On November 21, Natural Hair Care Institute graduated a PUC student from their 600-hour-long program in natural hair care and braiding. PUC has a partnership with Natural Hair Care Institute to fund full tuition for eligible young adults (ages 18-24) residing in the City of Minneapolis through a grant from the City.
The program is currently recruiting students for the next cohort starting January 13, 2025. Please contact AutumnM@pillsburyunited.org to enroll.
It is with profound respect and admiration that we honor the legacy of Bob Frawley, the first Director of the Brian Coyle Center and founder of the FANS Ultra Race. Bob’s impact during his 15-year tenure with Pillsbury United Communities – rooted in his unwavering commitment to community development, opportunities for young people to succeed, and social justice – are immeasurable.
Bob’s journey in Pillsbury United Communities began in 1988 when he founded FANS (Furthering Achievement Through a Network of Support). This initiative, which he directed until 2000, established the annual FANS Ultra Race, a fundraiser for scholarships for young people to attend college that continues to this day.
From 1991 to 1993, Bob directed the Currie Center, predecessor to the Brian Coyle Center. He then served as the first Director of the Brian Coyle Center in Cedar Riverside from 1993 until 1998, playing a crucial role in its buildout and establishment. His leadership and vision were instrumental in creating the vibrant hub that continues to serve as a cornerstone of critical community infrastructure. Bob’s leadership extended to his role as Director of Waite House, where he mentored so many community members and future PUC leaders. He was also instrumental in creating PUC’s affiliate program which supported the development of emerging, culturally specific nonprofits.
After leaving Pillsbury United Communities, Bob continued to support the FANS Ultra Race each year as a racer and fundraiser. He also dedicated himself to supporting smaller Immigrant led non-profits as a grant writer and strategic consultant. His core work was focused on empowering these organizations to realize their missions, serve their communities and achieve sustainability.
Bob touched countless lives, and his impact is best reflected in the words of those who had the privilege of working with him:
Amano Dube, Senior Directior of Community Development at the Brian Coyle Center
“I have known Bob since early 2000 when I was literally a volunteer for Oromo Community of MN which was located in a very small corner across from Brian Coyle Center. Bob touched the lives of so many immigrant communities in the twin cities. He is probably the main reason for so many new American social services organizations to exist and succeed in serving their communities. He is super smart, methodical, articulate and fearless. He understands how to navigate and extract resources from the philanthropic communities to benefit the communities in need. He left the lasting impact on the lives of so many. May his soul rest in peace!”
Noel Raymond, Senior Director of Narrative, Arts & Culture at Pillsbury House + Theatre
“When I started at PUC, I was initially afraid of Bob – he was intensely focused, exacting in his assessment of results, extraordinarily productive, and super disciplined when it came to finances. As I began to work with him on evaluation initiatives, fundraising strategy and program development, I came to so appreciate all of these qualities and I set about adopting them in my own work. Despite my initial fear, Bob was an incredibly generous and patient mentor and made me truly feel seen and successful. I came to understand that this was his super power – he quietly and diligently mentored so many. I am honored to have known him and to be part of his lasting legacy.”
To make a donation in honor of Bob Frawley, visit here. All donations will be directed to the FANS Scholarship fund, as requested by Bob and his family.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope this message finds you well. At Pillsbury United Communities (PUC), we are committed to supporting your child’s educational journey, and we understand the vital role scholarships play in this process. Recently, we’ve received feedback about difficulties in accessing the North High Scholarship funds. We want to clear up any confusion and provide clear guidance to ease the process.
Steps to Receive the North High Scholarship: To ensure a smooth scholarship disbursement, please follow these steps:
PUC will coordinate directly with your academic institution to apply your scholarship towards your balance.
Additional Support for Post-secondary Planning: If your student is still considering their post-secondary options, PUC offers college and career counseling services. To access this support, please contact Gary Ly at GaryL@pillsburyunited.org or 651-252-4649 during business hours.
Extended Deadline for Scholarship Application: We acknowledge the community’s need for more time to apply for the scholarship. Therefore, we are extending the application deadline to June 30th, 2024.
Holiday Closure Notice: Please be aware that the PUC offices will be closed from December 25th to January 1st. During this period, responses may be delayed. We will resume regular operations on January 2nd.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we strive to assist each student effectively. Our goal is to make the scholarship process as accessible and supportive as possible. If you have any further concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you for your continued partnership in advancing your child’s education.
Warm regards,
Cinnamon Pelly
President, CEO of Pillsbury United Communities
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can the check be cut directly to me? No. The check will only be distributed to an educational institution for eligible expenses.
Can I give the $10,000 to someone else? No. The award is unique to you. Your classmates are all awarded the same amount and are not transferable to other classmates, friends or family members.
What are the eligible expenses? Tuition, registration fees, room and board. Books and technology purchased only through the school. As noted, the institution will invoice Pillsbury directly for any fees incurred for you.
Do I have to spend all the money at once? No, but all funds must be utilized by June 30, 2024.
I graduated in summer ’23. Can I access the scholarship funds? Currently, the funds are specifically for students who graduated in 2022.
Continuing its mission to co-creates enduring change toward a just society, Pillsbury United Communities began a partnership with Natural Hair Care Institute (NHCI) this summer. This organization is the first natural hair training program and trade school in the Twin Cities. Founded in September 2022, the NHCI aspires to be the premier provider of dynamic and innovative programs of natural hair care education and services in Minneapolis.
The NHCI helps train people to care for a career in natural hair care and braiding. They do this by providing up-to-date training with all types of hair textures in their state-of-the-art facilities. Upon completing the 8-week training program, students earn a Minnesota Office of Higher Education-recognized certificate. Techniques taught during the program include extending, locking or braiding of hair by hand and much more.
In order to help cover the cost of attending the program, PUC is offering financial assistance to through its Youth Employment Program. People between the ages of 16-24 and who qualify for various criteria can receive aid to help put them through this program. The NHCI just began its most recent cohort on July 18th and students will be hard at work studying to make the most out of their education. The next cohort does not begin until November 13th of this year and applications are now open for that period.
Through Pillsbury United Communities, students will ultimately receive case management services from a Career Counselor including: goal-setting, support services, gift card incentives and job placement.
Here are some resources
In July, PUC’s Community Voice Intern, Alanee sat down with NHCI’s Founder Kemi to discuss the school and the program’s curriculum.
Natural Hair Care Institute Multimedia Campaign
Additionally, Kemi joined KRSM’s Andrea Pierre on her show ‘The Narrative’ to discuss the program and the upcoming cohort. Watch the video below.
OUR MISSION: We encourage East African young women to connect and evolve as leaders and entrepreneurs by creating space to explore, express, and educate each other and their community. Because, we believe the future is for all women.
For Pillsbury United Communities, 2021 was a summer to remember! After last year’s summer programs were forced to operate remotely due to COVID-19, we were so pleased to reconnect with our young folks in-person for summer 2021.
This year, 145 young people in middle school and high school completed paid summer internships through Pillsbury United programs—our largest ever class of interns! Our young folks explored new opportunities in technology, business, media production, and more. (For photos from some of our summer activities, take a look at a couple of recent albums on our Facebook page.)
Read on to learn more about our summer internship cohorts—and the dedicated youth program leaders who made it all possible.
Amplified Youth Storytelling at Brian Coyle Center
Emery
Jose
Our Amplified Youth Storytelling cohort was based out of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Brian Coyle Center. Under the guidance of our experienced youth mentors, 16 interns learned audio production and podcasting skills. Special thanks to The Clubhouse Network and the city of Minneapolis’ Step Up program for partnering with us to offer this unique opportunity.
This cohort was led by Emery and Jose. Emery recently completed his term with Public Allies Twin Cities, through which he served as Content Specialist at the Teen Tech Center. Jose also works with our Coyle youth programs as our Pathways Coordinator, helping young people plan for college and a career.
Arts & Agriculture at Waite House
Angelica (left) and Ebony (right)
Our Arts & Agriculture youth group at Waite House led 12 interns in exploring the intersections of food, art, culture, and social justice—connecting to the land by working hands-on at our Pillsbury United Farms, and sharing their experience through the visual and performing arts.
Our cohort leaders were Angelica and Ebony—both artists and activists. Angelica is a performance artist who has previously led our youth spoken-word and tutoring groups. Ebony is a visual artist and an alumna of our youth programs, returning to Pillsbury United this summer after graduating from Clark Atlanta University.
Cinematography & Business at Brian Coyle Center
Sisco
Gonkama
Based out of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Brian Coyle Center, our Cinematography & Business cohort provided opportunities for 16 interns to explore filmmaking, editing, scoring, and sound design—while also learning to make a business plan to support their activities as independent artists and creators. The cohort also participated in a site-visit to the Institute of Production and Recording to learn from working professionals in the field of media production.
The cohort was led by Gonkama and Sisco, two youth leaders who are deeply rooted in the Cedar Riverside community. Gonkama is a seasoned youth worker and recent IT grad with experience in hip-hop production. Sisco is a graduate of our Coyle youth programs and a professional filmmaker and photographer.
Cyber Seniors at Brian Coyle Center
Kenya
Hassan
This unique cohort focused on intergenerational engagement between young folks and community elders living in Cedar Riverside. Our six youth interns partnered with volunteers from Best Buy to work with Cedar Riverside community elders and assist them with technical support. Through twice-weekly clinics at Currie Park in English, Somali, and Oromo, these young folks stepped up—helping our elders install apps, configure webcams, and other essential tools to stay connected in the post-COVID world.
Our cohort was led by Hassan and Kenya, two very talented undergrads. Hassan joined us this summer after many years of participation in youth programs at Brian Coyle Center. Kenya was brought on through the ServeMinnesota emergency response program.
Girls & Femmes in STEM at Brian Coyle Center
Fardowza
Idil
Our Girls & Femmes in STEM cohort at Brian Coyle Center offered a unique eight-week course in a variety of science and technology-related topics, including astronomy, coding, biodiversity, food science, medicine, and digital art. Our cohort members also took part in a biodiversity field trip to Cedar Creek with a University of Minnesota professor, tested the new flight simulator at the Best Buy Teen Center, and participated in Scrubs Camp at Augsburg University.
The cohort was led by Idil and Fardowza, both of whom are studying STEM fields at the University of Minnesota. Idil is a Page Scholar, and she is currently majoring in microbiology and cell biology. Fardowza is a graduate of Sisterhood Boutique, majoring in computer science.
Healthy Living at Waite House
Ivonne
Young folks in our summer Healthy Living cohort at Waite House enjoyed a wide range of activities to support their physical and mental health. This included cycling and bike maintenance with Bici Xicas, a local biking collective; group therapy sessions, in partnership with counselors at Tubman; and tennis at Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center at Fort Snelling.
This cohort was led by Ivonne, a senior at Augsburg University studying political science and an alumna of our youth programs at Pillsbury House + Theatre. Ivonne also managed our 22 off-site interns, including partnerships with Roots for the Home Team and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Growing Good program.
KRSM Radio
Michel.Be
Our biggest cohort of the summer was at KRSM Radio, broadcasting out of Waite House in the Phillips community. Our interns explored on-air hosting, radio DJing, journalism, and audio production in our brand new youth recording studio. KRSM also partnered with ThreeSixty Journalism, MPR News and MIGIZI to plan and engage BIPOC youth for MPR’s Radio Camp. Click here to see some of their finished projects.
Our cohort was led by Michel.Be, a professional DJ, our agency-wide youth media manager, and a longtime alum of our youth programs at Pillsbury House + Theatre. They were supported by Minneapolis Community Education, who offered a full-time staff coordinator to assist with facilitating this summer’s internships—our thanks to KJ for their invaluable assistance!
Sisterhood Boutique
Ugbad (left), Kidist (center), Zikki (right)
Based out of the Cedar Riverside community, our team at Sisterhood Boutique led a cohort of 24 young women—giving them direct experience in managing a fashion consignment boutique, plus ongoing development of their business and leadership skills. Highlights include a site-visit to local apparel brand sota clothing, as well as a week at Augsburg University Scrubs Camp.
The cohort was led by a trio of long-time Sisterhood Boutique leaders and alumni. Zikki is a co-founder of Sisterhood from its very first class, and Kidist is a former Sisterhood intern; both are now leading programs at Sisterhood. Ugbad is a Sisterhood grad and currently an undergrad in phlebotomy at the U of M—a passion she discovered on a Sisterhood field trip.
Earlier this month, Twin Cities Public Allies gathered at Oak Park Center to participate in Core Week. Public Allies is a 10-month Americorps apprenticeship program that focuses on advancing social justice and equity by teaching allies about leadership and placing them in key operational roles at a wide range of partner organizations throughout the Twin Cities nonprofit sector. For new and returning allies, Core Week offers the chance to explore the values of the Public Allies program through a variety of culture-building activities that exercise their creativity and empathy. It is a time for allies to connect, reflect, and build.
Ashlyn Stenberg is one of several new Public Allies cohort members; Core Week was her first week with the program. Ashlyn is serving as a communication system specialist at the Wilder Foundation, providing administrative support for a variety of projects focused on racial equity and community outreach. Although she was not sure what to expect with many of the high-energy culture-building activities, she says that by the end of Core Week, “[The experience has] already paid off. I’m seeing the benefit of putting myself out there in these spaces.” Ultimately, Ashlyn hopes that Public Allies can help her develop new opportunities that utilize her interest in health equity issues.
Roda Abda, also new to Public Allies, is serving as an operations manager at Twin Cities RISE, where she is assisting with project management and communications for a major upcoming event. After a period of trying to determine her next steps in life, Roda says that she was encouraged to apply by an acquaintance who had already completed the program. “I hope to become a strong communicator and learn to assert myself during my time as an ally,” she says.
Another new ally, Colton Taylor, was placed at Senior Community Services as a home program coordinator. In this role, his job is to recruit, organize, and manage volunteers who assist seniors with a wide range of day-to-day tasks. Like many young people in the program, Colton is eager to explore different post-college options during his time with Public Allies. “I graduated not knowing exactly what I wanted to do,” he says, “and I’m hoping [Public Allies] can help me get a clearer sense of what my career is going to be.”
Now that Core Week has come to an end, the hard work is only beginning. As our new cohort members begin their 10-month journey with Public Allies, the energy and enthusiasm of Core Week reminds us all that real learning happens when young people feel empowered to break out of their comfort zones.
Many residents of North Minneapolis may be aware of North News through its monthly print paper and digital platforms, elevating honest and nuanced narratives about the Northside that aren’t represented in the institutional media. What they may not realize is that in addition to its quality hyperlocal reporting, North News is also working to lift up the next generation of Northside youth voices.
Through classroom programs and internship opportunities overseen by North News staff, youth throughout North Minneapolis are learning to tell their community’s stories and gain experience that will prepare them for careers in mass media and communications. This need is especially critical in the Northside community. “We are the only journalism education program most of our young people have access to,” said Kenzie O’Keefe, editor-in-chief of North News. O’Keefe also co-teaches the North News journalism class at North High School and expects to lead a similar program at Patrick Henry High School later this fall.
“Working under Kenzie and being a proud intern for North News over the last three years taught me the skills I needed to become a great journalist,” said former intern Daija Triplett, currently serving at Pillsbury United Communities through the Public Allies program. After the conclusion of her term, she plans to major in communications and media studies at Stetson University in the spring. “I’ve learned so much about how journalism can help connect people to their neighbors in the community.”
Blessing Kasongoma, currently majoring in communications studies at Augsburg University, concurs: “Interning as a student reporter at North News helped me find myself as a journalist.” But she said the true benefits of the North News youth program are even bigger than that. “As a person, I became bolder when it came to approaching people for an interview. I grew that way. This skill is not just for interviewing, but for everyday life. I learned to be more confident as a person.”
The North News team has high hopes for their youth program over the long-term. “Our plan is to build on our successes, grow the capacity of our newsroom, and keep our news platforms strong,” said O’Keefe. By formalizing additional pathways between North News and the media industry, O’Keefe said, North News can ensure that all young people in North Minneapolis have the tools and resources to pursue a career in mass media. With that crucial support for emerging community voices, she said, “We envision that North Minneapolis will one day be known as the birthplace of nationally respected journalists.”
By cultivating young people’s skills as journalists, writers, and storytellers, North News is making a vital contribution to the Northside community. When everyday people are empowered to raise their voices and influence the narrative, real change can begin.
Our youth programs have wrapped up for the summer in what we thought was the most fitting way possible—spending time in the Minnesota outdoors. Knowing that the summer season here is short and filled with all different kinds of opportunities to be outside, we wanted to take advantage of what the natural wonders of this city and state has to offer.
Over the past three weeks, we’ve lead over 80 youth on four different canoeing excursions—two overnight expeditions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), one overnight trip along the St. Croix River, and one day trip on Minneapolis’ Chain of Lakes. Outdoor expeditions can sometimes be costly and strenuous, but in partnering with the group Wilderness Inquiry, we were able to provide the gear, transportation, and trained guides—all for free.
Maireni, 14, said her favorite part was “Looking at the stars and going to the waterfalls.” And for Luz, 15, it was “Being able to be with nature and talk to new people.” The least favorite part of the experience? The responses were almost unanimous: mosquitos.
While multiple hands-on skills are learned on these trips, from paddling to putting up a tent, making a fire to washing dishes outside—soft skills are strengthened too. Like Baldemar, 14, said, “Teamwork is very vital when you go camping.” Teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills become necessary when experiencing the outdoors overnight for several days, not always alongside familiar faces, and without the comfortable amenities of home. And without the distraction of phones or other digital devices, youth find their own ways to have fun, whether it be through outdoor games, some good old-fashioned singing, or just taking life a little slower by chatting and building bonds with one another.
Engaging youth in the great outdoors has been a Pillsbury United tradition since the founding of the first settlement houses, and we plan to continue for years to come. Next time, we might just bring some more bug spray.
For the first time since the summer of 2017, a no-cost summer K-5 program is up and running at our Brian Coyle Center. From June through August, kids will have the opportunity to participate in a vast range of activities—literacy and geography lessons, getting hands-on with gardening, cooking, technology and organized sports, going on field trips, and engaging in projects that help foster self-expression and ignites them to think about their community in different ways. Programming like this is essential during this time of year to prevent ‘summer slide,’ otherwise known as the learning loss that happens when kids are out of school and not academically engaged as they are during the school year. In the past week, some highlights include planting peppers in the garden, learning about Brazil and the greater South American continent followed up by making some delicious Brazilian limeade, getting outdoors at the Dodge Nature Center, learning about the environment, recycling, and how to save energy from Community Action Partnership, and enhancing reading skills thanks to a partnership with the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center.
Though this programming is happening now—unfortunately in the past two years, our K-5 youth have not had the academic and social supports needed due to funding cuts. Our agency along with many others serving this population were forced to cut both our summer and afterschool K-5 programs out entirely, which has had significant impacts on the families we serve. Older middle and high school-aged youth have often had to step up and stay home to care for their younger siblings, forcing them to no longer participate in their own summer/afterschool programming. Parents were faced with the difficult decision to change their job(s) or adjust their work schedules. And then there’s the K-5 kids themselves who are no longer receiving the academic and social supports that are critical in laying the groundwork for academic success and confidence in middle school.
This has been a real community need these past couple of years, and because of demand from our Cedar Riverside neighbors, we pulled as many strings as we could to make a summer K-5 program happen at the Brian Coyle Center. However, the future of K-5 still looks uncertain until there are more funds allocated to this population. If you are passionate about the future of our young people, we encourage you to follow both Ignite Afterschool and the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, two groups who are determinedly working to secure more youth funding from the City and State. Our kids deserve better.
Do you have a story of the power of K-5 programming, or want to share your experiences with the lack of it? Contact Julie: JulieG@pillsburyunited.org, 612-455-0365. We want to help uplift these stories to ensure we get the resources needed for our young people.
