LONGFELLOW UNITED FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Since 1995, LUYF has united generations and community resources to develop caring, capable and contributing youth in the Longfellow Community of eastern Minneapolis.

We do so as a predominantly — at times, exclusively — volunteer effort. LUYF’s people dedicate so much of their time and talent because they love the Longfellow Community, and especially its youth.

Since 1996, LUYF has run FUNdamentals Tutoring, a weekly program that pairs tutors one-to-one with students from local elementary and middle schools. Tutors and students return yearly to FUNdamentals at an 80 percent retention rate. This lets stable, nurturing relationships grow in a safe environment.

It now also works closely with the Sanford Job Corps. The young people in the program at Sanford Middle School raise money so they can participate in school activities (like an 8th grade trip to Europe, a 7th grade trip to Wolf Ridge, field trips, athletic activities with fees, etc.) Sanford Job Corps youth earn these funds by doing small jobs that middle-schoolers could do — helping with church dinners, yard work, posting flyers, office work and the like.

LUYF provides a nonprofit organizational structure for Longfellow Community residents who consider their community’s youth a blessing — valuable assets, not problems to cope with — and want to take action on their behalf.

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Board members: Michael Vitt, Polly Roach, Greg Peterson, Tarsha Rice and Rich Westlund.