Check out the October newsletter.

Parktcular Parade

What a great day for a parade! Thanks to the volunteers who represeneted Children First in the Parktacular parade on June 20th. Pictured here: Hannah, Pastor Carl, Kim, Karen, Phil, Aidan, Karoline, Brahim and Stephen. 

Asset Poster

Thanks to the artists who created the fabulous 40 canvases that are now displayed on the 40 assets poster.  The original art is on display through July at the Starbucks at Excelsior & Grand. Check back to see the exhibit schedule beyond July.

To find out how to obtain a copy of the poster email Karen.

The project was made possible through the generosity of a St. Louis Park Arts & Culture Grant, a collaborative partnership between the City of St. Louis Park, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts and the St. Louis Park Community Foundation.

Check out Children First's latest newsletter!

4 Girl Scouts - 40 Assets - 40 organizations

Four Girl Scouts working toward their Silver Award are helping Children First create an inspiring way to share the message about the 40 developmental assets, which are character-building traits young people need to be successful. Mariah, Jenna, Ali and Kelsey from St. Louis Park Girl Scout Troop 10297 have contacted 40 organizations in St. Louis Park asking them to depict one of the 40 assets by creating a painting.

The 40 paintings will appear during a gallery show at the Children First Ice Cream Social on Sunday, May 17 at Wolfe Park and will also be made into a poster available for distribution that day. After the Ice Cream Social, the 40 paintings will be divided into smaller groups and be exhibited at public locations in the community. This project was made possible through the generosity of a St. Louis Park Arts & Culture grant.

According to the Girl Scouts, the project is designed:
• To build community by bringing together a variety of local organizations focused on an artistic project.
• To educate the community through art about Children First and the 40 developmental assets.
• To provide an advertising tool, the poster, for more than 100 trained Asset Champion volunteers to use in furthering their effort to communicate with the community about Children First.

The Girl Scouts were diligent about securing organizations that represented the community. The most difficult part of the project to date was narrowing the list to 40 groups because there are so many wonderful organizations that support St. Louis Park youth. Artists involved in the project are from pre-school age through senior citizens.

The 40 organizations participating are:
AAA Minneapolis
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Aquila Primary Center
Benilde-St. Margaret's School
Boys to Men (St. Louis Park High School student group)
Byerly's
Central Clinic
Citizens Independent Bank
St. Louis Park City Council
City of St. Louis Park
Day One (St. Louis Park High School student group)
Early Childhood Family Education
Elmwood Neighborhood Association
English Language Learner class – St. Louis Park Junior High
St. Louis Park Fire Department
St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts
Girl Scouts
The Latino Association for Higher Achievement (St. Louis Park High School student group)
St. Louis Park League of Women Voters
Lenox Senior Center
Meadowbrook Collaborative
Minneapolis Jewish Day School
Minnikhda Vista Neighborhood Association
Nordicware
Park Nicollet Foundation
Parktacular
St. Louis Park Police Department
Ridgedale YMCA
Rotary Club of St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park School Board
St. Louis Park Special Education - 9/12 Program
St. Louis Park Business Council– TwinWest Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Park Emergency Program - STEP
St. Louis Park Library
St. Louis Park Soccer Association
St. Louis Park Transportation Co.
Westwood Hills Nature Center
The Whole Learning School
Youth Development Committee
Youth Frontiers

Asset Champions Network Gathering

Tuesday, December 2

7 - 8:30 p.m.

St. Louis Park High School

The Tuesday, December 2nd Asset Champion Gathering will be focused on developing a tool for Asset Champions to connect and stay in touch. Michael, Jordan, Leigha and friends will train Asset Champions on the nuances of Facebook. The meeting will be held 7-8:30 p.m. in the Media Center at St. Louis Park High School.

During this session, our trainers will help Asset Champions create their own page and set them up as members of the Asset Champions Network group. A nice feature of Facebook is that when you receive a message, you can have an alert sent to your email. Through a link in the email message, you can receive your Facebook message.

This is a great opportunity to get up to date on this technology. If you are interested in learning more about the Asset Champions Network email Karen.

Children First hosts national & international guests

People from across the globe had the chance to learn about how a community can stay attentive to the healthy development of young people during a Healthy Communities Healthy Youth pre-conference session held at St. Louis Park City Hall. The conference was hosted by Search Institute. The session's focus was the creation of the Asset Champions Network.

Pictured here: Mitch, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, Joan and Debra, Monroe County, NY, Lori and Amanda, Glasgow, KY and Injie, Cairo, Egypt, spent the day with Nancy, Search Institute and Karen, Children First.

Thanks to those involved in Children First who shared their expertise during the pre-conference session: Co-chairs John (St. Louis Park Police Department) and Michael, (St. Louis Park High School) Tom, (City of St. Louis Park) Debra, (St. Louis Park Schools) Mayor Jeff , Mick, (Park Nicollet Foundation) Marjie, (Aldersgate United Methodist Church) Shannon, (Melrose Institute) Linda, (St. Louis Park Community Education) and Bob, (Nurturing Our Retired Citizens-NORC).