[0:08] AOY [music] Minnotonka. I'm Jackie [0:09] Getty, executive director of [0:11] communications for Minnotonka schools [0:13] and host of season [music] 3 of our [0:14] district podcast, Ahoy Minnotonka. [0:17] Supporting our students and families in [0:18] our school community to the best of our [0:20] ability is at the heart of our work at [0:22] Minnotonka schools. For the past four [0:24] years, the district has held a unique [0:26] event called the community and resource [0:28] night. To help provide some resources [0:30] that families may need and not know are [0:32] readily available. To tell us more about [0:34] this event, who it's geared to, and what [0:36] the components of it are are three [0:38] members involved in the planning and [0:40] development of the event. Carrie [0:41] Lindberg, our coordinator of the [0:42] Minnotonka Family Collaborative, and [0:44] Amelia Kogan and Olivia Hashburgger, two [0:47] students who will be volunteers at the [0:48] event in a very special capacity. Thank [0:51] you to each of you for being here. [0:53] First, we'd like to get to know a little [0:54] bit more about you. So, please tell us [0:56] about yourselves and your connections to [0:58] Minnetonka schools. Carrie, why don't we [0:59] start with you? [1:00] >> Sure. Uh, my name is Carrie Lindberg and [1:02] I'm the Minnotonka family collaborative [1:03] coordinator. I've been in this role [1:05] almost 11 years now. Uh, I have three [1:08] kids. Uh, all three have gone through [1:10] Minnetonka. My youngest is a sophomore [1:12] at the high school currently. [1:14] >> Fantastic. Amelia, how about you? Well, [1:17] um I'm a senior this year and I've been [1:20] in Minnetonka since kindergarten in the [1:22] Chinese immersion program and I've [1:25] really enjoyed it. Yeah. [1:26] >> What are you involved in? [1:27] >> Well, I do a lot with Tonka Neighbors [1:29] Initiative. I've also am the IB program, [1:33] international balorate and uh yeah, I [1:36] focus a lot on languages. [1:38] >> Fantastic. Olivia. [1:40] >> Um well, I'm Olivia Hashburgger. I'm [1:42] also a senior here at Minnatonka and [1:44] I've also been here since kindergarten. [1:46] Um I've been involved in the Spanish [1:50] immersion program so obviously with TNI [1:53] and then I also participate in intercom [1:56] or Spanish exchange and I am also a [1:58] former Vantage student. [2:00] >> Fantastic. Well, thank you all for being [2:01] here. We appreciate it. Carrie, you're [2:03] the coordinator of the Minnitonka Family [2:05] Collaborative. What is that? What does [2:07] it do? And what groups are involved in [2:09] it? [2:10] >> Sure. Um, the Minnitankka Family [2:11] Collaborative is an association of [2:13] community partners and we work to [2:14] improve the well-being of youth and [2:16] families in the Minnitankka school [2:17] district. We have about 95 members. Um, [2:21] we meet about five times a year and we [2:24] really work with different organizations [2:25] and resources to share information and [2:28] make sure that everyone knows about the [2:30] amazing resources that we have in [2:31] Minnotonka. Uh we also have a grant [2:34] program where we fund different uh [2:36] programs in the district like the relate [2:38] counselors in the high school. [2:40] >> So who does it serve? [2:42] >> So it serves the entire community of [2:44] Minnotonka and we really focus on youth [2:46] and families. Um we have great nonprofit [2:49] partners. Um Family Friends, Open Hands [2:52] Foundation, My Health, ICA, Food Shelf, [2:55] and Resource West are just some of our [2:56] organizations. [2:58] >> And through your involvement in that [2:59] group, you're also one of the key [3:01] planners of the community and resource [3:03] night. Um tell us what that is and how [3:05] it came to be. [3:06] >> Sure. Now, the Minnitanka Community [3:08] Resource Night is an event that was um [3:10] the original idea of one of our social [3:13] workers um from Minnitankka Middle [3:14] School East, Katie Clem. um four years [3:17] ago, she really wanted to connect [3:19] families to all of the programs in the [3:22] district and was really focusing on our [3:23] multilingual families and she had the [3:26] idea of having a resource night and [3:28] that's where the idea was born and we [3:31] are so excited that our fourth year is [3:33] this year and we're so excited that [3:35] you're involved. Um it's on Friday uh [3:38] November 21st from 6:00 to 8 at [3:40] Minnitankka Middle School East. [3:42] >> And who does it serve? [3:43] >> It serves everyone in the district. Um [3:45] we're really excited to just bring a ton [3:47] of resources into one place, free dinner [3:50] activities for families, and we really [3:52] want to let everyone know um just about [3:56] all of the wonderful programs and [3:57] organizations we have in our community. [3:59] >> So, we'll be digging a lot more into [4:01] that, but Amelia and Olivia, you're [4:03] members of a student group called Tonka [4:05] Neighbors Initiative. Did I get that [4:06] right? [4:07] >> Yes. [4:07] >> Um and tell us about your group. [4:10] Well, we focus on multilingual support [4:13] for members of the community. Uh, often [4:16] we're working with younger children that [4:18] are uh um English or I mean sorry, [4:22] Spanish and Russian speakers. Uh yeah, [4:24] and those are the main languages in our [4:26] club. [4:26] >> So, what does your what does your club [4:28] do? So essentially what we do is we [4:31] invite um current MHS students to come [4:34] and serve as what we like to call kind [4:36] of a language ambassador [4:38] >> where um it's any it's open to any [4:40] multilingual student where they can come [4:41] in and act as kind of an informal [4:44] translator or interpreter for various [4:46] service events throughout the year. [4:48] >> So what are some of the things you've [4:49] been involved in through that or that [4:50] your club has been involved in? So, one [4:52] of them we've started this year is Deep [4:54] Haven Homework Help where we go over to [4:56] Deep Haven every week on Wednesdays and [4:58] we are really building connection with [5:01] these kids. Uh, of many are Russian and [5:03] Spanish speakers and it'll be helping [5:06] them with homework, playing games with [5:07] them. We'll even have little parties as [5:09] well. And then also the resource night [5:11] is a big event for us as well. [5:13] >> Yeah. So um alongside that we work very [5:17] closely with the um English learner [5:22] program. [5:23] >> So like there is a lot of EL students at [5:25] Deep Haven like Amelia mentioned. [5:27] >> Um but outside of our homework help and [5:30] like tutoring, we also um twice a year [5:34] we take them to these team smile events [5:37] that are in partnership with the [5:40] Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota [5:41] Vikings. [5:43] um where they put on these big events [5:46] for any underprivileged youth in the [5:49] Twin Cities that needs to receive dental [5:51] care and they can go um to these events [5:53] and get teeth cleanings and fillings and [5:57] whatever they might need for free. So, [5:59] we take a group of students twice a year [6:02] to these events. Um and our language [6:04] ambassadors get paired up. Usually, it's [6:07] one-on-one or maybe two to one. Um, and [6:09] you just kind of acting as a buddy for [6:10] them for the day because a lot of them [6:12] maybe they have never received dental [6:14] care. So, it's important for them to [6:16] have someone that really understands, [6:18] you know, how they're feeling and that [6:19] can explain what the dentist is doing to [6:21] them [6:21] >> in their language. [6:22] >> Exactly. [6:22] >> Yes. Yeah. [6:23] >> So, what languages are represented in [6:25] your club? [6:26] >> We have Russian, uh, Chinese, um, [6:30] Spanish is a big one. Um, we've had [6:34] we've had Cantonese as well. Um, [6:37] separate from Mandarin. What else? Um, I [6:40] believe we've had some Somali too. But [6:44] our the main languages that we are in [6:46] most need of right now are Russian and [6:48] Spanish. [6:49] >> And then you learned language through [6:51] Minnotonka. Talk about that a little bit [6:53] and and being able to use those skills. [6:56] >> For me, it's been amazing. It's a really [6:58] big part of my journey through [7:00] Minnotonka. Um, I'm currently in the IB [7:04] uh Chinese class and it's been really [7:06] meaningful to learn so many new fiction [7:09] books, non-fiction in a different [7:11] language. Yeah. Yeah, I would have to [7:14] agree. Um, I feel like the immersion [7:16] program has always been such a big part [7:18] of my life, you know, being in it since [7:20] I was 5 years old and growing up [7:24] learning an entirely different language. [7:26] Um, but just the amount of opportunities [7:28] that I've gotten through the immersion [7:30] program, obviously taking a large role [7:33] in TNI, but also doing Spanish exchange [7:36] and things like that. Um, I feel like [7:39] it's really kind of helped give me more [7:43] opportunities. I'm planning to get a [7:45] minor in Spanish when I go to college [7:47] next year. So, I feel like that is [7:49] >> yeah, [7:49] >> a great opportunity that it's given me. [7:51] >> Yeah. I also like a minor in Chinese as [7:54] well. Um, it's definitely fostered a [7:57] love for languages. I speak Russian at [7:59] home, so I've been able to use that to [8:01] help people as well, which has been [8:03] really great. [8:04] >> So, how did the Tonka Neighbors [8:06] initiative come to be? Has it been [8:07] around very long? [8:08] >> It's not a very old club. It started [8:11] actually with a uh project, end of the [8:15] year senior project um that um I believe [8:19] her name is Adeline. [8:20] >> Yes. [8:21] >> Yeah. Was doing. And then last year was [8:25] the first year the club was initiated [8:28] and uh Sophia Showcats and um Saurin Lee [8:32] were the uh leaders of it and they [8:36] launched it and then we're just taking [8:38] care of what they started. [8:40] >> How many students are involved in it and [8:42] how often are you active? [8:44] >> So right now we have I want to say 40 to [8:48] 50 members. [8:50] >> Um [8:52] >> yeah. Yeah. [8:53] >> Yeah. We have not as many come to all of [8:55] the events obviously because we have a [8:57] lot of concurrent events going on at the [8:59] same time, [9:00] >> but um we meet every other week in the [9:04] mornings um kind of just to go over [9:07] upcoming events and ways that our [9:09] members can get involved, you know, what [9:11] languages we're most in need of and [9:12] things like that. Um but outside of [9:15] that, we always have different things [9:17] going on. We have our Deep Haven [9:19] homework help. We're working at food [9:21] shelves. We have things like resource [9:22] night. There's always a lot going on. [9:25] >> Do you go seek these opportunities or do [9:27] opportunities come to you? And if they [9:29] come to you, how does that work? [9:31] >> Well, I think right now the way it's [9:34] going is we have some stable ones that [9:36] are like Olivia said, weekly or [9:38] bi-weekly. Um, and Miss Johnson, our [9:40] adviser, does a great job of bringing up [9:43] um opportunities that she thinks T and I [9:45] will be able to help with. And otherwise [9:50] it kind of comes naturally and when we [9:52] can go when we can send our members we [9:55] want them to go. [9:56] >> Yeah. [9:56] >> Kind of um adding on to that. So like [9:59] Amelia said we have a lot of really [10:02] stable kind of service events that we've [10:05] had going on since our launch last year. [10:08] But outside of that, we work very [10:09] closely with family friends. [10:12] >> Um, and we are able to support them with [10:15] kind of a one-on-one needbased [10:18] assistance. So, um, Mary Beth Wig, who [10:22] is the outreach coordinator of Family [10:23] Friends, she could reach out to us and [10:26] ask if a family needs someone to a [10:30] translator to go with them to a doctor's [10:32] appointment or to an open house or [10:35] anything like that. I know Amelia, I [10:36] think you've been to the optometrist a [10:38] couple of times with some families. So, [10:40] that's also something we really like to [10:42] focus on is [10:44] >> individual support for these families [10:45] with anything else they might need [10:47] outside of our regular service events. [10:50] >> Yeah. [10:50] >> What would you say you personally get [10:52] out of being a part of a club like this? [10:54] What are the benefits personally? [10:56] >> Oh my god, there's so many. It's just [10:58] it's so fulfilling. I don't even know [11:00] how to say it other than seeing the kids [11:02] smile. every time you go to Deep Haven, [11:04] they'll hug you and remember you for [11:06] them. Having someone understand their [11:08] language is like having uh someone [11:10] understand who they are. [11:12] >> And that is just it makes me sometimes [11:14] like I'll tear up thinking about it [11:15] because it's so meaningful. [11:17] >> Yeah. [11:18] >> Yeah. Me too. Um, I think along with [11:21] that, it also is a good way to just kind [11:24] of stay fresh in my language skills cuz [11:26] um, like last year I actually didn't [11:29] take any Spanish coursework cuz I was [11:32] very busy with other classes I was [11:35] taking. But, um, like I found personal [11:38] gain in being able to keep my Spanish [11:41] skills fresh in my mind. Um, but along [11:44] with that, like Amelia said, it's really [11:46] just amazing to be able to build [11:49] connections with these families because [11:50] you work with a lot of them pretty [11:52] consistently throughout the year. So, [11:55] just getting to see these students kind [11:58] of come out of their shell and find [11:59] their own community within the district [12:01] is really, really inspiring. [12:03] >> Wonderful. [12:04] >> These students were such an amazing part [12:06] of the community resource night last [12:08] year. It was the first year we had them [12:10] >> and we had all of the TNI students right [12:13] at the front. So when families came in, [12:15] you were able to connect with them and [12:17] find out if they needed an interpreter. [12:19] Um we'll have interpreters at the event [12:20] this year again. But you were such a [12:23] huge help and we're so excited that [12:24] you're going to be part of it again this [12:25] year. [12:26] >> So Carrie, tell us more about the [12:28] community resource night. What are the [12:29] different components of it and what is [12:31] an experience like for a family that [12:32] comes in? What happens? [12:34] >> Yes. Great. Well, there are so many [12:35] great components of the night. Um, [12:37] families will enter the the main [12:38] entrance of Minnotonka Middle School [12:40] East where they'll be greeted by the [12:42] Tonka Neighbors Initiative students. Um, [12:44] if they are in need of an interpreter, [12:46] we'll have interpreters there in uh, [12:48] Russian, French, Spanish, and Somali. [12:51] Um, and then we have a variety of [12:53] things. U, one of the biggest components [12:55] is our resource fair. This year we have [12:58] 38 organizations that will have tables [13:00] with information set up. So, we're [13:03] really hoping that these families can [13:04] connect with all of the organizations [13:08] and resources that we have in our [13:09] community and just realizing um all of [13:13] the the help and support and the [13:16] education and the resources that are [13:18] available to them. This event really is [13:20] trying to decrease access to barriers [13:22] for resources. Um the event is open to [13:24] everyone and we hope we have great [13:27] attendance. We have um inflatables set [13:29] up in the gym for the kids. Family [13:31] friends has donated uh pizza again this [13:34] year. Uh Adele's has donated ice cream, [13:38] so we'll have a free dinner. We also [13:40] have um books and winter warmware for [13:44] families to come. It's a great night of [13:47] connection. And we're just really [13:49] excited to have our fourth event this [13:51] year. So they come in, they get like a [13:53] stamp book where if they want to go to [13:56] all the different tables, they get a [13:57] stamp in the book. [13:58] >> Yes. It's wonderful. So families will [14:00] come in, we want them to connect with [14:01] resources and once they um fill out [14:03] their stamp book, they are entered into [14:05] a drawing for the prize. And I know that [14:06] you've worked in the the prize room [14:08] before and it's the best room. It's so [14:10] fun to see the kids walk through and [14:12] pick prizes for their families. And so [14:14] that's a fun component of the night. Um, [14:16] Minnitanka Police Department is there to [14:18] play with the kids in the on the [14:20] inflatables. Um, we also have face [14:22] painting and book giveaways. Um, it [14:25] really is just a great night for [14:27] connection for the community. [14:28] >> Yeah. [14:29] >> And so more geared toward families that [14:32] are not as connected with the district. [14:34] I mean, they don't have to have a [14:35] language barrier to come to the event, [14:37] but we often find that there is a [14:39] language barrier or at least for a [14:40] component of the families that come. [14:42] >> Yes. This this event really when it [14:45] started was geared towards the families [14:47] that might not have um immediate access [14:49] or might not feel as connected to the [14:51] district. And so we are focusing on our [14:54] multilingual families and families that [14:56] just might not feel as connected to the [14:58] community. Uh we just want them to know [15:00] about all of the great things that we [15:02] have here in Minnotonka. Um the event is [15:04] open to everyone and if you want to [15:05] learn more about the great organizations [15:07] that we have, this would be a great [15:09] event to attend. Um just a few of the of [15:12] the resources that will be available. Um [15:13] ICA Food Shelf, Resource West, Teaming [15:16] Up for Teens. Uh we have probably six or [15:19] seven Henipin County organizations that [15:21] will be there as well. It's just a great [15:23] way to connect with the community. [15:25] >> Do people have to sign up in advance? [15:26] >> They don't. They can just show up. It's [15:28] from 6:00 to 8 on Friday at MME and um [15:32] come and enjoy a fun night of [15:35] connection. Um free dinner. [15:36] >> Bring the kids. [15:37] >> Bring the kids. We've got lots of fun [15:39] events for the kids. [15:41] >> Yeah. [15:41] >> Fantastic. And so your role specifically [15:43] at the event aside from like staffing [15:46] kind of staffing the the welcome table. [15:48] >> Yeah. [15:49] >> And then you also are helping with [15:52] translation. [15:53] >> Yeah. So we um will have our [15:57] interpreters or ambassadors um stationed [16:00] at the front. Um so families will come [16:03] in and they kind of just welcome all [16:05] families. But then if a family does need [16:07] a translator, we can help them with [16:10] filling out forms, um, walking through [16:12] the stations with them, uh, things like [16:15] that. And then we will also, we'll [16:17] usually have some members also down in [16:20] the gym playing with the kids because [16:22] like we mentioned, we do we are familiar [16:24] with a lot of these students um, through [16:26] the EL program that we work with pretty [16:28] consistently. So, it's always kind of [16:30] fun for them to see a familiar face at [16:32] these nights. [16:33] >> Did either of you do this last year? [16:34] >> Yes. [16:35] >> Yeah. any particular memory that you [16:37] have from that that just made you smile? [16:40] >> Well, I remember seeing some kids that I [16:43] that I knew which was great. That was [16:45] that was special. And then you get to [16:46] run around with them in the inflatables. [16:48] >> I would say just um being able to see [16:51] the kids. I remember we played gosh we [16:53] were playing volleyball. We were playing [16:55] tag. It was great to just continue [16:57] building those bonds with the students. [16:59] >> Yeah. Carrie, how about you? [17:02] >> A memory that stands out. Oh, there's so [17:03] many great um stories that come out of [17:05] the events. Uh one one story that I love [17:10] is we had a family um that connected [17:13] with one of our resources that divulged [17:15] that they were um having a hard time and [17:18] were living in their car. [17:20] >> Um so a number of resources came [17:24] together and helped that family find [17:26] stable housing and connected them in [17:28] ways that might not have happened had [17:30] they not been at this event. So stories [17:32] like that um happen every year and we're [17:34] just so thankful for all the support [17:36] from the district. I want to say a [17:39] special thanks to the Minnotonka [17:40] Foundation for their support for this [17:42] event. Um the Minnotonka family [17:44] collaborative also supports this. Almost [17:46] all of our PTOs have supported this over [17:48] the last four years and it's just been a [17:50] great community outpouring of support. a [17:52] lot of staff and teachers involved in [17:54] your planning committee and [17:55] >> and so many so many teacher volunteers [17:58] and staff volunteers that come and are a [18:00] part of that night and are doing it [18:02] outside of their normal workday and are [18:03] just excited to connect with families. [18:05] >> Well, it's a terrific night. It's a [18:07] really fun thing to be a part of. [18:08] Ladies, thank you for all your [18:10] involvement and for being here this [18:11] morning. We appreciate it. Carrie, [18:13] thanks so much for what you're doing. [18:15] This is an exciting night. This is the [18:16] fourth year of it. [18:17] >> The fourth year. We're so excited. Just [18:19] a reminder, it is on Friday from 6:00 to [18:21] 8:00 at Minnetonka Middle School East. [18:24] There is food there. There is no sign up [18:26] needed in advance. Bring the kids and [18:28] it's really about connecting to the [18:30] different resources that can support [18:31] families. Everything from food and [18:33] security to housing or a variety of [18:36] needs. [18:36] >> It's going to be great. Um, so many [18:38] resources to connect with and it should [18:40] be a really fun night and thank you for [18:41] being a part of it. [18:42] >> Yeah, it's going to be great. Thank you. [18:44] As we close, I want to thank each of you [18:46] for being here, for all the work that [18:47] you do for the greater good and [18:48] inspiring our community. And to our [18:51] listeners, thank you for joining us. [18:52] We'll see you next time on AOY [music] [18:54] Minnotonka. [18:59] >> [music]