Mayor Cory Booker presentation at Westminster Town Hall Forum

Pictured above: Cory Booker, Dan Johnson and Bruce Ensrud, Kinship board president

Kinship was proud to co-sponsor Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey for a public address at the Westminster Town Hall Forum on February 25th. Mayor Booker spoke eloquently of his work to pull together nonprofit, government and corporate groups to reduce violence in Newark. He referenced the value of mentoring youth as one important means of helping young people achieve a better life, especially those with a parent in prison.

One of the radical things Mayor Booker has done is to move into one of the toughest neighborhood in Newark and get to know some of the residents. He's even a mentor! He encouraged all to be active in changing the world. His courageous examples of intervention brought a standing ovation from the forum participants. His talk was broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio on March 2nd and can be heard via their website.

We are thankful for an anonymous donor who helped underwrite the cost of this event. If you would like to help support this effort, please contact Dan Johnson at 612-588-4617.

If you would like to mentor a child in need of an adult friend please contact Kinship today to find out more, 612-588-4655, www.kinship.org. Without intervention we know that those children of prisoners on Kinship's waiting list are seven times more likely than their peers to enter the correctional system.

Apple does the right thing for kids

I was pleased to read some good news in the business section: Apple scrubs racy programs from iPhone store. A co-president of the company making these applications remarked "It's very hard to go from making a good living to zero".

I dispute his claim that selling applications like “sexy scratch off” qualifies as a "good living", despite earning thousands of dollars a day. On behalf of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles everywhere, way to go Apple! I trust your company will continue to make a good living for your employees by doing the right thing.

Kinship on the Move

After 14 wonderful years of being housed at Christ English Lutheran Church, Kinship has moved its main office from the Northside of Minneapolis to the Southside. Our new office is located in the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches’ Center for Urban Service, 1100 E Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407. This is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood, just a block away from the Midtown Global Market.

In addition to the opportunity to work more closely with the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, this new office provides a supportive environment and opportunity for all of the staff to have a common work place. Our satellite office staff from Minnehaha Communion Lutheran are also now working in the new location. Kinship of Greater Minneapolis will continue to serve Hennepin and Anoka counties. The office phone numbers will also remain the same.

When you are in the neighborhood, we would love for you to stop in and see our new digs!