MCEA

Creating Belonging Through Partnership: Osseo ECFE and Hennepin County Family Shelter

In fall 2023, Osseo Area Schools Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) learned that a location in the district was being used as temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness—many of whom were refugees. Families were living in small hotel-style rooms with little space to play. ECFE staff immediately began collaborating with community partners, including Helping Us Grow (HUG), to provide weekly visits for families with children up to age three. These visits offered parenting support and helped connect families to school and community resources.

From Bean to Brilliance: SoWashCo’s Schools Café Work Experience Course Brews Opportunity

In SoWashCo Schools, the Café Work Experience Course—part of the Adult Basic Education Program—is more than just coffee—it’s a recipe for career readiness and personal growth. This hands-on program offers participants the chance to gain real-world food service and hospitality experience while developing vital literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. Students take on every aspect of running a coffee shop, from crafting menus and designing name tents to managing job-costing spreadsheets. Along the way, they work toward earning both the Food Service Manager certificate and the Certified Food Protection Manager credential from the Minnesota Department of Health. The program also celebrates the inspiring personal journeys of its participants.