1. Meadowbrook Collaborative
Reinvesting in Families & Children
Apr – Jun 2009 4072 Meadowbrook Lane • St. Louis Park, MN 55426 • www.meadowbrookcollaborative.org
THE VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENT
While our financial forecast matches that of the world economy in general… I will
tell you that our investment in Meadowbrook’s families and children is at an all
time high!
 We successfully finished another school year. Twenty‐eight students in
grades K – 8 participated in our Homework Help program, as did 10 adult
volunteers.
 Thanks to our volunteers, we were able to in the spring start a tutoring
program that has continued into the summer months for our English
language learners.
 We cultivated a multi‐cultural garden plot, and soon began to see the
vegetables and friendships grow in unison, and the emergence of new
leadership. We sampled each other’s foods and stories and laughed and
cried.
 We have celebrated birthdays and good grades and helpful behavior. We
have even been known to sing and dance and laugh at silliness.
 Three of our youth enjoyed summer camp at Camps Warren and Menogyn,
thanks to the generosity of the YMCA & its supporters.
 We began programming for pre‐kindergartners who are developing good
listening skills and cooperation and learning their letters and other important
things.
 We cooked healthy food and learned new healthy life skills with caring
adults. Dr. Homans taught us about the heart, and asked his colleagues to
teach us about our lungs and more. We learned new exercises, and how to
take care of ourselves so we can grow up strong!
 And we had a party to celebrate another year gone by… and our friends and
families came together to watch our story in a movie entitled Meadowbrook
Collaborative: The First 15 Years.
Please read on and learn more about what’s happening in the Meadowbrook
community of St. Louis Park. As always, I welcome your questions and ideas, and
invite you to visit.
Have an enjoyable summer!
Linda Trummer

2. Reinvesting in Families & Children
Apr – Jun 2009
ARtWORKS taught students self‐expression through cartooning
Many special thanks to the City of St. Louis Park for its arts
& culture grant that allowed us to teach kids the joy of self‐
expression through cartooning.
While twelve students started the class in January, nine
dedicated young artists stayed with us and finished in June.
The students each received professional sketchpads and
drawing pencils, along with personalized tote bags.
Every week the students helped design their own
homework, and weekly shared their selected “best work”
with the whole class. The children, grades 3 – 6, learned
self‐confidence and the importance of practice, completing
their homework, being on time, and pride in learning a new
skill while completing the 6 month program.
The success of the program is largely credited to our
instructor, local artist Jon Reiss, assisted by Susan Hodder.
Jon made art “fun,” and Susan kept us all on track!
Summer Early Childhood program jumpstarts pre‐kindergartners!
This summer of 2009, we re‐established a summer learning readiness program, one that would as before
run in conjunction with our summer playground program, offering the kids some “classroom” time and
outside activities with the older kids. It is working beautifully, and the kids are growing by leaps and
bounds. Early childhood education is important to all children, but especially critical to those who do not
have access to other opportunities. We want our kids to be ready for school success.
Funding for early childhood initiatives is extremely important to all kids. We are currently working with
Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin (“CAPSH”) to access funds that will be used not
only for this summer’s jumpstart program, but also to:
 train parents on how to provide child‐care;
 provide parents with the skills to operate in‐home child care;
 provide children with a safe, quality child‐care program;
 target 3 – 5 year old children and provide them the skills needed to be ready for school and to
achieve school success.

3. Reinvesting in Families & Children
Apr – Jun 2009
Crime Free Multi‐Housing
Lt. Lori Dreier of the St. Louis Park Police Department provided the following
statistics. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Lt. Dreier at
952/924‐2131.
Summer Playground Program
We are having a great summer of recreational fun for kids. [Parks & Recreation staff] Gina, back for her
second year at Meadowbrook, and Stephen are doing an awesome job. In addition, one of our former
Benilde‐St. Margaret’s High School volunteers, now a college student, has returned for the summer. Jon
Garamella led the charge of our Applebee’s pancake breakfast two years ago. He is an amazing young
man and a favorite among the kids.
A Westwood Nature Center naturalist also visits once a week, teaching the kids fun and important facts
about nature and the environment. Most recently, we learned about spiders. Here are some great
pictures:

4. Reinvesting in Families & Children
Apr – Jun 2009
G.U.S. – Growing Up Strong concludes by putting kids on wheels
The GUS program was funded by a grant from the Medica Foundation. It was designed to encourage
lifelong healthy living. Beginning in January, a dozen kids, grades 1‐6, met two hours each week for six
months. They exercised, learned about the food pyramid, cooked and ate healthy recipes, and created
their own recipe books. They also went on field trips to The Bakken Museum and Park Nicollet’s Heart &
Vascular Center. At the end of the session, those participants who completed the program received
rollerblades and safety gear.
Congratulations to Marco • Arrianna • Arrie • Lioul • Emely • Camarie • Wambleeska • Trinity • Makayla
Special thanks to teachers Kelsey Okey and Brian Weitz; Rebekah Forrest for donating back to the
Meadowbrook Collaborative 100% of her professional services; Dr. David Homans and his colleagues at
Park Nicollet Health Services; Hoigaard’s for a discounted price for rollerblades and safety gear; The
Bakken Museum for free admittance; and, to Medica Foundation for awarding us the grant that made this
program possible.
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Part of my joy comes from watching the faces of the children when they see someone special return for a
visit. One of the things they can always count on is that we’re going to be there and people like Gina and
Jon, Kelsey and Dave, and many others – are going to be there from time to time. The mere presence of
my car setting in its usual parking spot is a sign to many that all is well. Imagine that! In a world that feels
so uncertain to us all, especially for children who tend to be unsettled because of family circumstances,
seeing the friendly face of a caring adult is important. It keeps kids grounded, makes them feel safe.
On a Final Note
Teacher Kara Bancroft has resigned her position with Homework Help. Kara was our first teacher, and the
person I credit for setting the stage for a great program. Kara, you are an inspiration and a friend.
“To learn and never be filled, is wisdom; to teach and never be weary, is love.”
For us to continue this good work, your support is needed and appreciated. You can easily make your tax‐
deductible gift on‐line at https://pnfoundation.parknicollet.com/SSLPage.aspx?pid=265&srcid=265. Just
designate your funds to the Meadowbrook Community. Park Nicollet Foundation is our fiscal partner will
send you a receipt for your gift. Thank you for helping us reinvest in families and children.