A non-profit will be opening a new location in a stressed Saint Paul neighborhood in the near future and providing needed jobs to local teenagers. Cookie Cart Executive Director Matt Halley came to Club 10 to tell how his organization is "baking Bright Futures" in north Minneapolis and how that concept will soon benefit Saint Paul.

 

Club 10 Business Report



President Carla Hauge brought the meeting to order at 12:17 p.m. on a cool, cloudy fall day in downtown Saint Paul. Michael jon-Pease led the assembled Rotarians in singing Edelweiss, accompanied by Bob Jones on the piano. Carley Stuber provided today's invocation. Sarah Kohler facilitated the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests. Today's Greeters were Heidi Fisher and Sarah Kohler.

Bob Cardinal promoted next week's meeting at which David Hershauger will speak. Mr. Hershauger is a world traveler and author of the book "Daily Edge." Past President Al Zdrazil kicked off Foundation Month reminding everyone about the Rotary International Foundation and the Saint Paul Rotary Foundation, distinguishing the work of each foundation. He presented an Elmer L. Andersen Award (recognizing gifts over time to the Saint Paul Rotary Foundation totaling $1,000) to President Carla. Sarah Kohler collected Happy Dollars.

Ed Coleman introduced today's speaker, Matt Halley, Executive Director, of the non-profit Cookie Cart, "baking Bright Futures." Cookie Cart registered in 1988 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has a north Minneapolis base, but is coming to Saint Paul by 2017. Cookie Cart was founded by Sister Jean and in 1996 settled into its current home on West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. It provides teens ages 15 to 18 with lasting and meaningful work-life and leadership opportunities, teaching work, life and leadership skills. Cookie Cart has a "cool" bakery. All new participants start in the bakery and are paid employees. They master ten different "cast" areas then are placed into classroom experiences. Participants write resumes; learn "customer service/interpersonal skills;" gain financial literacy in partnership with credit unions; and participate in community events. Teens conduct cookie sales at corporate cafeterias; they learn what goes on in a business and on a corporate campus. This year 200 teens were employed for 30,000 hours of paid employment. In 2017, Cookie Cart is coming to the Payne and Phalen neighborhood in Saint Paul to provide employment and an alternative to the dangers of the street in a stressed neighborhood. Cookie Cart has specific program Goals: connectedness to new communities; interpersonal skills; critical thinking skills; goal orientation; and, employment readiness.

President Carla thanked Mr. Halley for his presentation and noted that a donation would be made in his name to the Saint Paul Public Library's "Read With Me" program. She also presented him with a Rotary coin and then led those assembled in a recitation of the Four-Way Test inscribed on it ("Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?"). President Carla then rang the bell to close the meeting at 1:06 p.m.

Chuck Standfuss, Scribe