Our Nutrition Program is a part of our Health and Safety focus area. Our goal is to promote the health and safety of young people by meeting basic needs and holistically addressing health concerns that impact youth in our communities. When young people are out of school, they shouldn’t have to worry about where meals are coming from. Year-round meals are provided to youth at trusted locations in the community, where youth are not only encouraged to participate in programming but also have the space to provide input into their menus. The Youthprise Nutrition Program provides meals at public libraries, recreation centers, faith communities, schools, and local youth-serving nonprofits.

Youthprise, in partnership with community-based organizations and Chapin Hall, implemented the Homeless Youth Cash Stipend Pilot Project, a two-year randomized pilot to evaluate direct cash stipends combined with youth-directed services as a viable solution to improve housing stability and well-being for young people ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. The pilot operates across Hennepin County, southern St. Louis County (Duluth area), northern St. Louis County, and the Bois Forte Tribal Nation.

The Minnesota Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing & Purpose (BMWP) Community of Practice (CoP) is a statewide initiative bringing together nonprofits, intermediaries, funders, and community leaders committed to improving wellbeing outcomes for Minnesotans. The CoP cohort intentionally includes representation from rural, urban, and tribal communities. This work is grounded in the understanding that fostering interconnection and shared humanity remains an essential and enduring condition for well-being. This current moment in Minnesota’s history has made this assertion all the more visible as many communities across Minnesota are navigating division, uncertainty, and trauma.