Family & Children’s Service in Minneapolis: Recipient of National Family Week Connections Count award

Family & Children's Service staff pose with Alliance president after receiving award. (left to right) Laurie Lindblad, director of Family & School Success; Mesha Davis, vice president of development; Jennifer Blevins, director of community and system change; Molly Greenman, president & CEO; Peter Goldberg, president & CEO Alliance for Children and Families; and John Till, vice president of family & community programs.

Family & Children’s Service, Minneapolis, receives this award for its superiority in exemplifying the National Family Week premise that children live better lives when their families are strong, and families are strong when they live in communities that connect them to economic opportunities, social networks, and services. The agency also demonstrates continued growth in its National Family Week plans for the November 2007 observance.

Family & Children’s Service held its third annual National Family Week Community Leadership Celebration, attended by more than 350 people. The 2006 event included a forum with public officials and families where they discussed issues and potential solutions related to family strengthening; a resource fair with informational booths on civic engagement opportunities and resources for families; recognition of grassroots community leaders for their contributions in supporting strong families and communities; and a multicultural dinner and dance performance.

As a lead-in to National Family Week, Family & Children’s Service hosted an all-day conference at which 14 workshops were conducted to promote civic and policy engagement of grassroots leaders. More than 200 individuals attended this event and voted on their top public concerns they wanted to address in partnership with Family & Children’s Service in 2007. Priorities included affordable housing, tenant rights, immigrant rights, public school change, and welfare reform.

Family & Children’s Service continues to be a year-round catalyst for positive social change and provides a voice for vulnerable children and families in the Twin Cities.

Last year’s National Family Connections Count award recipient was Family Service Agency, Phoenix.