For 20 years, RCFL has committed to Youth Engagement through leadership development and workforce training programs. Instilled with a sharp sense of integrity and equity, participants interact with peers and mentors through activities based in art, nature, and building interpersonal relations.

With a sense of trust in our community and a lasting support network from peers and mentors, youth come away from our programs equipped to become community leaders. RCFL youth are showing up for their communities with innovation, leadership, and promise. This is equity at work.

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Explore our site to learn how RCFL is committed to youth, particularly those of the underserved North Minneapolis region and how we strive to answer the call of our residents. 

NORTHSIDE

LEADERSHIP

COUNCIL

In Youthbanks around the world, young people engage in a youth-led process to address what they feel to be the most pressing public issues affecting them. As a group, they work to recruit a diverse group of peers, conduct research on local community issues facing youth, promote a call for grants, interview applicants, issue grants, evaluate the results, celebrate their achievements, and then start this cycle all over again. 

The 2017-18 NLC grant cycle, “Welcome to the K.R.I.B.!” (Keepin it Real Is Best), was developed and executed by six young adults (ages 14-25) in North Minneapolis, and centered on discovering identity in a safe space. All grants awarded directly invested in the North Minneapolis community. 

NORTHSIDE

YOUTH

ASSOCIATION

N.Y.A. is a youth program organized through Redeemer Center for Life in North Minneapolis. Providing space for youth to build, create, and inspire those in their communities to not fear failure.

Our current programs fall on the weekends. Northside Hangout is every Saturday from 11am until 3pm. Providing snacks during the day, video games, and an open gym for group activities. Located at River of Life Lutheran Church at 2200 Fremont Ave N Minneapolis, MN. 

Sunday Funday is every Sunday from 12p to 3pm at Venture North, 1830 Glenwood Ave N Minneapolis, MN. It is space for people under 18 to relax and hangout with peers before the school week begins. Time is permitted for homework help, video games, board games, and fellowship with an open coffee bar.

SUMMER

CAMP

For our second consecutive summer, Redeemer Center partnered with Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light’s All in the Circle two-week Creative Arts and Nature Camp, a summer camp designed to give children the opportunity to fall in love with the earth and to co-create a culture of kindness.

Elementary and middle school age children explored Theodore Wirth Park, delved into the arts with Redeemer's Artist in Residence, and participated in multicultural music classes led by master teacher Fatawu Sayibu of Northern Ghana. The leadership development of the high school-aged camp counselors was supported with daily debriefs and a two-day camp-based leadership retreat.

OVER THE YEARS

Youth programs evolve flexibly year to year in response to interest and involvement!

We have hosted numerous internships programs, the Redeemer After School Program (RAP), Redeemer Music Academy, Summer Camps, Fashionistas clothing design workshops, and ongoing bike programs through Venture North.

The Peace Palace was Redeemer Center’s first community space, a youth-based center of art, dance, and youth organizing with shared time, food, and resources. The Peace Palace helped seed the vision that has spread to include our full campus of spaces and community activity.