Family faces homelessness Jasmine is an optimistic person and looks for the positive in every situation. But recently, she faced a crisis that has become all too common in Dakota County: the prospect of homelessness. Jasmine and her nine-year-old daughter moved from one apartment to a larger one in the same complex and became involved [...]
Investing in early childhood development Research shows that high-quality early childhood education is an extraordinary way to promote future success in life. Improving children’s experiences in their early years can have powerful long-term impacts on all racial and economic groups. The 360 Communities Child Care Aware program helps day care providers increase the quality of [...]
Instability at home affects performance at school The start of Alejandro’s kindergarten year should have been full of excitement, making new friends, and learning. But he was often absent, and when he would return to school, it was like starting the year over again. His behavior and class participation suffered, and he was not getting along [...]
The need is here The affordable housing shortage in Dakota County is impacting the most vulnerable in our communities. 360 Communities has worked with families and individuals for decades to ensure their shelter is safe and stable. But the pandemic and inflation are creating a pronounced housing hardship for many. When COVID-19 arrived, and the [...]
a message from Jeff Mortensen President & CEO Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I recently participated in a workshop called Valuing Every Person and was asked this reflective question: “Do you [...]
A message from Jeff Mortensen, President & CEO I once heard someone say that humans are the most adaptable creatures on earth…when forced to be! Human history is full of all kinds of crises, periods of growth, and steep recessions. These experiences, and the accumulated lessons learned, help us innovate and transform if we also inspire [...]
Johnston family turns grief to hope with help from Frogtown Curling Billy Johnston, his daughters Amanda and Emily, his grandchildren Rowan and Isla, family friend Travis Cummings, and Frogtown Curling's winning bidder, Bruce Alexander, recently presented a $7,000 check to 360 Communities Lewis House staff. Barbara [...]
A message from President and CEO Jeff Mortensen October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is not some abstract problem that impacts people we do not know. It is a local problem that affects all communities and requires our attention. Cortney Grace Henry was just 29 years old when her ex-boyfriend, Atravius Weeks, shot [...]
Lakeview Bank recently honored long-time 360 Communities volunteer, Linda Kautzky, with the 2021 Citizen’s Volunteer Legacy Award in recognition of her time and energy to support women and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse. 360 Communities is proud to celebrate Linda’s well-deserved accolade. Over 15 years ago, she began volunteering as a support group facilitator [...]
Each member of the 360 Communities Board of Directors brings a unique perspective and set of skills to help guide the organization and achieve its mission. A recent addition to the board, Laura Bel Fadel, is no exception. She is a successful tax technology senior manager at KPMG, a champion bowler, and a caring mother [...]
