Learning Opportunities for Minneapolis Youth

Written by Dr. Jerry Stein

Learning Dreams and Hennepin County Libraries are providing exciting learning opportunities for young people in Minneapolis.

We’ve met many talented and creative young people throughout our years of partnership with the Youth Opportunity Center at YouthLink (YOC), many of whom spend their time in downtown Minneapolis.

By teaming up with the Minneapolis Central Library, we have helped connect two cohorts of emerging adults (ages 20-25) to the tools and resources available at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center (TTC) during its inactive, school-time hours.

Participants use their time in the Tech Center to engage with a variety of tools, resources, and mentors typically inaccessible for the cohort age group.

In their exit interviews, cohort members described incredible progress in several areas of their lives including:

• Increased productive versus idle time

• Increased opportunities to learn new tools and improve on exisiting skills

• Increased capacity for teamwork and accountability

• And a heightened sense of safety and support, both in terms of a physical space as well place to process emotions through artistic expression.

Here’s what some of our fall 2015 Tech Center participants said:

“Learning Dreams gave me a free creative space, occupied my time with productivity and taught me about tools I was unfamiliar with.”

“This opportunity helped me further my skills in my creative process, and being in a space with likeminded artists helped me grow as well.”

“This experience gave me more of a grasp on the impact a space like this can have on the community.”

In addition to working on their individual goals, the young men and women worked with Learning Dreams and Intermedia Arts to design, film, and edit a video offering advice to those hoping to support the growth and well-being of young people and describing the importance of these types of experiences, resources and opportunities.

The cohort concluded their year by hosting a final celebration where participants shared creative accomplishments, screened the completed “What Matters” video, and opened a dialogue to build understanding within the library and the wider community.

Check out “What Matters” below.