Northfield Union of Youth

The Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) is the longest-running youth-run youth center in America and just completed its 16th year of existence. The NUY makes it home in downtown Northfield, Minnesota, in a building called The Key, named after a co-founder of the NUY that unexpectedly killed herself weeks before the Key’s grand opening. The NUY’s mission is “to give power and voice to area youth and create a caring community.” The NUY/Key serves as an after school drop-in center for youth ages 12–20 and offers daily programming including Book Club, Record Club, Art Project, Radio Show, Photo Club, Movie Night, Writing Workshop, and various seasonal programming such as Garden Club and Unicycle Club. The Key hosts a college preparation program that matches community members with individual youth who are in the process of preparing for and applying to colleges. This program often works in conjunction with the NUY’s widely-heralded mentoring program, Main Street Mentors, which seeks to match youth with college students and community members based on individual interests or academic needs. The NUY makes a strong commitment to enlist its members in monthly service and civic engagement projects in the community. http://www.unionofyouth.org

History

In 1993, a small group of area youth organized and formed The Northfield Union of Youth(NUY). Youth participants met every Wednesday. By July 1995,the NUY had raised $10,000 and purchased a building in downtown Northfield to establish a youth run youth center. With the help of professional volunteers, the youth spent almost six months rebuilding. In December 1995, The Key officially opened its doors to area youth ages 12–20. The NUY currently leases the adjoining building from the City of Northfield for $1 a year. With the two buildings together, The Key has approximately 1,000 square feet, plus a 650 square foot back deck. The NUY youth board continues to meet every Wednesday to plan programs, organize volunteer opportunities, discuss fund raising and grant opportunities, and plan events. It is a meeting place and resource center available to all youth in Northfield.