THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF MINNEAPOLIS

THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF MINNEAPOLIS CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION, VISION, AND STRATEGIC PLAN, AND SUPPORT OUR STATUS AS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.AN ASSET OF THE WOMAN'S CLUB IS THE SPACE ITSELF AND THE CLUB SHARES OUR SPACE WITH THE COMMUNITY.- INVOLVE MN, THE NONPROFIT THAT PREPARES AND DELIVERS MEALS TO THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS USED PART OF THE CLUB'S KITCHEN SINCE DECEMBER OF 2020. SOME DAYS, MORE THAN 1,000 MEALS ARE PREPARED IN THE CLUB'S KITCHEN.- PROJECT DIVA INTERNATIONAL, A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS BLACK HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS DEVELOP AND EXECUTE POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANS THAT SUPPORT THEIR ENVISIONED LIFESTYLES, IS HEADQUARTERED AT THE WOMAN'S CLUB AND USES THE SPACE FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS.- THE WOMAN'S CLUB WAS A SPONSOR OF THE MISS JUNETEENTH MINNESOTA STATE PAGEANT AND OPENED ITS DOORS TO TRAININGS AND EDUCATION EVENTS IN PREPARING YOUNG WOMEN FOR THE PAGEANT AND TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND FUTURE LEADERS.OUTSIDE OF THE BUIDLING, THE WOMAN'S CLUB SUPPORTS OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY EFFORTS.- FOR TWO YEARS, THE WEEKLY LORING PARK NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY WALKS HAVE STARTED FROM THE WOMAN'S CLUB. MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS MEET WEEKLY TO WALK AROUND LORING PARK, NICOLLET AVENUE, AND OAK GROVE STREET. FROM 4 TO 18 WALKERS SHOW UP EVERY THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MEET NEIGHBORS, AND PROVIDE DIRECTIONS AND A SAFE PRESENCE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.- WORKING WITH E.T.C. PRODUCTIONS, A NONPROFIT THEATER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES, THE WOMAN'S CLUB SPONSORS TWO PERFORMANCES IN LORING PARK AND IN CHUTE SQUARE IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS EVERY SUMMER. OVER 225 PEOPLE, THE MAJORITY OF THEM CHILDREN, ATTEND THESE TWO FREE, COMMUNITY PRODUCTIONS.- ANNUALLY, THE WOMAN'S CLUB CONDUCTS A MOTHER'S DAY SELF-CARE DRIVE THAT SUPPORTS TUBMAN, A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, GENDERS, AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL AND CHEMICAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND OTHER TRAUMA. THE SELF-CARE DRIVE COLLECTS PERSONAL CARE ITEMS THAT IMPACT 50 WOMEN AND CHILDREN.- EMERSON DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL, LOCATED JUST BLOCKS FROM THE WOMAN'S CLUB, HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT FRIEND TO THE CLUB. THE CLUB HELPS EMERSON ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY BY PROVIDING A STUDENT SNACK PROGRAM, SUPPLYING A MEAL FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND SPONSORING THE CREATION OF A GARDEN AT THE SCHOOL. EMERSON SCHOOL ALSO USES SPACE AT THE CLUB FOR MEETINGS AND TEACHER AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES.- THE WOMAN'S CLUB COLLABORATES WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS AQUATENNIAL AMBASSADOR ORGANIZATON TO COLLECT BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS THROUGH PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE AND EMERSON SCHOOL. THIS YEAR, 103 FILLED BACKPACKS WERE DONATED TO STUDENTS.- DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER LONGTIME PARTNER OF THE WOMAN'S CLUB. EVERY SPRING, THE WOMAN'S CLUB COLLECTS CLOTHING APPROPRIATE FOR INTERVIEWS FOR GRADUATES. THE CLUB ALSO SPONSORS A 3D PRINTING CAMP FOR 16 MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOL STEM STUDENTS TO LEARN THIS LEADING TECHNOLOGY.- DATING FROM 1849, THE HISTORIC ARD GODFREY HOUSE, THE OLDEST FRAME HOUSE IN MINNEAPOLIS, WAS RESTORED BY THE WOMAN'S CLUB AS A GIFT TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THE HOUSE IS OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD, AND THE WOMAN'S CLUB CONTINUES TO CARE FOR THE INTERIOR FURNISHINGS, PROVIDES GUIDED TOURS ON WEEKENDS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND SPONSORS EVENTS IN CHUTE SQUARE, INCLUDING DANDELION DAYS, A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. MORE THAN 25 VOLUNTEERS DONATE THEIR TIME EVERY YEAR.- NEARLY 300 PEOPLE ATTEND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ACTIVTIES SPONSORED BY THE WOMAN'S CLUB AT OUR LORING PARK LOCATION AND IN CHUTE SQUARE IN MINNEAPOLIS.OUR SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE PROJECTS ORGANIZES DRIVES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDING:- DONATING BOOKS FOR INCARCARATED WOMEN THROUGH THE WOMEN'S PRISON BOOK PROJECT. - CONTRIBUTING TOYS AND GAMES TO YOUTH AT THE HALLIE Q. BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER.- WORKING WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE (PAL) TO ENSURE THAT 25 CHILDREN HAVE GIFTS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THROUGH OUR "SHOP WITH A COP" PROGRAM.- ADOPTING SENIORS WHOSE HOLIDAYS MIGHT GO UNRECOGNIZED WITH GIFTS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL "SANTA FOR A SENIOR" PROGRAM.- PURCHASING BOOKS FOR KWANZAA THAT ARE DISTRIUBTED THROUGH PLANTING PEOPLE GROWNING JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.- CREATING A SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACE FOR LESBIANS TO GATHER MONTHLY.- HOSTING COMMUNITY GATHERINGS FOR CIVIL ENGAGEMENT, SUCH AS CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE FORUMS.- A PANTRY DRIVE FOR PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION COLLECTING NONPERISHABLE ITEMS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILES IN NEED OF FOOD SO THEY CAN STAY NEAR TO THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE SICK.- KNITTING CAPS AND MITTENS FOR PEOPLE UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR CANCER AND FOR RECENT ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE NOT PREPARED FOR MINNESOTA WINTERS.