Union of Youth

Olivia Frey has been hired as the NUY’s Writing Workshop Coordinator for the 2008-9 school year. She brings in much previous experience to the position and a positive, empowering, and creative disposition. Olivia has a background in many levels of teaching and mentoring. She was the head of the English Department at St. Olaf and taught there (including the Paracollege) for many years. She was also a co-founder of the Village School. She currently works with the Northfield Girl Scouts and is a founder of Starwalkers, an intentional learning community in Northfield. The Northfield Union of Youth is very excited to have her join the organization and expects a wonderful year for Writing Workshop.

Writing Workshop meets every Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm at the Key. Writing Workshop is free and open to all youth ages 12-20. Youth are encouraged to participate in this welcoming and empowering program. Please email northfieldunionofyouth@gmail.com if you have any questions about this program. But instead of emailing, why not just come on down to The Key this Sunday at 1:00pm and check it out?

The newest program to the Key is Unicycle Club. UC meets every Monday at 7:00pm at The Key. The program coordinator is the one and only Zane Anway. A big thanks to MIKE’s BIKES for donating a unicycle for the club. Anyone with questions can email northfieldunionofyouth@gmail.com. No experience is necessary. Come to improve your technique or learn a new skill. This program, like ALL Key programs, is free and open to anyone age 12-20.

This fall Main Street Mentors is proud to kick off the Northfield Youth Micro-Grant Program. This program will provide funding to Northfield students under the age of 19 who would like to start their own businesses. The intention of the Youth Micro-Grant is to help young people learn valuable skills, interact with community mentors, and potentially form a profitable business.

Northfield Healthy Community Initiative dedicated $5,500 to form this youth micro-grant program. No more than $1,000 will be granted to any one student/application. The first deadline for applications is November 1. If available funding remains or additional funding is secured, there will be a secondary deadline on January 15, as well as April 15. After each deadline a board made up of three adults and three youth will review the applications and distribute funding based on the merit of the project.

Interested students will be asked to fill out an initial application, which requires little more than a basic business idea. After the initial application is received the student will be matched up with a mentor based on his or her project. After meeting with a mentor the student will complete a more detailed secondary application to be reviewed. If the student receives funding he or she will be invited to attend informative seminars that highlight important business skills or other relevant information.

The review board will look highly on projects that will contribute something valuable to the Northfield Community and utilizes the great people in this town.

Applications are available on this (The Key’s) website at www.unionofyouth.org (click on the microgrant heading). Any questions about this program can be directed to Josh Hinnenkamp at mainstreetmentors@gmail.com or Wade Hauser at hauser@stolaf.edu. We are more than happy to answer questions and help get programs off the ground.

Applications can be handed in via email above or dropped off at The Key.

The Key participated in its second Defeat of Jesse James Days Parade on Sunday. The theme was quite simple: pirates. There were even some skateboarding pirates. I do believe that The Key did hand out the best candy for the event. Enjoy a slideshow of photos from the event here.

Prophetic or paranoia? Communism or capitalism? Is Big Brother watching us? Come pick up a copy of George Orwell’s classic “futuristic” novel 1984. Book Club meets EVERY monday at 5:00pm. Please read the first six chapters by Monday the 15th of September and be ready to discuss. Call the Key @ 507.663.0715 with any questions. This promises to be a doubleplusgood time. Snacks will be provided.

A big jolly thank you to Bierman’s Floor Coverings for the donated carpet. Rumor has it that the Key’s old carpet was about 7 or 8 years old. Come check out The Key and bask in the beauty of the hotel smell carpet.

The Northfield Union of Youth held its final mayoral open house at the Key on Sunday August 24th. Paul Hager, Lee Lansing, and Jim Schlichting attended the event and each took turns speaking to the audience and answering questions. A large array of topics were covered including issues specific to The Key, transportation issues, property taxes, noise pollution, and the future of Northfield. There were some great questions asked and some equally wonderful discussions generated as well. Many youth helped set up and attend the event.

The Northfield Skatepark Coalition was selected by Waste Management as the recipient for the May-July Green Team Award and at the Monday August 18th City Council meeting the Coalition accepted a check for over $1200 for their involvement . The Skateboard Coalition was responsible for periodically monitoring the recycling bin at Econofoods and received $15/ton for the recycled paper and cardboard discarded in the bin. The Coalition cleaned up the downtown riverwalks, helped youth in the after school Summer Ventures program make reusable canvas bags, and watered plants for the America in Bloom competition as part of its “green” responsibilities during the three month period.

The Key’s August 17th Mayoral Open House went on without a hitch. About 15 adults and 7 youth were present for the event. Jon Denison, Mary Rossing, Dave Hvistendahl, and Eduardo Wolle all spoke for about 5-10 minutes each on why they should be elected as mayor. Youth issues were included in all of the candidates’ platforms and a slew of other topics were brought up as well. Candidates and “spectators” then mingled for about 45 minutes and ate and drank a wide variety of refreshments present at the event. Those cherry tomatoes were pretty darn good and they came from the Key’s plot at the Northfield Community Garden by Greenvale School. Heirloom tomatoes were given to all the candidates at the event. I must be hungry. Voter registration forms and info were are also present at the event along with info on the NUY’s Youth Platform. The photo shown was taken by Susan Hvistendahl (Dave’s sister) and the Northfield Union of Youth wishes to make clear that we do not endorse or wish to promote any candidate. I forgot my camera and Susan was kind enough to send me some shots. My guess is that Susan will be voting for her brother in the primary (: