Connections to Independence Is Helping Minnesota Youth with Internet Access, Food, and More during COVID-19, and You Can Help

Minnesotans are stepping up and making a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I want to make sure people know about all the organizations out there doing great work and helping during this crisis and beyond. I’m profiling a different nonprofit each day to share their information and their story.

Connections to Independence (C2i), led by my good friend Jessica Rogers, began in 2002 as a program of Summit Academy OIC in North Minneapolis. Summit Academy created the Connections to address the high number of post-emancipation youth (many of them youth of color in the foster care system) who were reconnecting with county services. Summit wanted to improve their long-term outcomes and to reduce the number reconnecting with the system via incarceration, homeless shelters, and open child protection cases of their own. In June of 2009, C2i began its transition into an independent non-profit organization.

C2i is located in South Minneapolis in the Sabathani Community Center. For youth ages 14 to 17, the nonprofit provides year-round independent living skills programming with emphasis on one-on-one relationship building. For those ages 18 to 24, it offers After Care Services (ACS), which teaches independent living skills and helps youth to find appropriate housing, expand their education, and obtain long-term employment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, C2i has instituted virtual check-ins daily with youth and weekly with foster families and is helping address youth’s cellphone bills and ensure reliable computer and internet access, continuing Independent Living Skills programming virtually, helping ensure youth in extended foster care receive necessary resources, and preparing and delivering food and hygiene boxes for youth living on their own.

C2i remains at the helm in ensuring that one of our most at-risk populations, young people without standard support systems, don’t fall through the cracks and get lost as part of this worldwide issue. Head over to the organization’s website to see the great work it’s continuing to do during the coronavirus crisis and make a donation if you’re able.

Connections to Independence