Greetings,
Summer is upon us and we are almost half way through 2016 and Oasis is getting busier day by day. We have served 230 youth so far this year, 15 more youth than all of last year and we haven’t even made it to our peak summer months! Summers are always busier—it is a season of turmoil for our youth with less stability because school is out and youth are more likely to become homeless.
Oasis is able to coordinate services, leverage strategic partnerships and develop cutting edge programming to improve young people’s lives. We are excited to offer support services at the Mall of America® and truly believe this will be an innovative solution to employment that will yield tremendous results. Young people need to have someone who is in their corner in all areas of their lives, but especially in employment. Someone to help them gain the skills they need to obtain and, most importantly, maintain employment. The solution to poverty related issues isn’t just getting a job, it is about succeeding and growing in careers.
Oasis is part of a community that cares about our youth. Bloomington Public Schools recently received a grant from Minnesota Department of Education to address the needs of homeless and highly mobile students, focusing on increasing awareness and coordinating resources for students. As a community, it is crucial to receive more support, but we are always saddened when there are increased numbers of students who need our services and we project that poverty will continue to rise in our community.
However, we are all part of the solution by offering innovative supports and strategic partnerships to invest in our young people at crucial stages in their lives to help them on a path to achieve their dreams.
In the midst of an uncertain world, as part of a community, I am happy to say we are offering certainty to youth by caring and advocating for them and helping to create a world that believes in young people.
Thank you,
Nicole Mills
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