The Link

Open Your Heart provided The Link with funding to help them provide youth experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities with necessities to stay safe, warm, and nourished during the winter months.The Link is a Minneapolis-based youth and adult-led nonprofit that provides crisis intervention, emergency shelter, housing, and supportive services to youth and young families who are experiencing homelessness, sex trafficking, and/or are involved in juvenile justice or child welfare systems. Their mission is to work with youth and families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice. The Link was founded in 1991 by two Black community leaders and former Minnesota Vikings (Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed). They recognized the need that at-risk and homeless youth had on the Northside of Minneapolis. The Link has grown to serve youth throughout the entire metro area, but is still based out of North Minneapolis and continues to work to provide services within the original vision of their founders. The Link’s 23 programs provide critical services to over 2,000 youth every year. Through their programs, they are specifically working with communities that are heavily impacted by racism and oppression, providing concrete ways to meet basic needs, resolve crises and further empower young people to gain stability and achieve their goals.