Message from the President, Anthony Wagner: July 2009

As summer wears on in Minneapolis and greatness of this city emerges, we can all see the impact Pillsbury United Communities youth participants have on this city.

This summer, youth from Brian Coyle Center and Waite House have collaborated with Hope Community on a Summer Mural project. The two murals created add beauty and meaning to the Phillips and Cedar-Riverside communities. One of these murals is recently completed, and I invite you all to take a drive to Cedar-Riverside to view a work of art examining the issues of capitalism and power, equal access to healthy food and several other topics selected and designed by our youth participants.

The mural completed in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood can be seen at the Southwest corner of 13^th Avenue South and 29^th Street East at the Fabulous Catering Building. Stop by now to admire how our youth are working to enhance Minneapolis.

Of course, you can be instrumental in providing Pillsbury United Communities the resources we need to complete projects like the murals in Phillips and Cedar-Riverside. To donate to Pillsbury United Communities, click here.

Thank you for following our blog! Don't forget to find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,

Tony Wagner, President

Pillsbury United Communities

In today's economy...

In recent months, it's difficult to be in any conversation without hearing the words "in today's economy." And in the nonprofit sector, the weight of those words is heavy at best. Development Departments, Executive Directors and the like are asked daily, "How are you doing in today's economy?" With a bleak outlook, it's nice to have a fresh perspective every now and again. A blogger from the National Council of Nonprofits has a new outlook on nonprofits and the recession.

Quoting from her recent blog post:

• "Was your organization founded before 1980? Then you made it through the 1982 recession. So did the Women’s Network of the Red River Valley.
• Was your organization founded before 1970? Then you also made it through the 1973-1975 recession. So did the United Way, which made history during this downturn with the first $1 billion campaign by a single organization.
• Was your organization around before 1920? If so, then in addition to the above two recessions, you also made it through the Great Depression. And that’s kind of a big deal. The North Dakota Community Foundation would know—it survived as well.
• Finally, if your organization was founded before 1890, the same time as many of the Western states, you survived the 1894 recession. So did the Sierra Club. And look where they are now."

Pillsbury United Communities traces our history back to 1879 and the Minneapolis Bethel Settlement. Our work and our commitment to creating change, choice and connection in Minneapolis has remained unwavering through countless recessions.

In today's economy, what Pillsbury United Communities knows for sure is that an investment in us is still an investment in Minneapolis, no matter the economic climate. You can donate to Pillsbury United Communities today! Click here to learn more!

Pillsbury United Communities enters the world of social networking.

The nonprofit world is buzzing and the word is social networking. In today's struggling economy, it is even more important that nonprofits reach out to participants, volunteers, donors and event attendees in new and innovative ways.

Pillsbury United Communities is excited to join some of Minnesota's best nonprofits in web 2.0. Follow us and keep in touch with what's going on at PUC with the following tools.


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