Program areas at Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation
Education and literacy- academic support is provided through me & my baby!, cornwell early learning center, hub club, and reading plus. Me and my baby! Provides practical tools to help participants navigate pregnancy and take care of their newborns. The cornwell early learning center gives children ages 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten the highest quality early learning with a focus on social and emotional development. Hub club is an academic after school and summer program for students in grades 1-5 to receive literacy support and homework assistance to stay on track in school. The program focuses on developing character and healthy peer relationships. Reading plus helps students grow into readers and writers. Our team works with developing readers during the school day at our neighborhood schools.
Farm & nutrition - fights food injustice in inner city neighborhoods. Organic produce is grown and distributed for free or at reasonable prices to families who need access to healthy food and nutrition education. Each year the uv farm sustainably grows fresh food for our neighbors while simultaneously creating opportunities for agricultural education. Field trips from local partner schools, visits from our cornwell early learning center and classes from our hub club program mean you'll often see groups of children and youth between the rows of produce.
Youth programming - Urban Ventures youth programming includes - act six, innovation center, music, and uv college and career center. Each year 50+ four-year full tuition, full need scholarships are provided to emerging community leaders who want to use their college education to make a positive impact on their campus and home community. The scholars receive Leadership training and ongoing support as they learn to lead for real. The innovation center provides hands-on training in stem subjects for students of all ages. The innovation mobile hub allows each student to use their own ipad, as well as directions on what they can do with it. The students learn robotics, digital art and coding. Music academy offers guitar and piano lessons for youth ages 8-18 in a small group setting. We also offer hip-hop 4 life, beats 4 life and an open mic night.
Program services supports all uv programs through community outreach in addition to working with volunteers and community partners.
Family programming - Urban Ventures family programming offers siempre padres and pathways. Siempre padres assists families who want to grown in their interpersonal relationships and learn new dynamics to be even better parents. Pathways is a diversion program in partnership with the minneapolis city attorney's office, designed as an alternative for those charged with misdemeanor gun offences. Men and women are welcome to programs. Childcare and a meal are provided with each program. The programs are offered at no cost. Our pathways program is expanding next year to partner with st. paul and hennepin county.