The Northfield fireworks display originally scheduled for last night was postponed because of the threat of severe weather and has instead been rescheduled for tonight. The fireworks will begin at 10pm at Northfield Middle School. A statement issued by the city of Northfield advises people to plan ahead and allow for extra time to get to a viewing spot, due to road construction on Jefferson Parkway. Viewing areas near the fireworks display include the Northfield Middle School parking lot and south fields, Tyler Park, and the fields north of Jefferson Parkway. A statement issued by the City of Northfield asked those going to or watching the fireworks to please not block roads, streets, sidewalks, trails or driveways.
Northfield Union of Youth seeking host home for youth experiencing housing instability
As the problem of youth homelessness becomes more prevalent, the Northfield Union of Youth is promoting its own in-house program to help young people in need.
The Wallflower Project is a program offered by the NUY to develop a network of host families for youth who are experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or are in a bad situation where they live.
Adam Wille, the housing coordinator at The Key, said youth homelessness is a much larger concern than most people realize. Just in Rice County, he said, the vacancy rate for all housing units continues to hover around 1%. For youth, that problem is compounded by high rent costs and the lack of job opportunities depending on education. The Wallflower Project, he said, can offer young people some help and give them some stability in their lives and show them that there are people willing to help and support them.
Kelli Podracky, the Northfield Union of Youth Executive Director, said the Wallflower Project works with youth ages 16-24, which is the definition for youth used by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. She said the program is in need of more host homes willing to take in youth for a period of 3-6 months. While there are options for youth 18 and over, including a partnership with the Coratel Inn & Suites, the solutions for the younger people are more limited.
“You have more barriers and more challenges when you’re dealing with a minor, and that’s where a host home is really critical. If we have someone over the age of 18 and we don’t have a host home available, at least we can put them in a hotel. But we don’t have that resource for a minor. So that’s where a challenge comes in where we really need host homes in the community.”
Podracky said becoming a host home is far less difficult and far less involved than becoming a foster home. The commitment is not as long, and there is less bureaucracy. Host homes fall under the NUY’s insurance policy, she said, and there is simply less paperwork.
Wille said the ultimate goal for Project Wallflower is to own housing that can be staffed by professionals and offer temporary shelter for the young people in need.
“The end-all-be-all goal is for the Wallflower Project to have its own housing. Where we can ask ‘What’s going on? Can we help? Yeah. We’ve got a bed. We’ve got a room. We’ve got staff that are willing to help with the ABCD.’ We just want to give these youth a real chance when they may not feel like they have it.”
For more information on the Wallflower Project, or to inquire about becoming a host home, visit the Northfield Union of Youth website at unionofyouth.org.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Kelli Podracky, Adam Wille and Owen Amys-Roe can be heard here
Storytime will precede Wednesday night concert
This Wednesday night the Northfield Public Library will present Northfield native and local favorite Mark Joseph at Way Park as a part of the Library’s summer concert series.
Joseph is a Northfield High School alumnus who has made a name for himself as a solo musician, a music impresario well known for the concerts and festivals he has created, and as a member of the popular jam band, The Big Wu. He is currently promoting his latest solo album, Palisade Peach.
The library’s summer concert series, which runs every Wednesday in June and July, is a free, rain or shine event. The public is invited to bring a blanket or a lawn chair, pack a picnic and spend the evening in the company of other Northfield music lovers. Age Friendly Northfield will provide its 52 red chairs for those who need a sturdier seat.
The library’s bookmobile will be onsite at 5:30pm to check books out and give people the opportunity to sign up for a library card. A 20-minute Library Storytime will precede the concert. The stories are geared to kids 2-5 years old and their caregivers but the statement said all are welcome. The concert will begin at 6pm.
A statement released by the library said the series is a joint effort by Northfield Public Library, Northfield Public Schools Community Services, and the City of Northfield and made possible by a grant from Southeastern Libraries Cooperating thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
KYMN Daily News 7/5/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
