Neighborhood Involvement Program - Get to Know a Neighbor

The history of N.I.P.'s (Neighborhood Involvement Program) Youth Program can be traced back almost to the beginnings of N.I.P. itself. In 1968, volunteers established the first reading prgrams at two elementary schools, the first afterschool program along with the Minneapolis Park Board, and sent the first children to camp on scholarships. Thirty-five years later and N.I.P. Youth Programs are still going strong! This past year programs such as Offstreet Adventures, Good Grades and Games and Study Friends, have served 500 children in 15 schools. Over 120 volunteers have put in 6,000 hours.

This past fall, N.I.P. Youth Program celebrated an important milestone - the 30th Anniversary year of the Study Friend's mentoring program. Established in 1972 as an evening tutoring program for junior high school students, the program has expanded to four evenings per week at four study sites located in North and South Mpls. Elementary schools. Study Friends has been coordinated by Nicole Johnson for the past three years. "The kids involved with the program are all there on a voluntary basis," Nicole says. "The one-on-one attention they receive means so much to them. A little of the tutor's time goes a long way in the lives of the students."

The Youth Program's four staff members don't slow down for the summer months either. This summer N.I.P. Plans to send 40 local youth to camp on scholarships or "camperships." For many of the campers attending Camp Icaghowan in Western Wisconsin, this will not only be the first time away from home, but also the first time they will experience life outside of the metropolitan area. Also this summer the Youth Program plans to hold a six-week math and science day camp for youth in North Minneapolis.

Marcus Pop, the Director of Youth Programs, recently spoke of the impact the State's budget deficit may have on N.I.P.'s youth services: "N.I.P.'s Youth Program has been significantly impacted by our State's budgetary challenges. The long-term consequences are unclear at this time. The cuts, however, have challenged us to set other means of sustaining proper programming."

Remaining optimistic Marcus speaks of the Youth Program's future: "The Youth Program will continue to improve upon its already substantial impact on the community and strive to provide more comprehensive services by means of its direct service and through improving its information and referral system. The future demands a capability to relate to and deliver effective services to all children, youth and their families."

For more information on N.I.P. Youth Programs or N.I.P. in general, please call 612-374-3125 or visit us on the web at nip.nonprofitoffice.com.