Chisholm, MN

Here are some of the topics discussed at the August 19th Youth Awareness Mtg.

September will be Poverty/Homelessness Awareness month at the youth center. We are searching for a speaker on that topic for one evening and are planning a Sept. 19th sleepout/lockin near the center. This coincides somewhat with the Duluth/Virginia Sleepout on the 20th. Shane will be setting up for donations of winter clothing, food, etc.

Shane has arranged for a free concert/dance to be held at O’Neil Park on Saturday Sept. 6th as a kickoff to Chisholm Fire Days. At least four local bands have agreed to take the stage from 4:00-8:00. Fire Days will run from Sept 3rd thru the 13th when there will be a parade and kids day at the Museum.

We are working on a Thanksgiving project and a Christmas project and plan to work with the City on their Holly Jolly Christmas Program. More info on these will be coming soon.

I have received word that the Dollar Works 2 curriculum is on the way and we are really excited about that. This financial literacy program was developed by educators from the University of Minnesota Extensions Center for Family Development.

That’s the “Reader’s Digest” version on what’s goin’ on with more to follow.

The Youth Engagement Team will be meeting at the Youth Center on Tuesday, August 19 at 4:00.  Some of the topics will be Chisholm Fire Days youth dance plans, Christmas programing ,and the local Homeless Sleepout and Poverty Awareness Week .

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Minnesota Extensions for helping us thru this process over the past 18 months.  Monica and Lori were alot of help and we do appreciate all you did for us.  It was great meeting and working with you these past months. 

The Horizon’s Community Awareness Group met for what would turn out to be the last time under the guidance of the University of Minnesota Extensions on Tuesday, June 10th.  As of June 30th, our Horizon’s groups will be “on our own” to reduce poverty in Chisholm.  We are in “transition” now from participating in a multi-state prescribed program to an independent local, community-driven program.  New faces and ideas are always welcome.  If you are interested in joining our groups to help fullfil our project goals, please contact any one of the leaders listed below.

One goal the Community Awareness Group had was to create a resource guide that focuses on resources and services available for residents, both old and newcomers. We identified resources that link people in our community to services in the following areas:  Housing, Transportation, Food, Health, Legal, Community Services, and Community Centers.  A template has been created and a “draft copy” will be available for community viewing at the “Family Day at the Skate Park”, which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25th from 11am - 3pm at the Chisholm skate park at the North end of Long Year Lake. 

After the community viewing of our “CHISHOLM COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS”,  corrections will be made, if needed.  Then we will have 2000 booklets printed in which we will mail to every home in the community.  We also hope to have copies available in some local establishments in town.

I am very pleased with the way this booklet turned out and I hope the community feels the same way.  I hope it is a great resouces for everyone in our community, old and new.

Anyone interested in joining our Horizons groups please contact:   

“Youth Involvement” Group Leaders:   Gus Cronberg @ (218) 254-2960:  Sadie or Marketa Anderson @ (218) 254-7628 

“Community Awareness” Group Leader:  Karen Amistadi @ (218)  969-1310                                                                                                                                                    

Local Organizer:   Lynne  Johnson  @ (218) 966-1256

COME ON!   GET INVOLVED!                                                                                HELP MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER FOR  EVERYONE! 

 Submitted by:                                                                                   

Karen Amistadi, Community Awareness Squad Leader            

    On May 20th we met. We had 16 in attendance. We finalized that we would be offering scholarships for up to 20 people (students) to attend the summer rec. program. The skateboard family day was also finalized! There will be resource booths, skateboard competitions, exhibitions, and food!! The location is Chisholm Skate park. Which is located on 8th street north (by the lake). Time: 11 to 3 on Wednesday June 25th. If rain Thursday June 26th. All youth and families are invited to join us for a day of family fun!! This event is sponsored by Chisholm Youth Center, Chisholm Horizons, City of Chisholm, Chisholm Police dept., McDonald’s, Jubilee, and Kiwanis.

Also on this day….The annual fishing contest sponsored by Chisholm Police dept., Parks and Rec, Chisholm Chamber, Kids Plus, and Chisholm Sportsman’s Club. The time is 3:30 to 7:00.

Sorry if i forgot to mention any sponsors : )

The next youth meeting will be on June 17th at 4 pm at the Chisholm Youth Center.

The Iron Range Youth in Action are conducting a Homeless Awareness Overnight Sleep-Out on Saturday May 10th at the Olcott Park in Virginia. The Cherry IRYA youth came up with the idea. It is an overnight event with youth sleeping in cardboard boxes or wherever they can find shelter within the park. Students will be raising funds through pledge cards and hope to raise between $5,000 and $10,000. The event will raise an understanding and awareness of what the homeless go through. The event is opened up to other schools IRYA groups, National Honor Society,Key Clubs, etc. Youth will also be researching why people are homeless-family problems, veterans, by choice, mental illness, etc. All are invited to attend. The Chisholm IRYA group will be collecting pledges in the Chisholm/Balkan area. Please be generous.

The IRYA is the group of Iron Range kids responsible for the building of the Chisholm Youth Facility along with local volunteer help. Chisholm Horizons is working closely with the newly hired Facility Adviser to aid in his program development such as homeless awareness and financial education for the youth of Chisholm.

Where were you on April Fools Day? 

Ironically this very evening is when the Horizons Team decided to meet to receive updates from the Youth Involvement and Community Awareness Task Forces.

So many exciting things to report!

Youth Involvement:  They have obviously been watching me incur bruises faster than new pens.  Of course the tumble I took at the blogging training or the broken toe I suffered would have no impact here…….The group has been diligently working on  a Community Celebration for June.  This would be a day where the whole community is invited for free food, fun, friendship and entertainment!  They are trying to work out the details to have a “skateboard demonstration” along with “safety gear instructions (I think that this is aimed to persons like me )!  Now if we can only get them to have a resource manual on language!  I don’t know the difference between an kick-flip, 180, ali???

Community Awareness:  Thanks to all the hours and time you have spent creating this fabulous resource guide for new persons, families, tourists and/or businesses coming into our community.  The group is trying to finalize the manual and get it to the printer on time to try and have the resource manuals ready for the Community Celebration.  A special thanks goes out to Karen for all her work!

The Horizon Team was also made aware recently of the Chisholm Band Booster Club meeting, lack of attendance and also the amount of money that the kids will need to attend the trip to Chicago. 

We would love to learn more about this venture and we request that if you belong please come and talk to us, lets see if we can help!

The Community Awareness Squad met on Tuesday March 18th at the Range Center.

 We are currently in the development stages of the ‘Chisholm Community Connections’.  Based upon the goals previously set be the community, we would like to develop a hand out that can be posted at local businesses, given to new community members and possible handed out throughout the schools.  Our goal is to have the “Community Connections’ final draft to the printer prior to June, so that the handouts will be available for the Community Day the that Youth Involvement Squad is planning.  We would like the ‘Community Connections’ to focus on services available to local residents in and around Chisholm. 

If you would like to be a sponsor or inquire into if you are listed, contact Lynne Johnson at 218-996-1256 or Karen Amistadi at 218-969-1310. 

I am currently working in the St. Louis County End Homelessness in 10 Years Plan.  We are trying to coordinate a “County-wide” Event to take place in Mid-to- Late September of 2008.  Where we will have homeless sleep outs, fund-raising, possible educational forums and music around the region.We are asking that anyone who is interested in this type of event, please attend the initial planning and informational meeting on 4/22/o8 @ 11:30am @ Arrowhead Center in Virginia. We will be in the large conference room to your left, when entering by the back door.If you know of some one that may be interested in this, please pass the information along. IF there is a group that I/We could speak with or questions in regards to this effort, please contact Lynne Johnson at 218-262-7314 or Laura DeRosier, Housing & Homeless Coordinator for St. Louis County at 218-725-5236.

The meeting time has been changed to 4:00, Tuesday March 11 at at the Chisholm Youth Facility. Sorry for any inconvenience.

PS: Don’t forget to Leap Ahead for Daylight Savings Time Sunday AM 3/8/08

     HarvestHouse Community                     Food Distribution:   During our January 19th Horizons Training session, the subject of Harvest House was brought to our attention by Mrs. Burnett.  The third Saturday of each month, they hold a food distribution service in a warehouse behind the Family Video Store in the Graysher Shopping Center, Hibbing MN.  She mentioned their need for volunteers to help unload the semi and to distribute the food.            I decided to check it out on the 3rd Saturday in February partially out of curiosity. I arrived a bit before 6:30 for the truck unloading/sorting crew. This crew works from 6:30 till about 9:30 or until all is set up. About 60 people helped sort the food after it was unloaded by a forklift. We bagged onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and other veggies into plastic bags, stacked cans of soup, packs of mushrooms, cartons of milk, and boxes of lettuce on the length of tables set up.  Once everything was sorted, the volunteers were called into the unloading area for instruction.  Twelve or more of us volunteered to help cart out the food to the vehicles, while the others would distribute the food to those in attendance.  The distribution ended around 12:30 or so and cleanup till past 1:00.  When they say “for each share bring 3 large boxes” they mean it.            All are welcome to partake in this act of generosity and many communities are represented.  I had a great time working with a large group of new friends. A large number us were there to volunteer for the first time.  I was surprised to find out that the distribution has been running since last summer.The next distribution is slated for Saturday, March 15, 2008. Shares are $15.00 donationThe tentative timetable is:6:30 - Helpers welcome to unload truck and sort food.8:30 - Distribute food11:30 - Clean upStay to help as long as you wish.Questions - Call 218-263-4971 Pastor John or Athena

Submitted by: Gus Cronberg