Anwatin Middle School 6th, 7th and 8th graders are in the midst of rehearsals for the wonderful musical Dear Edwina produced by Project SUCCESS. Dear Edwina is a heartwarming musical about growing up featuring the heroine Edwina Spoonapple, who puts on an advice giving show in her garage and the whole neighborhood comes to watch it. Told through a show-within-a-show format, Edwina and her friends share wisdom on everything from trying new foods to making new friends through clever, catchy and poignant songs. Students are rehearsing every day for eight weeks – working directly with professional quality sound, sets, lighting and costumes, in addition to acting and singing. The school musical is one of the key ways in which Project SUCCESS helps students build confidence, gain new experiences, and learn more about themselves and each other through the power of theater. Join us for the performances June 1 and 2, 2012! Click here for more about the Anwatin Musical and Dear Edwina.
On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, Project SUCCESS hosted its 8th annual Fielding Dreams event and the first annual Project SUCCESS Day at Target Field as we cheered on our Minnesota Twins vs. the LA Angels! Guests, sponsors, volunteers, staff, kids and families enjoyed a wonderful evening of food, fun, entertainment, a ballgame, and incredible experiences. A huge thank you to Lifetouch, Target,Bridgz Marketing Group, RBC Wealth Management, the Minnesota Twins, and all our other sponsors for helping Project SUCCESS hit another home run for kids! Since 2005, Fielding Dreams has raised over $400,000 to support Project SUCCESS’ invaluable work and growth in the community. The event was not just in recognition of us, but in recognition of all of you! We are honored to work with such wonderful students, families, volunteers, friends, donors and communities. Click here to read more.
On Monday, May 7, Project SUCCESS brought students from six Minneapolis high schools to visit Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University, Mankato. It was a beautiful day for Project SUCCESS' final college tour of the 2011-12 school year! Project SUCCESS staff led students through workshops to enhance and prepare for their campus visit experiences, and students returned from the tours with more information to refine their post-secondary plans. Since September 2011, Project SUCCESS has facilitated college tours for hundreds of students from Edison, Henry, North, South, Southwest, Washburn, and Washington Tech to over 30 campuses in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Click here to read more about Project SUCCESS College Tours.
Extraordinary Home Tour Garners Support for Project SUCCESS
On April 18, over 130 donors, board members, teachers, staff, students and friends gathered to tour the century-old Donaldson Mansion and support the work of Project SUCCESS. Guests marveled at the remarkable detail of home, painstakingly and lovingly restored over the last decade, and learned some history and highlights from homeowner Mark Perrin. The event also included entertainment from South High School's cello quartet and presentations from Project SUCCESS executive director and founder Adrienne Diercks, board member Karla Ekdahl, and alumnus Kamal Mohamed, who participated in the program from 6th through 12th grade and will graduate from St. Thomas University this spring. Many thanks to Mark, Kamal, our hosts, and all who attended! We are so grateful to be able to serve youth in such an enthusiastically supportive community.
From March 15 through March 23, Marcy Open middle school students performed in front of hundreds in the Project SUCCESS 2012 production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Teachers, family, fellow students and community members attended 6 performances over two weeks and learned about how finding our happiness and sharing it with others can shape who we are and where we want to go in life. Students rehearsed for eight weeks, in front of and behind the scenes, directly with professional quality sound, sets, lighting and costumes, in addition to acting and singing. This one-on-one contact with local artists and students, and the experience of the musical performance itself, is one of the key ways in which Project SUCCESS helps students build confidence, gain new experiences, and learn more about themselves and each other through the power of theater. Congratulations to the Marcy cast and crew, and thank you to the parents and caring adults who allowed Project SUCCESS to spend so much time getting to know and work with these amazing, talented kids. Click here for more.
As we continue to expand to serve more students, so expands our programming, including more exciting opportunities for high school students to visit college campuses. This winter, 137 students from Edison, South, Southwest, Patrick Henry, and Washburn High Schools in Minneapolis and from Washington Technology Magnet in Saint Paul participated in campus tours to St. Cloud State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College – Culinary Arts Program, Hamline University, Augsburg College, and McNally Smith College of Music – including an exciting tour of Minnesota Public Radio. The Project SUCCESS Winter College Tours were the first for 9th and 10th grade students at Edison High School, who became a Project SUCCESS partner in July 2011. Over the next two years we will grow into the entire school to serve all Edison students and their families. Project SUCCESS organizes and hosts state and national college tours to an average of 40 campuses annually, inspiring and educating student about their possibilities and opportunities and helping them to better refine their plan following graduation. Many thanks to the students who participated the Winter Tours and inspired Project SUCCESS and college staff with their thoughtful approach to their college search! Click here to learn more about Project SUCCESS College Tours.
On December 9 and 10, 75 Sanford Middle School 6th, 7th and 8th grade students wowed audiences with four incredible performances of Annie. Parents, teachers, students, and community members packed the house and were left inspired, entertained, and impressed by the talents and efforts put forth by each performer and crew member. Since 2009, Project SUCCESS has worked hand-in-hand with Sanford Middle School students to produce and perform their annual school musical. Students have worked in front of and behind the scenes, with professional quality sound, sets, lighting and costumes, in addition to acting and singing. To enhance the learning experience, Project SUCCESS brings in professional directors and musicians. The 2011 production of Annie was directed by Project SUCCESS Resident Artist Jeffry Lusiak, with musical direction by Anita Ruth and choreography by Trudy Monette. This one-on-one contact with local artists and students is a key way in which Project SUCCESS helps students build confidence, gain new experiences, and learn more about themselves and each other through the power of theater.
Click here for photos and more about the performance.\
In recognition of her decades of service to the nonprofit community, the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized Project SUCCESS board member and volunteer extraordinaire Karla Ekdahl as Minnesota’s 2011 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser at the Philanthropy Day Awards Event on Friday, November 18. Watch the video below that celebrates Karla's many contributions to the philanthropic community.
Over the past 15 years, Karla has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time, energy and passion to Project SUCCESS and many other important nonprofits in our community. The impact of her contribution on Project SUCCESS’ growth and the organization’s ability to serve young people and their families is immeasurable. Karla shares our bold vision: Every child entering middle school will graduate high school with a plan for his or her future. Clik here and help us honor Karla with a special gift made in her name. Your gift will support priorities dear to Karla, such as our goal of bringing Project SUCCESS to Roosevelt High School. With your support, Project SUCCESS can come closer to fully realizing Karla’s vision, our vision, and the visions of over 12,800 youth by next year.
A huge thank you to the individuals who contributed to Project SUCCESS on Give to the Max Day! In just 24 hours, 61 donors gave nearly $7,500 to Project SUCCESS through GiveMN.org - the online giving platform for Minnesota non-profit organizations, advocates and donors. All of these dollars will be matched 1:1 from a generous donor, which brings our grand total of the day to $15,000! This support is vital in our work with young people and makes a profound impact on the lives of thousands of kids. The one-day giving event was also a great way to kick-off our end-of-year giving campaign. Our generous donor has agreed to extend the match offer up to $12,000 so we have only $4,500 to go receive the entire match - help us keep up the momentum!
Battle Creek English Language Learner Students Perform Their Personal Stories
On November 8, students and teachers at Battle Creek Middle School in Saint Paul attended a special performance by their peers in the English Language Learners program (ELL). The performance was a showcase of the work the ELL students had done during their participation in The Stories Project, learning to use creative media such as acting, dance and art, to write and perform their personal stories of immigration to, and experiences in the United States. The Stories Project is a collaboration between Mu Performing Arts and Project SUCCESS which began in 2008, with the goal of helping students articulate and tell their personal stories through the performing arts, thus supporting leadership self-esteem, interpersonal skills and English language development; and build a broader understanding among themselves and their community. Click here to learn more about the project and other special projects organized by Project SUCCESS.
Over the last month, high school students from Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been busy touring colleges and universities in Chicago, Madison and throughout Minnesota. In October over MEA weekend, 84 juniors and seniors from North, Henry, South, Southwest and Washburn High Schools toured the outstanding colleges and universities in the Chicago and Madison area, including the University of Chicago, Chicago State University, Columbia College, DePaul University, Loyola University, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois - Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Roosevelt University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Due to the growing popularity of this tour, we added a second tour to Chicago the first weekend of November for 27 more students! Over 100 Minneapolis students also toured The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Campus, St. Catherine University, and St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges. And 32 Saint Paul high school students from Washington Technology Magnet took a tour – a Project SUCCESS first for our Saint Paul students! - to Gustavus Adolphus and Minnesota State University, Mankato. For each tour, Project SUCCESS staff facilitated workshops to help students think about the questions they wanted to ask and help them with their college search process. Students came away with a better understanding of what they are looking for when they make their college decision.
Here is what one student had to say:
“Thank you very much for bringing me on this trip. And helping me discover what I want in college. I wouldn’t have discovered my passions otherwise! I am forever indebted.”– 11th grader at South High, and first-generation college applicant, who participated in the October 2011 college tour to Chicago and Madison.
Click here for more information about upcoming college tours.
During two days in October, Project SUCCESS brought over 250 7th and 8th grade girls from Saint Paul's Battle Creek Middle School on a field trip to Minneapolis’ St. Anthony Main Theater to view and discuss the film Finding Kind, a unique documentary that tells the story of two women’s journey across the United States to talk with girls of all ages about the lasting and damaging effects of girl-on-girl bullying and how we can put an end to it. The field trip provided the students an opportunity to view, learn about, and discuss what it means to be bullied, be a bully, and how they - as a girl community - can stop this type of violence against one another. After the discussion, the girls were given an apology slip that encouraged them to make peace with someone who they may have recently wronged. Many filled out and exchanged these apologies right on the spot. Next, each girl was asked to take the Kind Pledge, which asked what she was willing to do to stop bullying at her school. These pledges were collected and posted at their school. See what some girls pledged:
“I pledge to not go with the crowd and stand up for my friends and even people I don’t know. I want to stop bullying and stay confident in myself. I pledge to include everyone.”
“I pledge to stand-up for myself. To ignore what people say about me or someone else. To take the right path for who I am and can be. To make right choices and have respect, loyalty and kindness for others and myself, so that we can’t be in any isolation and ignorance between each other.”
Many thanks to the Film Society of Minneapolis and St. Paul enough for this amazing opportunity.
On Thursday, November 3, 2011, over 1,000 Twin Cities women and men came together at the Maiden Minnesota 2011 event, with Project SUCCESS as their charity partner. Each year, Maiden Minnesota is a highly anticipated and stylish evening celebrating Minnesota-based, women-owned companies. The fifth-annual event featured exclusive sales and merchandise, as well as a silent auction hosted by Project SUCCESS where 100% of the proceeds supported our program. More than 35 “Maidens” showcased their fashion, jewelry, accessories, home décor, specialty food items and more, and many donated items to the silent auction! Click hereto learn more about the event. Many, many thanks to the "Maidens" and the wonderful volunteers who helped!
Click to see Maiden MN and Project SUCCESS featured on KARE 11 and WCCO.
In October, Project SUCCESS participated in a Delta Airlines Fundraiser for Inner City Youth programs. We are so grateful to the employees of Delta for participating in the event, for their kindness and enthusiasm for the program and for their interest in volunteering. It was a fun morning!
In September, Project SUCCESS was the benefactor of Park Perks, a service of the Park Midway Bank. The bank operates a small coffee bar in the lobby of its main bank location in the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. The bank pays all costs of goods and services for Park Perks. Proceeds raised benefit small nonprofit groups who are in, or are raising funds to serve, the neighborhood. At the end of the month, Park Midway Bank presented Project SUCCESS Executive Director Adrienne Diercks a check for $875 toward our expansion fund for serving all students at Murray Junior High. Thank you, Park Midway Bank and its customers for your generous support!
From August 22 through August 25, 2011, Project SUCCESS was pleased to work with the Minneapolis Public School District and high school principals for the fourth year to conduct 2015 — a four-day experience aimed at helping all 8th graders successfully transition to high school. Using a variety of workshops, team-building activities, and creative expression, the goal was to ensure students felt confident, comfortable and excited about entering 9th grade. The entire event was provided at NO COST to students and families, thanks to the Minneapolis Public Schools.
On Tuesday, August 9, Project SUCCESS opened Minnesota's Statewide Superintendent Conference with a short performance of the musical Here's Where I Stand: A Day in the Life of a Middle School Student - performed by students and with dialog written by them. Conference participants shared their excitement for seeing the students' enthusiasm for learning about theater and the important teamwork skills necessary for building a successful future. Project SUCCESS was honored to be invited by Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius to help kick-off the meeting of Minnesota's leaders in education with inspiration and hope. A big thank you to our student performers Tommy Bates, Levi Beals, Ashley Hogen, Rebecca Leys, Isabel Norsten, Jack Tauring-Traxler and Amira Warren-Yearby, and to Director (and Project SUCCESS Resident Artist) Jeffry Lusiak, Assistant Director Jeffrey Wells, and Music Director Anita Ruth. A video of the performance is available on our YouTube channel, or check it out here:
During the month of June 2011, Project SUCCESS is led another round of amazing canoe adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! Each year we have worked to offer this opportunity to more and more of our students. This year we expanded our program, offering our annual week-long experience to the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at Anwatin, Anne Sullivan, Jefferson, Northeast, Olson and Sanford Middle Schools in Minneapolis and the 7th and 8th grade students at Battle Creek and Washington Technology Magnet Schools in Saint Paul. Project SUCCESS brought 127 students on this year's life-changing adventure - doubling our participation from 2010! Each year, through this experience, students develop positive behaviors and skills, such as goal-setting, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills - building confidence and respect for the awesome beauty of the wilderness and a simple way of life. Mostly they come home with a huge sense of accomplishment that has an amazing impact on their educational and personal growth. The BWCA Experience was funded, in part, by the generosity of the The Minneapolis Foundation's Santa Anonymous Advisory Committee and individual donors. For more information about and photos of this year's trips, visit our BWCA adventures page, and watch the Fox 9 feature below:
On June 18th 2011, Project SUCCESS’ supporters Anne and David Winker-Morey left on a 417 day bike trip around the United States. They will have the route on display and they would like you to let them know if you know people they should meet along the way. They will be interviewing people and gathering stories about those working for a more just society. As part of their adventure they are raising money for three local organizations including funds to help Project SUCCESS expand programming to Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis. They want to invite others to support our Anthony Fund. To learn more about the trip and follow their progress you can visit their website at https://sites.google.com/site/pedalstory/home (It also comes up when you Google: Pedalstory). Thank you, Anne and Dave, for including Project SUCCESS in your journey!
Students Get Ready for High School at 2015
