The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota is at the center of the 16th largest metropolitan area in the country. Scenic lakes offer year-round recreation. Arts and culture are explored at the city’s many local theaters and museums. Look beyond the modern downtown skyline of Minneapolis, however, and you will find members of the community who struggle with poverty and homelessness. Your group will minister to children and elderly residents of Minneapolis, and partner with local homeless shelters and other social service programs to love and serve in Jesus’ name.

Demographics

Minneapolis is located in southeastern Minnesota, on the banks of the Mississippi River. The population of Minneapolis is 372,811, and along with its “twin” city, Saint Paul, and their surrounding suburbs, the region has 3.2 million residents. From the 1880s to the 1930s, St. Anthony Falls—the only waterfall on the Mississippi—fueled the lucrative flour milling industry, making Minneapolis the milling capital of the world, and establishing many of today’s largest corporate employers. Visitors and residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, from fishing and boating on the city’s 22 lakes, to walking or biking on the many trails throughout the city. Indoors, people flock to the nearby Mall of America—the largest enclosed entertainment and retail complex in the country. The Twin Cities also boasts the largest theater district outside of New York City, with more than 25 venues and over 50 theater companies. The “City of Lakes,” as Minneapolis is often called, is also a city of diverse economic backgrounds. On any given night in Hennepin County, including Minneapolis, local homeless shelters house about 3,000 people. An additional 400 people sleep on the streets each night. Equally disturbing is the fact that 40 percent of Minnesotans experiencing homelessness are children. In total, nearly 17 percent of Minneapolis residents live below the poverty level, including 25 percent under age 18 and 11 percent over age 65. Come explore this beautiful city and enjoy a life-changing experience as you minister with and to the people of Minneapolis.

About the Ministry

Participants serve in a variety of ways during a YouthWorks mission trip. Students may spend all week at one ministry or switch between ministries during the week. Our goal is to partner with local organizations and programs that seek to address the very basic needs of residents. Students may serve at places like: Children’s Programs, Elderly Centers, Soup Kitchens/Homeless Shelters and Thrift Stores. We cannot confirm until all groups arrive exactly what ministries your students will be a part of during the week. We ask that you come with a willing and flexible spirit!

Activities

Evening activities during a YouthWorks week are designed to give participants insight into the lives of local residents and the culture of the area. A list of evening/cultural activities we have done in the past include: visit landmarks in the Twin Cities; eat dinner at Loaves and Fishes (local homeless shelters); attend a community Bar-B-Q; and ride the Light Rail to visit Minnehaha Falls. These are examples of what your group might partake in during your mission week. These examples are subject to change due to weather or availability. In case of change, suitable substitutes will be provided. We try to arrange for free evening activities, but from time to time, an additional cost may be required for an activity. Please plan to bring an additional $10 per person to cover any extra costs. We will confirm the details closer to your trip.

Ministry Week

Partnering with Local Ministries.

Mileage

Minneapolis is located in the southeastern corner of the state and is about 30 minutes south from the Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport, depending on local traffic.

Transportation & Travel

Each group is responsible for transportation to and from the site, and during the mission week. Minneapolis can only accommodate standard 15 passenger vans or smaller.

Additional Information

If you would like more information on what there is to do in Minnesota and surrounding areas before or after your trip, visit the following Web site: www.exploreminnesota.com.