Minneapolis Native Path to Wellness

http://intergenerational.cas.psu.edu/Docs/NASourcebook.pdf

The Minneapolis Native Path to Wellness Plan is a five-year, comprehensive, community-based plan designed to raise the wellness of Minneapolis Native youth. The plan will increase the wellness in our community by strengthening connections between Native youth, families, and our cultural traditions. We will:

• Create the Native Family Community Council (NFCC) composed of parents, elders, youth and agency representatives to oversee the implementation of this five-year plan;
• Develop a model for Intergenerational Sharings in which extended families gather monthly to exchange and celebrate culture and community;
• Institute a Cultural Learnings component of the Intergenerational Sharings in which spiritual leaders from diverse tribes offer teachings and celebrations in our urban community;
• Develop and replicate a model for a Family Support Network in which parents and other caring adults attend monthly meetings to discuss family and parenting issues;
• Strengthen and reinforce the wellness of our community and cultural connections through a Wellness Marketing Campaign;
• Identify key issues and pursue a Systemic Change Initiative to sustain and support wellness in our community; and
• Conduct a multi-year evaluation to document our process and our impact on wellness among Native youth in Minneapolis.

INTERGENERATIONAL SHARINGS

Every child needs a strong community to nurture his/her growth. The goal of the Intergenerational Sharings is to create a community-wide forum for extended families, elders, and youth to build community, as well as to gather and share cultural traditions. We offer consistent, welcoming monthly events in which families come together to learn more about and celebrate Native culture and community.

FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK

Youth need a strong family to support their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. In traditional Native cultures, extended families provided a broad base of support for Native youth. The goal of the Family Support Network is to help parents and other caring adults strengthen their skills as parents and mentors for Native youth in Minneapolis.

SYSTEMIC CHANGE

Wellness in the Native community cannot exist in isolation. It is important to work toward creating broader support for wellness in our society, too. The Native Family Community Council (NFCC) will identify and pursue several key issues that have a broad impact on our community’s wellness. The NFCC will launch a Wellness Marketing Campaign to reach the Minneapolis Native community.

NATIVE FAMILY COMMUNITY

To implement the Minneapolis Native Path to Wellness Plan, we need a core of committed community representatives and leaders. The Native Family Community Council (NFCC) provides this community-based leadership. The council is made up of parents, elders, youth, and agency representatives who provide guidance and oversight for the five-year Minneapolis Native Path to Wellness Plan.

CULTURAL LEARNINGS

Children need to know that cultural traditions nurture our connections to spirit. The Intergenerational Sharings include a Cultural Learnings component in which spiritual leaders from diverse tribes offer teachings and celebrations in the Minneapolis Native community.

MINNEAPOLIS NATIVE PATH TO WELLNESS
CONTACT INFORMATION

Wellness Coordinator 612-879-1772
Cultural Coordinator 612-879-1754
Family Connection Coordinator 612-879-1779

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