a home of her own. She describes having her own place, "It allows me to feel like I have a home, like I can be comfortable, not have to think about my next move. Like, my gosh, what's going to happen now? I can be I can be comfortable, like 100% comfortable in my own space." Read & subscribe to the newsletter & watch the interviews with youth at: https://conta.cc/4b7hl1P

Every night in Minnesota, more than 6,000 youths experience homelessness - an issue 120% more likely to impact those who identify as LGBTQIA+ at some point during their young adulthood. The Empyrean Team closed out #PrideMonth last week with a special volunteer outing at @AvenuesforYouth. Through our Empyrean Shares volunteer and corporate giving program, team members from our Minneapolis office came together to help Avenues support the young people who rely on them for so much – especially those at the greatest risk of being unsheltered.

Today is the last day to double your gift! Make a gift by June 30 to help us end our fiscal year strong! Any amount helps us partner with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. Give at avenuesforyouth.org

Avenues is mourning the tragic death of Liara Tsai, a vibrant advocate for the trans community. Liara, a talented DJ known for her activism and community engagement, was found murdered in Minneapolis recently. Her life was senselessly taken, leaving a void in our community. We extend our condolences to Liara's family, friends, and the broader queer and trans community. Her contributions went far beyond her music; she was a community crisis counselor and an advocate for equity and justice. In the face of such heartbreaking news, we must reiterate our commitment to challenging power systems like transphobia, racism, and classism in all its forms. Avenues for Youth acknowledges how historical violence against trans folks shapes experiences of housing and homelessness, and we remain dedicated to transformative change. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for sustained, informed action. You can learn more about combating transphobia and supporting the trans community through resources provided by ACLU. Locally, organizations like RECLAIM! and Rainbow Health offer essential mental health supports for LGBTQI+ individuals. We understand that this news may trigger a range of emotions, especially for those who have faced violence yourselves. Please know that Avenues stands with you. We are here to support you in any way we can. Liara deserved life, love and peace, without fear of violence. Let's keep working on supporting one another.

The team at PAR Systems put together 400 pride packs for us to hand out at Twin Cities Pride Festival. Each bag is full of celebratory items like pride bracelets, pins, and more. We'll be handing these out in Loring Park tomorrow Saturday, June 29 and Sunday June 30. Come see us and say hey at booth 327! Thank you to PAR Systems for helping to create an affirming space where LGBTQI+ youth can flourish!

At Boston Scientific's June PRIDE month flag raising at their Minnesota sites, the Pride ERG had a table near their check in space where Boston Scientific team members could assemble small "care kits" for Avenues that included toiletries and a little “thinking of you” note. The Pride Employee Resource Group at Boston Scientific has been one of the most prolific and generous to Avenues over the past couple of years and have demonstrated community support. We appreciate you all and are so proud to partner with you. Happy Pride!

Four days left to double your gift! Make a gift by June 30 to help us reach our match goal! We need another $3,000 this week or we miss out on this $35,000 challenge match. Any amount helps us partner with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. Give at avenuesforyouth.org

Thank you to our friends at Delta Air Lines for your enthusiastic support and helping hands. On June 11th a dozen Delta team members came to Avenues and gave our offices a much-needed facelift. Painting the Youth Engagement Offices with a soft lavender and muted sage color tones gives the house a whole different vibe. Delta not only brought a good work ethic, but also plenty of smiles, laughs, and an infectious energy. As expected with Delta, they finished early and made another on-time departure. Keep climbing Delta!

"Thank you" is not a strong enough sentiment to express our gratitude for the incredible generosity and kindness from our friends at Cushman & Wakefield! The UNITY ERG of their Twin Cities offices came out in full force to not only learn about Avenues, offer hands-on help, but also opportunities for the youth. The Twin Cities office of this global commercial real estate company volunteered at the Minneapolis shelter and built 25 welcome baskets for youth entering the shelter. They spent two and a half hours building, cleaning, organizing, and helping to inventory. They also had a great conversation with ConneQT Host Home Manager, Ryan Berg, about LGBTQI+ homelessness in honor of Pride Month. Most importantly, Cushman & Wakefield have identified a creative and impactful opportunity for youth at Avenues via jobs within their company and discounted housing! We are excited to continue this partnership and appreciate their thoughtfulness and enthusiastic support!

Six days left to double your gift! Make a gift by June 30 to help us reach our match goal! We're on our way, but not there yet! Any amount helps us partner with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. Give at avenuesforyouth.org