THE NETWORK FOR BETTER FUTURES DBA BETTER FUTURES MINNESOTA

OUR INTEGRATED CARE TEAM (ICT) UNDERSTANDS REINTEGRATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR PARTICIPANT SUCCESS. WE STRIVE TO BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY WALKING ALONGSIDE PARTICIPANTS TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND COMMUNITY/FAMILY REUNIFICATION. OUR MENTORSHIP AND COACHING MODEL IS CENTERED AROUND A PARTICIPANT'S INDIVIDUALIZE PROSPERITY PLAN. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2007, BETTER FUTURES MN (BFM) HAS SERVED OVER 1,300 MEN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WITH UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS. THE POPULATION WE SERVE IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST DUE TO THE STIGMA OF HAVING A CRIMINAL RECORD. WE EMBRACE THESE MEN AND HELP THEM FIND A BETTER PATH FORWARD. ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC POVERTY AND STRUCTURAL RACISM AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IS WOVEN INTO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONBY PROVIDING ACCESS TO TRAINING, ON THE JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, AND A VIBRANT, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR AT-RISK BLACK MEN, BFM HOPES TO PRODUCE BENEFICIAL LONG-TERM OUTCOMES NOT ONLY FOR THE MEN, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AS WELL. THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DIVISION OF BFM LEADS ALL TRAININGS, CERTIFICATION, ON-THE JOB-TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE MEN WE SERVE. BFM IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT CELEBRATING GROWTH AS MEN ACHIEVE GOALS, COMPLETE CERTIFICATIONS, AND TRAININGS, AND DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENCY AND DEDICATION AT WORK. THE MEN ALSO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS TWICE A WEEK, WHERE THEY BOND WITH OTHER MEN, DISCUSS ISSUES THEY MIGHT BE FACING AND LEARN FROM GUEST SPEAKERS WHO HELP FACILITATE GROWTH, HEALING, AND SUPPORT.