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Come with us!

Waite House has provided community building activities, youth and service programs to the ever-changing Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis since 1969. Our holistic approach reflects the diversity of the Phillips community’s cultural backgrounds, languages spoken and life circumstances. With over 4,200 residents passing through our doorway in 2010 and a projected increase of community participants in 2011, our programs and services have reached capacity in our current space. It’s time for our space to finally grow with us!





Waite House has taken a leadership role in crafting a cooperative arrangement with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and five other community organizations to share the costs of operating the Phillips Community Center and make it the new home for our neighborhood center. With its double gym, teen center, kitchen, dining room, offices and ample parking, the Phillips neighborhood will greatly benefit from having a bigger and stronger community resource center.

Just as Waite House has been a foundation of support for thousands of our community residents over the years, Waite House now needs the support of the community to help us move into our new space. We need to raise $250,000 to renovate the Phillips Community Center to ensure that it is fully equipped and ready to become the new home of Waite House. Be a part of our New Roots with your tax deductible contribution.

 

  • 146 youth developed social, athletic, academic and life skills through our Waite House Youth Empowerment Programs
  • Community Cafe served an average of 5,000 hot and nutritious meals per month to adults, youth and seniors
  • 680 households received 10,200lbs of food each month from our food shelf

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What will this mean for the community?

 

FOR THE COMMUNITY CAFE

The Community Cafe serves a nutritional hot meal and a warm welcome to 250 people every weekday, a 13% increase from 2009.

  • A larger kitchen, with more food storage and updated kitchen equipment
  • A dishwashing machine, so disposable plates and plastic ware will no longer be added to the landfills
  • A dedicated dining room – 1/3 larger than the current space and room for cooking classes for Waite House youth and their families

FOR JOB SEEKERS

  • An expanded computer lab, offering additional support and tools for job seekers
  • A newly designed employment center, with easy access to job search resources

FOR THE FOOD SHELF

In 2010, 2,641 community members selected over 180,000 pounds of food from our “market style” food shelf.

  • The new Food Shelf is 85% larger, with wider aisles and an efficient U-shape
  • A larger, more comfortable and permanent waiting area
  • The food storage area is twice as large, capable of storing more donated food
  • Additional refrigeration makes it possible to offer more fruit and vegetables

FOR YOUTH

Sixty to eighty youth, ages 6-18, come to Waite House every day for a structured afterschool program that combines academic support, the arts, technology, athletics and civic engagement. Younger   children get help with math and reading through college-age tutors. Older youth participate in service learning projects and can earn scholarship funds for college. During the summer, neighborhood fieldtrips, swimming and gardening are added to the extended schedule, along with a nutritious lunch and healthy snacks. Many families access additional Waite House resources through their children’s involvement in the youth program.

  • Expanded recreation options through partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
  • Daily use of a full-sized gym
  • More classroom and tutoring space
  • A larger youth office to accommodate the 20+ staff and volunteers that work with youth and teens
  • A small private office for confidential meetings with parents and youth
  • An expanded art room that is 56% larger with more storage
  • Outdoor green space for recreation and community revitalization projects
  • The potential for year round swimming within two years if a new group, Minneapolis Swims, is successful in reopening the indoor full size swimming pool 

FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Mujeres en Liderazgo is a leadership development program that builds upon pre-existing skills, strengths and assets for Latina women in south Minneapolis. This program aims to develop Latina women who have the skills and leadership needed to be change makers in their family, work and community.


  • A dedicated office space that enables members of the program to more fully collaborate and organize with each other and members of the community on projects that support the neighborhood
  • A larger space for childcare that allows for parents (who do not have access to affordable childcare) to participate in workshops, trainings and meetings in the women’s leadership program