The health and safety of Avenues’ community is, as always, our top priority. We are rescheduling our Building on Dreams breakfast to June 8th. The time and location of the event are the same. We look forward to seeing you and your guests on June 8th, at McNamara Alumni Center, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Our third party events, The Red Affair and Caritas Vocal Ensemble, are also postponed. We will let you know when the events have been rescheduled.
Thank you to our friends at the Church of St. Gerard Mejella for your commitment to Brooklyn Avenues. Volunteers deep cleaned our house.
Thank you to our monthly volunteers who are dedicated to supporting youth in the community:
Kim and Jim Dudgeon
Myron Goodman
Connor Johnson
Nicole and Tom Hayes
Jane Windmeier
Beth Artmann
Rose Ahmann
Dear Friends,
This month has been a whirlwind of emotions, planning and preparation at Avenues. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to ask how you can help. With your support, we will get through this pandemic!
I am so proud to work with such an incredible team. Our on-site staff are tirelessly working to keep our spaces sanitized and our youth safe and healthy. At the same time, they're keeping calm and modeling self-care for experiencing anxiety. Our health and wellness team has increased their hours to be available to youth and staff whenever they need. Our staff’s dedication to young people and ability to work under pressure don’t surprise me. But it does remind me how special the Avenues family is.
Earlier this month Avenuesannounced extra steps we're taking to slow the spread of Coronavirus. As mentioned in that email, we have postponed all spring fundraisers until further notice. This leaves a critical gap in our fiscal year budget, which ends July 1st. Additionally, Coronavirus will likely cost Avenues an extra $6,000 per week.
You can help. The best way to support vulnerable youth during the pandemic is to make a donation. A gift of any amount makes an impact on youth experiencing homelessness. You can also inspire your community to support Avenues by starting a fundraiser. It's easy and takes less than ten minutes.
Thank you for making an impact on youth experiencing homelessness today and every day.
Tips for Managing Anxiety During the Pandemic From Janet, Avenues' Mental Health Therapist
First of all, I'm not going to say, "don't be anxious," because being anxious is a common response to times of stress! It's not wrong. It may not be the healthiest response, but it's not wrong. So, acknowledge what you are feeling and go from there.
Instead of swimming in the anxious thoughts and feelings, think about actions you can take to feel more in control of yourself. Here's a start for you:
Eat good food --and sometimes mix in some junk food! Stay hydrated with water mostly and a little bit of whatever gives you joy;
Breathe deeply while you are washing your hands for 20 seconds, and take some good deep breaths;
Set boundaries around social media. There's a lot of anxiety on social media. Don't add others' worries to your own;
Limit how you get your news and updates. Don't watch every newscast or read every article. Find a source you trust and go with that;
Connect or re-connect with important people to you. Socially distancing can make us feel lonely and disconnected. This is a great time to use technology. Use FaceTime or Google Chat so you can lay eyes on your friends and family;
Get outside of yourself. When we focus on others, our concerns can melt away or at least be minimized. You may have heard about the people who are sending notes/cards to nursing homes and assisted living centers to let seniors know they are being thought of. Get creative and let others know that you're thinking of them.
Click here for Janet's full list of tips and feel free to share! PDF or PNG
What To Do While Social Distancing? Learn About Our ConneQT Program
This month Ken, a former Avenues' participant, talked about his experience in the ConneQT Program on KFAI radio. In ConneQT, LGBTQI+ youth experiencing homelessness live with community members who are LGBTQI+ themselves or are allies. The program is youth-driven, meaning youth choose who they live with and drive the decision making.
While engaging in physical distancing, remain socially connected by learning about this nationally recognized program. Listen here to the experiences of former youth in the program. Check out:
Nonpod Podcast: Mason, a former participant in ConneQT, talks about his experience living with hosts.
ConneQT, formally called the GLBT Host Home Program, was founded over 20 years ago by the queer community in the Twin Cities. Avenues is looking for hosts who share our values and commitment to supporting LGBTQI+ youth. To learn more about hosting,
click here, or contact
Ryan Berg, the ConneQT Program Manager.
Impact Opportunity
Tell Congress What Youth Experiencing Homelessness Need
According the National Alliance to End Homelessness, people experiencing homelessness will be twice as likely to be hospitalized, two to four times as likely to require critical care, and two to three times as likely to die than the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Youth experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable during this time.
