Children First

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Check out the latest newsletter.

Become friends with Perrie P. Push Pin

admin — Mon, 30 May 2011 15:06:14 +0000

Meet Perrie!

Hello Friends.
I came to life when St. Louis Park was named one of the 100 Best Communities in America for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance. An orange push pin trophy arrived in St. Louis Park— it was me. I came alive once I landed in this fabulous community.

Now you can follow my adventures through St. Louis Park by visiting me on Facebook at, what else but: Perrie P. Push Pin. Perrie means wanderer and that’s exactly what I am doing, wandering around St. Louis Park to see all the great asset-building places.

So go to Facebook and friend me. If you guess where I am you will get a set of Children First note cards and bragging rights!

Annual Meeting on March 1st

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:11:21 +0000

Join us for the Children First Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 1, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Melrose Institute, 3525 Monterey Drive. The event includes a performance, discussion, a skit and fabulous food from CRAVE.

Performers from Maggie’s Farm Theater will act out vignettes from the book Seedfolks, a great story about individuals’ roles in community building. These vignettes will be the basis for group discussions. Also at the event, Perrie will be introduced through a skit with our red-caped Mayor Jeff Jacobs.

Thanks to event sponsors: Park Nicollet Melrose Institute, CRAVE, Maggie’s Farm Theater and Pernsteiner Creavtive Group.

It’s free to attend the annual meeting, but a reservation is required. Make one by emailing Karen. Melrose Institute is located north of the St. Louis Park Rec Center. Enter the parking lot from Beltline Boulevard across the street from Citizens Independent Bank.

Discussion group about Seedfolks

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:29:24 +0000

Asset Champions have the opportunity to participate in a book discussion group about Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman, this year’s selection by Bookmark in the Park. Bookmark is a community reading project encouraging everyone in St. Louis Park to read the same book.

Seedfolks is a 62-page book featuring 13 very different voices – old, young, Haitian, Hispanic, tough, haunted and hopeful – tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood. This book is about community and the power of one girl’s actions.

Two discussion sessions will be held:
- Saturday, February 5, 2 p.m. at Starbucks at Excelsior & Grand with facilitator Lee-Ann Stephens
- Tuesday, February 10, 11:30 a.m. at Good Bean, 5101 Minnetonka Blvd., with facilitator Susan Abelson.

The first 20 people who sign up for a discussion session will receive a free copy of Seedfolks courtesy of Bookmark in the Park. To make reservation contact Karen, info@children-first.org

Want to be an Asset Champion?

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:05:00 +0000

Asset Champions: share this with someone you think should be trained!

Two training for wanna-be Asset Champions will be held this fall: Thursday, September 23 and Wednesday, November 3. Asset Champion training includes information on Children First and the 40 Developmental Assets. The role of an Asset Champion is also covered. All who participate in the 2.5 hour training can then participate in Asset Champion functions connecting with others in our community who are committed to building a web of support for youth. The training is free, but a reservation is required. Details are: Thursday, September 23, 3-5:30 p.m. at St. Louis Park School’s District Office or Wednesday, November 3, 1-3:30 p.m. at Lenox Community Center. If planning to attend, please email Karen.

Celebrating life’s milestones

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Wooddale Lutheran Church has a Milestone Ministry which recognizes that life is a series of small steps that lead one on a journey – often unpredictable, at times filled with joy, at times filled with fear. As a faith community, Wooddale supports each others’ journeys and it is especially evident for their children as they celebrate special milestones. Some of these milestones are what you would expect in a faith community, Baptism, presentation of 3rd grade Bibles, First Communion and Confirmation. Others are connected to every day life such as the Blessing of the Backpacks as the school year begins, Blessing of the key chains for new drivers and Blessing of the Blankets for graduating seniors.

Photo: Children at Wooddale Lutheran participated in the Blessing of the Backpacks on September 12 led by Pastor Tim Rauk.

STEP still accepting school supplies

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The St. Louis Park Emergency Program‘s (STEP) Back to School Program outfitted 563 students with school supplies. Bags of supplies were packed for kindergarten through 12th grade students based on the list for their school and grade. Former St. Louis Park teacher Camille Schroeder is the lead volunteer for the school supplies program.

While the distribution for this year is complete, STEP continues to accept donations of school supplies. Many school supplies are now on clearance. Purchase some and drop them off at STEP where they will be stored until next year. Items needed are: 3 inch 3-ring binders, any color two-pocket folders without fasteners, calculators, zippered pencil pouches, 8-count washable Crayola markers, 12-count Crayola colored pencils, Mead composition notebooks, any color college-ruled and wide-ruled notebooks and bottled glue. Donations can be dropped off at STEP, 6912 W. Lake Street, during regular business hours through September. For more info visit www.STEPslp.org

Bring Books Alive for kids

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:57:00 +0000

Books Alive! SLP Reader’s Theater presents youth literature that comes alive for children and adults through theatrical oral readings. The presentation pieces will tour throughout the local community. Books Alive! invites individuals interested in reading or writing to participate in their meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, 1-2:30 p.m. at Lenox Community Center. For more information about Books Alive!, which is co-sponsored by Maggie’s Farm Theater the St. Louis Park Senior Program, please email Rachel Richardson.

First-ever BBQ a success

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:28:00 +0000

More than 30 people enjoyed grilled hot dogs during lunch at Oak Hill Park on August 19. The first-ever BBQ providing a relaxing way for Asset Champions and friends of Children First to connect before hectic fall schedules kick in. The event was so fun, that the following week a BBQ was held for the District Office staff at St. Louis Park Schools. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, they filled out a pop quiz which tested their knowledge on Children First and the 40 Developmental Assets. For more photos, click on Children First’s photo album on the right.

Summertime BBQ

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:12:00 +0000

More than 30 friends of Children First stopped by for a lunch time BBQ at Oakhill Park to connect before the hectic fall schedule begins.