Wilder Foundation
You may have heard of it.  You may have benefited from it.  You may have no clue what it is.
Let's take a look.

About the Wilder Foundation

The Wilder foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to help vulnerable people in the east metro area of the Twin Cities ( Minneapolis/ St. Paul MN.) What they do is first research the needs of the targeted population and then look for the best practices to meet peoples needs.

The programs aren’t meant to be a band aide to cove up the problem but a solution which allows their clients to “ Thrive”.

The Programs that the Wilder Foundation offers are designed to work with three specific groups.

First : children and families.  The unique needs of individuals are met by designing culturally- specific that help children and families with health needs, school success, housing, mental health, and even jobs support.

The child guidance clinic is nationally recognized as providing a safety net for children who would otherwise fall through the cracks.  Children who are uninsured ,low income, unavailable to get the services they need.

My life is touched by Kofi services.  This is a part of the organization that reaches out to African-American Students in the school where I work, and helps to meet their needs in a personal way.  They never force themselves on a family.  I can talk with a family that might benefit from the services they provide, and only if they agree, will someone contact the family to offer services.  The primary purpose of the program is to increase and/or support the positive functioning of young African-American youth in the home, school, and community. The services are designed to help a family thrive with in a culturally sensitive setting.

Second: older adults.  As with all of their services, the services provided to older adults ,are those underserviced.  Low-income and disabled adults are provided with the services that they need to live a healthy independent life.  The services for older adults actually were the first services that Wilder provided.  They date back to the 1906 visiting nurses program.  They address everything from heath care to mental health to housing. They even have an arts program called Life long learning in the arts. According to their surveys this has allowed seniors to feel more confident, less lonely ,and even more physically fit. 

 Thirdly:  Community, Research, and Leadership.  They bring together nonprofits, business, foundations and government to work on finding solutions to the communities critical social issues.  They work together to help the create the governmental changes needed to meet the needs of the communities on the east side of St. Paul.

The Wilder is a long-standing, trusted, service organization, that is here to meet the communities needs ,now and in the future.  This is possible by donations from individuals, corporations and an endowment.

Wilder Reaches beyond the east metro area that it services.   Through an agency called Minnesota Compass Wilder does research throughout the state to provide information on issues that impact the quality of life through out the state.  It provides people with the information they need to improve the economy and quality of life within their own community’s

The services, research, information and education provided by Wilder help people to feel safe, understood, and appreciated for who they are.  They allow people to have  positive identity within their community.  They allow them to create a life with meaning.