Freeport Saint Paul hosted its 3rd Annual National Night Out Celebration on Tuesday, August 3rd. Nearly 300 guests from the Saint Paul Rondo neighborhood gathered outside the Youth Center on Selby Avenue. The evening began with a barbeque and guest speakers, City Councilmember Melvin Carter and Saint Paul Police Chief Tom Smith, welcoming community members to the event. Both speakers shared memories and stories of their experiences in the neighborhood and thanked those present for coming out. The evening was filled with a variety of talented entertainment, including musical performances by Tight Fit, Blended Soul, KMAD, Mekhi Davis and Ice Dude. The Flawless Drill Team and the Immortal Dance Team also performed, energizing the crowd of guests gathered to watch. The event concluded on a note of high energy, with dancing in the street as Ill Chemistry performed during a 3 on 3 basketball tournament.
A number of prominent community members made guest appearances throughout the evening. Commissioner Toni Carter joined in the festivities along with Irna Landrum of the Summit University Planning Council. The Saint Paul Police Department’s Mounted Police and K9 Unit, as well as the Saint Paul Fire Department stopped by to engage with the neighborhood youth. Many enjoyed the chance to greet the horses and climb in and out of the fire truck. At one point in the evening, the Tru Breed Motorcycle Club made the crowd cheer with a roaring entrance on their motorcycles. The coming together of the community at the Selby Avenue event made the entire evening a great success.
Since opening its Saint Paul Youth Center in the summer of 2008, Freeport West has provided unique programming to the Rondo neighborhood of Saint Paul. The Youth Center offers outreach and mentoring, programming teaching life and leadership skills, and assistance with housing and basic living needs. The Freeport Saint Paul Youth Center is continuously growing to address critical social issues including additional housing resources for at-risk teens and young adults, teen violence and domestic violence programming and teen pregnancy prevention. The National Night Out event provided an opportunity for the Youth Center to celebrate the neighborhood and the young adult community Freeport supports. In 1970, Freeport West began as a shelter for runaway and homeless youth. Over the past 40 years our non-profit has grown to offer a full range of services and programs to help youth and young families experiencing poverty, oppression, institutionalization and violence receive adequate resources and ample opportunities. Today, with locations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Freeport serves approximately 2,700 youth annually, providing guidance and education in regard to housing, education, job readiness, health and wellness, and leadership development.
For more information on Freeport West and the programs and services we provide please call 612.252.2738 or visit our website at www.freeportwest.org.
