Admission Possible AmeriCorps members help paint a room at Families Moving Forward.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Service Project: Families Moving Forward (January 17, 2005): On January 17, 2005, Admission Possible staff linked arms and joined voices with more than 1,000 members of the Twin Cities community in celebrating the life, legacy and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  After participating in the annual March of the Twin Cities from St. Paul’s Central High School to Concordia University, staff had the opportunity to listen to several community leaders reflect on the theme of the event: “How Far From Freedom?  Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions. ”  Speakers included Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Efrem Smith, who urged the audience to continue to take action against injustice in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy. 

Following the program, staff spent the afternoon volunteering at Families Moving Forward, a nonprofit organization in north Minneapolis that provides temporary housing, permanent affordable housing and supportive services to low-income families with children.  Admission Possible staff painted, cleaned and sorted goods for distribution to families.  Americorps*VISTA Brooke Hanson reflects:  “The message that Dr. King embraced and proclaimed was that people of all colors, shapes, sizes and languages should be equal.  I see Admission Possible participating in this day as a way of working proactively in creating an equal opportunity for

Admission Possible students from Patrick Henry High School clean up at Shingle Creek.

low-income students to go on to higher education.”

Make a Difference Day (October 20, 2004): Admission Possible was proud to participate in National Make a Difference Day on Wednesday, October  20, 2004.  More than 350 Admission Possible students and 25 staff members came together for an annual day of service in which people all over the country work to improve their communities.  Admission Possible students and staff gathered at each of our nine high schools to clean up and beautify the grounds of the schools or nearby public parks.  Admission Possible students were excited to help improve their communities as an effort to recognize the integral part community members play in making the program possible for them.  At each high school, students and staff raked leaves and picked up trash in and around the grounds of their schools.  Students at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis cleaned up along the shores of nearby Shingle Creek.  At North High School in Minneapolis and Highland Park High School in St Paul, Admission Possible students and staff even recruited some eager student volunteers from outside the program to help!  Co-coordinator of the event AmeriCorps Member Lizzie Brodeen, said “It helped our students understand that they can make a difference.  Giving back to their communities helped to plant the seed for a lifetime of service.” 

Thanks to Minneapolis Parks Board for donating canvas gloves and garbage bags, and to Zach Norling for donating disposable cameras.