Youth Opportunity

For nearly two decades, United Way of Southeast Minnesota has been operating your local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide free, age-appropriate books to children ages 0-5 each month. Our goal is simple: to foster early literacy and a love of reading by providing every child access to books, regardless of economic status.

We have given away over 400,000 books since 2014 and provide over 3,500 Southeast Minnesota kids with a free book each month.

United Way delivers over 3,000 new backpacks with school supplies to local pre-K, elementary, middle, and high schools in Southeast Minnesota each year. Generous community members come together to donate, host a collection, and volunteer to help us make sure every student can start the school year with the supplies they need to succeed.

We know that many factors influence how well a kid does in school. Students who are well-fed and have the hygiene supplies they need are more likely to be able to focus during class.

That's why United Way of Southeast Minnesota teamed up with Rochester Public Schools and other partners in 2017 to develop Rochester Full-Service Community Schools.

These collaborations bring services like food panties, hygiene products, health clinics, enrichment activities, and more to students during the school day. That way, teachers can focus on academics while community-based organizations support students' wellbeing.

During the 2023-2024 school year, United Way supported seven Southeast Minnesota Community Schools.

Rochester Rotary and United Way of Southeast Minnesota formed Cradle 2 Career in 2016 after asking the question, “Are our education investments making a difference in kids’ lives?” We believed that our community could do more for our youth when we work collectively toward one vision. Fast forward, and we are a StriveTogether community making a collective impact on the lives of Rochester’s youth.

Cradle 2 Career is a community-wide initiative that works to improve educational outcomes for every child in Rochester by transforming the way partners work together. That’s why Cradle 2 Career builds relationships across multiple sectors – nonprofit, business, government, and philanthropy – to determine successful strategies, break down barriers, and create new possibilities to support youth and families furthest from opportunity.

We invest over $200,000 annually into community partners that provide high-quality early childhood education and childcare, because positive early educational outcomes drive success later in life.

Current Early Success Funded Partners

GNCC Early Learning

GNCC Early Learning provides high-quality childcare and early education to a diverse group of Rochester area families. United Way funding helps provide scholarships for families facing financial barriers, so every child has equitable access to the best start in life.

Partner: Good News Children’s Center

School Readiness

The School Readiness program provides preschool opportunities to prepare families and children for school success. School readiness offers benefits for families who may not be able to access quality early childhood educational opportunities on their own, including preschool scholarships, parent education, community referrals, and home visits. Partner preschools receive curriculum and assessment support.

Partner: Families First of Minnesota

Byron School Readiness 

Byron School Readiness gives 3-5 year-old children access to preschool education, creating affordable education and childcare through tuition scholarships. Wrap-around care options ensure that children and families get the support they need to succeed.

Partner: Byron Public Schools

Gage East Early Childhood Program

The Gage East Early Childhood program is a two-generation model working with homeless parents and young children to meet social, emotional, and developmental outcomes early on, when the chance of having a deep impact is the greatest. Developing early relationships with parents builds a strong foundation that promotes healthy brain development, builds social and emotional skills, and supports language and literacy development.

Partner: Center City Housing

We are investing thousands of dollars into middle and high school youth development programs, as a result of a community driven grants process. We invite you to learn more about how community members identified youth development programming as an opportunity to support Black students and families.

Current Youth Empowerment Funded Partners

Junior CERT 

Junior C.E.R.T develops young leaders and supports them to get involved in improving their community and schools, while growing their capacity to become agents of change. This program is about building a pipeline of leaders that will invest their strengths back into the Olmsted County community. Youth participate in weekly group mentoring sessions and have the opportunity to learn from inspirational Black community members. 

Partner: Barbershop & Social Services  

Change You

Change You’s programming provides one-on-one and group mentorship to middle and high school youth through sports with an emphasis on academic achievement. The program meets twice a week for tutoring, workshops, and basketball practice. Through the game of basketball, youth learn to trust others, communicate effectively, build self-confidence, and work towards common goals together. 

Partner: Change You (fiscal sponsor: Sports Mentorship Academy )

8 Steps to Promotion

The 8 Steps to Promotion program equips Black youth with the life skills they need to be successful. This program includes an 8 week workshop, mentorship, and resource navigation for youth and their families. Throughout participation, youth learn about themselves, their community, and how to build and maintain positive relationships.  

Partner: Journie (fiscal sponsor: Propel Nonprofits)   

After School Academic Program

Life and Community Development Corporation’s after school program educates and empowers youth and their families for successful careers, healthy lifestyles, and well-balanced relationships. Their program provides tutoring, mentoring, educational advocacy support for families, and opportunities for middle and high school youth to be creative. They ensure Black students and their families have support navigating the school system, learning and celebrating their culture, and exploring the arts.

Partner: Life and Community Development Corporation    

Community-Based Sisters Save Sisters 

Sisters Save Sisters’ mission is to increase the on-time graduation rate of Black girls and other girls of color in Olmsted County and set them up for successful post-secondary opportunities. Their community-based program provides volunteering, mentoring, and career exploration activities for middle and high school girls. Through one-on-one mentoring alongside group learning, these young women are building healthy relationship skills, coping skills, and improving their grades and attendance. 

Partner: Sisters Save Sisters (fiscal sponsor: Barbershop & Social Services)   

Sports Mentorship Academy Rec Center

Sports Mentorship Academy Rec Center furthers the mission of SMA which is to enhance academics, athletics, life, and leadership skills. The community center is designed to serve Black youth all over Olmsted County but is especially relevant to the youth in the Gage and surrounding neighborhoods. The center offers opportunities for basketball, tutoring, STEM programs, workshops, and more. These opportunities are aimed at increasing the number of positive role models Black youth have in our community. This center will be a hub for kids of color and the organizations that serve them. 

Partner: Sports Mentorship Academy   

Through the Varsity Letter in Community Service program, United Way partners with high schools in Olmsted, Dodge, Winona, and Fillmore counties to recognize and reward students for their volunteer efforts in the community. High school students who volunteer 100 hours during the program year can earn the Varsity Letter in Community Service award.