by Jeff Mortensen President & CEO Do you have eyes that see the courage and struggle in the people around you? We each hold a unique perspective and are more likely to see those things that “fit” our own world view. With life’s many distractions and our personal mindsets, it takes being open with intentionality to [...]
By Sal Mondelli CEO Emeritus After a very rewarding four plus years as CEO, I have handed the reins over to Jeff Mortensen effective October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, as part of an orderly transition plan which was set in motion over 18 months ago. If five years ago you would have [...]
By Lisa Lusk Director of School Success Academic success is not a guarantee for any student. Even children who have all the tools and support in the world to reach their potential may have significant hurdles to overcome requiring hard work in order to succeed. Imagine what it must be like for a student who comes [...]
by Lisa Lusk Director of School Success Tears of joy and relief streaked down Sandy’s face when she processed the news. It was December, and the latest test results showed that her first-grader, Kylie, was now reading slightly above grade level, a monumental improvement from where she was at the beginning of the school year. Sandy [...]
by Sal Mondelli Chief Executive Officer Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” When a person makes a positive impact in the life of another, it produces a lasting legacy. Being a positive force in another person’s life can make [...]
By Sal Mondelli President & CEO It feels good to give. In fact, there are studies that suggest charitable giving is actually good for your health. This is the season of giving, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the 360 Communities Armful of Love holiday gift program. Just ask the Rotary Club of Apple [...]
Steven and Cindy are participants in our Dakota Healthy Families (DHF) home visiting program, which works to enhance parenting skills of first-time parents who live in Dakota County. DHF home visitors help create a family environment where children are safe, healthy and nurtured. They partner with parents to ensure that children are prepared for kindergarten. Steven [...]
Juan was a 4th grader at Mendota Elementary. He was acting out at school, lying, trying to get the attention of others, and often found himself in the principal’s office. Juan’s family emigrated from El Salvador because of the violence in their home country. Juan’s parents, Maria and Jorge, did not want to raise their children [...]
Did you know that a Wilder Foundation study found that in Minnesota children entering kindergarten unprepared costs the school system $113 million annually? Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life is critical for social and cognitive development and that the economic benefit of early childhood programs is substantial. 360 Communities invests in programs that [...]
In June, the Metro Alliance for Healthy Families received national accreditation from Healthy Families America (HFA), a program of Prevent Child Abuse America. The highly effective HFA model of home visiting is based upon a stringent set of 12 critical elements grounded in more than 30 years of research. The accreditation process involves an in-depth examination of [...]
