Dedication to quality child care When Mischelle Ulrich first applied to work at 360 Communities, she recognized that the organization did more than address immediate needs. They had their eye on prevention and investing in future generations. This upstream vision inspired Mischelle to work on supporting quality child care access in her community in various [...]
Instability at home affects performance at school The start of Alejandro’s kindergarten year should have been full of excitement, making new friends, and learning. But he was often absent, and when he would return to school, it was like starting the year over again. His behavior and class participation suffered, and he was not getting along [...]
A message from Jeff Mortensen, President & CEO I once heard someone say that humans are the most adaptable creatures on earth…when forced to be! Human history is full of all kinds of crises, periods of growth, and steep recessions. These experiences, and the accumulated lessons learned, help us innovate and transform if we also inspire [...]
a message from President & CEO Jeff Mortensen 360 Communities started as a small group of social-minded individuals who turned belief into action. Their unifying desire to live out values for the good of others was contagious and engaged the broader community in contributing time and resources for over five decades. By building [...]
Delivering safety & stability for 25 years Twenty-five years at one organization is a rarity these days. But Emily Thompson says it has not seemed that long to her. “Well, thinking about it being half the existence of the organization, it sounds kind of bizarre, but I’ve done three or four different jobs. So it [...]
For any student, the start of their senior year of high school can be somewhat stressful. For Jordan, she found herself homeless in the middle of a pandemic. Fortunately, she had a friend whose family invited her to stay with them. But Jordan faced many adult decisions most students are not prepared to handle on [...]
This year's election goes beyond who will be president. Your vote is your voice on issues affecting housing, education, employment and healthcare. Help make a difference in your community and let’s vote on or before November 3rd! Have you registered to vote yet? Do you know how to track your absentee ballot? Information can be found in 11 languages [...]
Lydia separated from her husband at the beginning of the school year. Her landlord removed her husband from the lease, but rental payments were still linked to his bank account. When her husband stopped making payments, Lydia and her two children were at risk of eviction. So, staff at her two boys’ elementary school referred her [...]
by Jeff Mortensen President & CEO The pandemic has caused increased levels of uncertainty and anxiety across communities. Dakota County experienced a 3,000% increase in unemployment applications, with more than 37,000 people seeking help in just the last 30 days. Although COVID-19 presents an extraordinary crisis in recent history, families who struggle through hardships have [...]
By Jeff Mortensen President & CEO Already this year, at least 14 Minnesotans have been murdered in domestic violence-related incidents. Victims include two sisters, a mother of three, the elderly, and a family member who intervened to stop his cousin’s assault. The devastating impacts cut across all socioeconomic lines. We need to change in our society. [...]
