360 Communities changes lives and strengthens communities to a new degree
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Partners For Success® Inver Grove Heights Middle School
Family Support Worker, Leah Knutson, recently started at 360 Communities, yet she has already seen noticeable improvement in student success.
One student was failing class and Leah convinced her mother to attend conferences. At conferences, Leah and the mother discussed a plan that included mom checking her daughter's homework each night and ensuring the student was keeping up with her planner.
The student saw gradual improvement, and by the end of the trimester, a month and a half later, she had raised her grades from F's to C's. The student was very excited to see her grades and proudly showed her mother. The teachers have noticed an improvement in the student's organization, behavior, and her ability to remain focused in class.
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Lewis House
Anna, a young mother of two children came for safe housing because of a history of verbal abuse in front of her children. She also suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and anxiety because of a long history of abuse during her childhood. She was still in the process of overcoming a chemical addiction to methamphetamine.
At Lewis House, we helped Anna and her children understand that the abuse they experienced was not their fault. We supported her during her struggle with addiction, which she has successfully overcome. With our help, Anna has learned skills to stay safe.
Recently Anna stopped by the shelter to donate some items. She reported that life has continued to improve! She and the children are safely settled into their own apartment. She has not used meth for almost a year, and is now one year away from completing her Bachelor's degree!
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Partners For Success® Inver Grove Heights Middle School
A student did not pass his classes third trimester and had many behavior issues including suspensions. This year, Family Support Worker Leah Knutson began working with him early in the trimester. Right away he mentioned his strong desire to have a better year than last year. A meeting was scheduled with the boy's caregiver, and a plan was created to help him get back on track. The plan included a set time each night to do homework, a specific bedtime, and rules that needed to be followed.
There was a school wide scary story contest during Halloween. This student wrote a story for the contest and ended up winning 1st place for his grade level. By the end of the trimester he had raised his grades and did not have any behavior incidents.
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Neighborhood Resource Centers
Elaine, 71 at the time, had lived in her home for twenty-two years and on July 21, 2009, she was hungry, broke, sad and homeless.
Due to her mom’s move to a nursing home and her sister’s recent death, she could not afford the mortgage payment from her Social Security Check.
Devastated, lost and petrified, Elaine came to 360 Communities and simply said, “I don’t know what to do.” Elaine and the volunteer talked, drank coffee, and together they figured out a plan to help her situation.
Within two weeks, we found Elaine a safe and reasonable apartment that she could afford. Volunteers helped Elaine pack and move into her new apartment. 360 Communities helped put Elaine in touch with a senior citizen placement service and she quickly found a new job.
Elaine's next plan of action is to start volunteering at 360 Communities. Elaine says "They saved my life and I will never forget it."
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Hastings Lewis House
A woman wrote to Mary Ajax, President/CEO of 360 Communities as she was nearing her 18 month anniversary of freedom from her abuser:
"I wanted to write you a letter to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your services. Although you have never met me or heard of me, I was a frequent “guest” of the Lewis House for many years.
Your staff built me up. They gave me strength and confidence. They listened to me talk about things so painful it even made me sick to hear it myself. They stood by my side through thick and thin, even when I didn’t want to listen to their advice because I didn’t want to face the truth. And even after I got out, they are still there for me. Services didn’t end the minute I got out. I know I always have a place to go if I need to talk.
Here I am – almost 18 months after getting away. My kids have a mom back. I don’t wake up each day wondering if this is the day that I will die. Some days it’s still a struggle, but there is peace and laughter in our lives again, so I know we will be ok.
No words can thank you enough for the great staff. Without them, I honestly do not believe that I would be here today to write this. You have a true team of angels working for you, Mary. They were there for me when I didn’t think I had anyone. I will never be able to thank the Lewis House enough."
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