Pillsbury United Communities

Mujeres en Liderazgo - Night in the Spotlight

2010-12-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

Pillsbury United Communities Waite House cordially invites you to our first annual, Mujeres en Liderazgo - Night in the Spotlight. Please join us for a spectacular night. Learn about the Mujeres en Liderazgo program, meeting the program members and learn about their plans for 2011.

Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. There is no charge for this event, but bring your checkbook! Please come as our guest, and bring a friend.

RSVP by contacting Alicia Ranney at ranneya@puc-mn.org.

Can't attend but would still like to donate? Contact Alicia Ranney at ranneya@puc-mn.org.

Annual Cedar-Riverside Multi-Cultural Dinner

2010-11-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars! The Annual Cedar-Riverside Multi-Cultural Dinner is happening Thursday November 18, 2010 at 5pm at the Brian Coyle Center Gym.

We will have Somali, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, and traditional Thanksgiving food and more! All who live, work, study, or play in the neighborhood are welcome to come and enjoy!

Special thank you to our sponsors: Augsburg College, WellShare International, City of Minneapolis State Health Improvement Plan, African Development Center, Confederation of Somali Community in MN, EMERGE, Arts Neighborhood Cedar-Riverside—Mixed Blood, University of Minnesota, CHANCE, Cedar-Riverside NRP

Thanksgiving Meal at Waite House

2010-11-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Please Come One Come All To This Community Event; Waite House is hosting their Annual Thanksgiving meal on November 17, 2010!

Waite House
2529 13th Ave So
Mpls, MN 55404

For more information, please call 612-721-1681.
*Please note, this event replaces the normal noon meal at Waite House on November 17th 2010

PUC Launches Public Allies Program

2010-11-08T12:56:00.000-08:00

Pillsbury United Communities is honored to bring to Minneapolis the Public Allies Program. Public Allies is a nationwide AmeriCorps program that mentors young adults with the ambition to make positive changes in their communities through leadership in the nonprofit sector.

PUC will partner will Public Allies to deploy 25 young people in 10-month apprenticeships at local nonprofits. Allies will have the opportunity to make a difference in the areas of poverty, public health, at-risk youth, housing education, the arts, and many others.

PUC is the only Public Allies provider in Minnesota and is committed to inspiring long-lasting change with our Allies.

Public Allies is ready to support this community. To learn more, click here to watch a short YouTube video about Public Allies.

Oak Park Center's KaBOOM! Playground

2010-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Oak Park Center, one of Pillsbury United Communities' neighborhood centers based in North Minneapolis, has been given the amazing opportunity to build a brand new KaBOOM! Playground with the generous support of United Health Care.

But we need YOU to make it happen. On September 7th and 9th, over 200 volunteers will descend on Oak Park Center to build our playground. Do you want to swing hammers with us? How about pour some cement? There are so many jobs, we have on that's perfect for you.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities for our KaBOOM! Build, click here!

Shadows with No Capital: Is This Home?

2010-04-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

“Shadows with No Capital: Is This Home?” will be a nighttime public art event held to conclude the Twin Cities’ visit of two luminous, travelling puppet explorers from across the world! Art work created by a group of Pillsbury House youth during a three-month collaboration with Minneapolis Arts on Wheels (MAW) will welcome them to the Powderhorn and Central neighborhoods.

This event will begin at the Pillsbury House with a community barbeque. This will be the start point of a giant puppet procession to the projection site-where the youth’s creative art work about their community and their ideas of “home” will be shared. The art work will integrate shadow puppetry, poetry, and stop motion video. All community members are invited to participate!

This FREE community art event will be held on Sat. May 8th, 2010 rain or shine.

Times & Locations:

7:30pm -Community Barbeque at the Pillsbury House

8:30pm -Begin puppet procession to Projection Site

9:00pm -Presentation by the Youth P.A.C. (Projection Art Crew) at 34th St and Elliot Ave. S.

MAW Ambassadors: Andrea Steudel, Sinan Goknur.

MAW Artists in Residence: Bart Buch and Kyle Loven

Guest Artists: Anton Jones, Peter Haakon Thompson, Pramila Vasudevan, Katrina Dikkers.

Visit our blog! http://youthwonderpac.blogspot.com/

This project is made possible by funds from the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) and the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA).

Pillsbury House

3501 Chicago Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55407

612.824.0708

www.puc-mn.org

MLK Day of Service Projects

2010-01-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

Over 120 youth ages 12-18 gathered on January 16th to create large scale, city wide, community based, art and social justice projects.

Activities included:

Portable murals let by local aerosol artist Daniel "Chen" Bowman. These murals will be displayed at each of the PUC neighborhood centers as well as partner organizations and Elder Care Centers.

Stenciled yard signs displaying words and phrases of MLK's messages of hope and equality. Youth will distribute these signs to the neighborhoods surround PUC centers.

An intergenerational dialogue and lunch joined youth with community elders to discuss issues surrounding poverty and racism to expand the collective understanding of past generations.

MLK Day of Service: The Poem

2010-01-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

Youth participating in MLK Day of Service had the opportunity to be a part of I Have a Dream - ReMix. Youth staged a collaborative poem using spoken word and digital beat-making. What resulted is a powerful and inspirational piece weaving together MLK's "I Have a Dream" and the voices of PUC Youth. Take a few moments to read these beautiful words. ( Italicized portions taken from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.)

We Have a Dream……

(An interweaving of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” and the voices of PUC Youth)

We have a dream, that one day we’ll be –

United as one –

In PEACE and EQUALITY….

No longer will we live on a lonely island of poverty….

Where we endure hurt, pain and endless misery….

Searing in the flames of withering injustice; one hundred years later we still are not there….

We have to come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of NOW

NOW is the time to make real the promise of democracy….

NOW is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice…

NOW is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand’s of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood….

NOW is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children….

NOW is the time to come from the shadow of evil and show as a nation, as a people [that] we can make a change….

We, not only as Blacks but as Americans shall be granted the right of, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness….”

And if America is to be a great nation, this must be true.

In America, we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt – let’s be equal and not corrupt…

America seeks my eye

America seeks my mind

Fight for what you believe in

This is your time…

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal and will one day stand as one….

We are standing here today because we got something to say…now is the time to rise from the dark – put some light in this room; find ways to be smart…come together as one; open up your heart…..

Let freedom ring from every part of the world….

We all seek our own “Emancipation Proclamation,” but it comes with a price, a price that’s gone unpaid – leaving America putting the blame – on insufficient funds…

Insufficient funds….yeah, that’s what they label us – streets that have guns, drugs, thugs and poor people on the bus….

A check from our employer – the epitome of freedom…it would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment, the urgency of the time, the urgency of the movement and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. This is the proof that Martin Luther King had a dream.

This is what we the youth of P-U-C believe…..

Minnesota VIkings and MN Wild Give Back at Waite House

2009-12-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

Minnesota's sports community knows how to give back! Players from the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Wild gathered at Waite House on November 17th to donate turkeys to over 75 families.

In tough economic times for Minnesota families, our own sports community teamed with Second Harvest Food Bank and Waite House to make the dreams of a happy, healthy Thanksgiving holiday come true for the families we serve.

A big thanks goes out to the Vikings and the Wild for their commitment to Minnesota and the needs of Minneapolis families.

Learn more about supporting Essential Resources at Waite House and all of Pillsbury United Communities' neighborhood centers by clicking here.

To view more photos from this event, click here.

Youth Voices Conference this Friday and Saturday

2009-09-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

Join Pillsbury United Communities at the Youth Voices Conference this Friday and Saturday at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

The Youth Voices Conference is the first youth-planned and hosted national conference put on by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The highlight of the conference will be creative presentations given by teams of youth from different garden-based programs from around the nation. Listen as they present lessons learned, memories, and the impacts of
garden programs on their lives.

Youth are rarely given the opportunity to influence the direction of program planning, design and implementation. Join us for a truly extraordinary experience, where youth are given the opportunity to share their take on things. Your job is to listen in an effort to improve program goals and enhance outcomes. With an emphasis on youth employment, leadership, and empowerment through garden-based programs, this is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience!

Pillsbury Youth will be there. Will you?

For more information or to register, visit the Youth Voices Conference website by clicking here.

Volunteer at the PUC Fall Festival Event

2009-09-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Volunteer at the PUC Fall Festival Event

Where: Oak Park Neighborhood Center
When: Friday, October 30, 2009

This is the perfect opportunity this fall for Volunteer Groups, families and friends to join together and lend a hand, all while having a great time.

This fun filled event caters to youth of all ages. PUC needs volunteers who can provide four hours of service to help with:

Food service
Handing out candy to Trick- or - Treaters
Game supervision
Face painting
Haunted House Staff
Clean up Crew

If you love working with youth, come out to see the smiles on the faces of Minneapolis youth. You can make a difference in the lives of Minneapolis youth today.

To learn more about this opportunity, contact Volunteer Coordinator Jovon Perry at (612) 302-3407 or perryj@puc-mn.org. Deadline to volunteer is October 15th.

Oak Park Youth Shoots the Breeze with the Lynx

2009-09-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

One of the common misconceptions about nonprofit organizations is that the only way to donate or effect change in an organization is to give money. While we'll always welcome monetary donations, sometimes the most effective gifts are those giving our participants experiences they'll never forget.

Minnesota Women Lawyers, along with Former Senator Mark Dayton recently donated tickets to Pillsbury United Communities for Wednesday's Minnesota Lynx game and the Minnesota Women Lawyers "Back to School" event. Staff member Lisa Dunlap took some of Oak Park Youth Prgoram's amazing young women to the game.

The Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Women Lawyers and Pillsbury United Communities are unified and committed to the empowerment and education of girls. Together, an amazing opportunity was provided to girls from Oak Park to experience a WNBA game and spend time with some exciting women from MWL and the WNBA.

Pillsbury United Communities thanks Minnesota Women Lawyers, Mark Dayton and the WNBA for giving our girls an experience they won't soon forget!

Debating health care - not a problem at PUC

2009-08-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

The country is buzzing about changes and innovations in the health care system in the United States. And no matter your stance on the political issues, all Americans can agree those in need must have adequate care. What if there were a place Minneapolis residents could go for in-depth, honest, open and free healthcare? There is!

Pillsbury House's Integrated Health Clinic is taking a new approach to healthcare. Pairing traditional medicine with complementary and alternative practices, the Integrated Health Clinic provides the services best for you and your family. From massage therapy to acupucture, psychology to chriopractic care - Pillsbury United Communities is commited to the health and wellness of Minneapolis residents.

Those who visit the Integrated Health Clinic will walk away with a deeper understanding of their health and well-being and create a lasting bond between their mind, body and spirit.

To learn more about the Integrated Health Clinic, click here to visit us online.

All services are free and open to the public!

Host a Party with a Purpose

2009-08-22T07:37:00.001-07:00

Create a lasting bond with Pillsbury United Communities and give your friends and family the same opportunity by hosting a Party with a Purpose for Pillsbury United Communities.

How many times do you have a birthday party, cocktail party, housewarming, etc. and receive gifts you'll just never use. Give your guests a purpose for your next party and ask that in lieu of gifts, they consider a contribution to PUC. Then, at your party, a PUC staff or Board member will give a five minute overview of our services and mission. Guests will have the opportunity to support us with an investment, but without pressure or sales tactics.

You tell us the date and we'll help you in any way we can:

Designing invitations
Making follow-up calls to guests
Providing logistics support.

Our Development & Marketing Staff can support an event of any size. Join us by investing in Pillsbury United Communities today with a Party with a Purpose.

For more information on hosting a party with Pillsbury United Communities and other ways to spread the message of change, choice and connection in your community, click here.

It's PGA week!

2009-08-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Pillsbury United Communities has been selected as one of the nonprofit partners for the PGA National Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Course. Over the past few months, the PGA has worked tirelessly to put together a phenomenal tournament that is as much philanthropic as it is competetive. Provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in tickets to local nonprofits, the PGA sets itself apart by giving without taking.

On Monday, some of Pillsbury United Communities' summer youth participants journeyed to Chaska to golf with the pros. Taught by some of the PGA's best golfers, the kids learned the basics of golf and got to meet some of the greats. The enthusiasm and smiles on the faces of the youth participants said it all.

Thanks, PGA, for making it possible!

Pocket Change for Social Change

2009-08-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

Join Pillsbury United Communities for "Pocket Change for Social Change." This youth hip-hop performance will benefit causes chosen by the kids you'll see perform. Come with your friends, come with your families, bring the kids along to this free event. All we ask is that you also bring some pocket change to donate to the youth-selected social causes.

When: Tuesday, August 11th - 6:00 p.m.

Where: Cedar Cultural Center - 416 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN

This show will highlight youth-created music completed through a summer hip-hop class led by Brandon Allday and Medium Zach of Big Quarters. The “Jumpstart Crew” Participants represent the four youth program sites of Pillsbury United Communities: Brian Coyle Community Center, Oak Park Neighborhood Center, Pillsbury House and Waite House. Please come out and support them for their first performance ever, showcasing emceeing, beatmaking, spoken word and more, with guest appearances from local hiphop acts.

Message from the President, Anthony Wagner: July 2009

2009-07-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-07-10T07:27:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-07-07T16:00:00.001-07:00

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.

Click here for Twitter
- Bookmark us at www.twitter.com/pucmn

Click here for Facebook
- Search "Pillsbury United Communities" on your Facebook search bar

You're reading our blog!
- Bookmark www.pucmn.blogspot.com to return.

Click here for YouTube
- Bookmark us at www.youtube.com/pucmn