Welcome New AmeriCorps Members!

We are proud to welcome three new AmeriCorps members to the Rebuilding Together Twin Cities team: Lisa Berglund, Alex Rosselli and Tyler White.

Lisa, AmeriCorps Project Coordinator, will be responsible for managing our home repair projects from start to finish, including previewing the home, developing a workscope, creating a budget, identifying volunteer and material resources needed to complete the home repairs, and supervising the work. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan and recently received a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.  She has also held several internships and has volunteered for various organizations.

Alex, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, will be responsible for recruiting, training, coordinating and retaining volunteers to provide critical home repairs for the homeowners we serve.  Alex recently received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Macalester College in St. Paul.  He has worked on several political campaigns and has experience recruiting and supervising volunteers.  Alex is passionate about affordable housing, education and economic development.

Tyler, AmeriCorps Safe at Home Coordinator, will be responsible for managing all aspects of our Safe at Home program.  Tyler recently received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine. While earning his degree, Tyler worked for the Home Depot, gaining valuable experience and knowledge about home repair and construction.  Tyler also has experience both as a volunteer and an intern for various nonprofit organizations.

Rebuilding Together, Inc. currently has 66 AmeriCorps members serving in 30 Rebuilding Together Affiliates in 20 states. The goal of the CapacityCorps program is to build the capacity of grassroots Rebuilding Together programs so they can be more sustainable, effective, and efficient in helping homeowners in need. This is the fourth year that Rebuilding Together has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Volunteers from Wells Fargo Help Two North Minneapolis Homeowners

On August 19th and 20th, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities partnered with Wells Fargo to repair the homes of two homeowners in North Minneapolis:

Chloe and Donald have lived in their home for more than 45 years.  All of their children and grandchildren live nearby, and Chloe often watches her granddaughter in their home.  Donald is a veteran of the Korean War, and he’s suffered from some health problems in recent years.

Kaye is a retired nurse and special education teacher.  She was born and raised in North Minneapolis and raised her two kids in her home.  However, staying in her home has become increasingly difficult for Kaye due to some health and mobility issues.

The Wells Fargo volunteer teams made a variety of repairs for these homeowners, ensuring that they can continue to live independently in safe and warm homes.  We would like to thank Wells Fargo for their continued support and hard work to help homeowners in need.  We look forward to partnering with you again!

Minnesota Timberwolves and Linx Work at Gibbs Museum

On August 17th, more than 100 volunteers from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Linx joined forces with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities to make repairs at the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life in St. Paul.  Volunteers installed new fencing, repaired existing fencing and worked in the gardens.  This is the fourth year in a row that Rebuilding Together Twin Cities has partnered with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the FastBreak Foundation to improve community spaces in the Twin Cities.

The Gibbs Museum is an important community resource that provides subsidized tours for schools serving lower-income areas, performs outreach programs in local schools, hosts programs for home-schooled children, and provides information about pioneer and Dakotah life to teachers in the nine-county region.

Thanks again to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Linx staff who came out to volunteer at the Gibbs Museum and thank you to the FastBreak Foundation for providing the resources to make these improvements!

Falls Prevention Awareness Day Is September 23rd

Did you know that every 35 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall?  In 2008, about 2.1 million seniors were treated in the emergency room for falls and more than 550,000 of these patients were subsequently hospitalized.  The total cost of all fall injuries for older Americans was $19 billion in 2000.  By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $54.9 billion.

These statistics are staggering, but there are ways we can help prevent older adults from falling in their homes.  For example, the Center for Disease Control lists home modifications, like installing grab bars and handrails, as one of the top four recommendations for reducing the risk of falls.

September 23rd is Falls Prevention Awareness Day, and we are taking this opportunity to share information with the community about falls prevention and what we can do to help older adults live safely and independently in their homes.  Through our Safe at Home Program, we make minor home safety and accessibility modifications, such as installing grab bars and handrails, for low-income homeowners who are older adults (+55) or individuals living with a disability.  These modifications are provided at no cost to the homeowner and can prevent falls, enabling older adults and individuals living with a disability to continue to live safely in their homes for years to come.

 

If you or someone you know might benefit from our Safe at Home program or if you would like to volunteer for this program, please contact us at SafeAtHome@RebuildingTogether-TwinCities.org or 651-776-4273.