Holiday Reflections and New Year Aspirations

Rebuilding and Reimagining: A Centennial Year of Transformation at Phyllis Wheatley

Volunteers and staff at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center's Annual Santa Breakfast & Gift Giveaway 2023

A Centennial Celebration for Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

As we reflect on 2024, marking 100 years of Phyllis Wheatley Community Center’s legacy, we are humbled by the journey that has brought us to this milestone. The past century has seen great strides, as well as crushing losses in the fight for equality on the Northside of Minneapolis.

Over the past year, along with marking our centennial milestone on October 17, 2024, we've paused, assessed, and with great intention built organizational safeguards, institututed policies, and created a new sense of structure and accountability through teamwork and mutual respect for the brilliant, caring people we work alongside.. It's been a year of learning and growth, and one of transformation — with our focus on rebuilding and reimagining how we serve the North Minneapolis community as our legacy organization looks ahead to its role in the next century.

At Phyllis Wheatley, we’ve faced challenges that required resilience, creativity, and determination to surmount. From navigating unexpected leadership transitions and major shifts in organizational structure to strengthening our internal operations, building strong bonds between staff members united by a single mission -- to create pathways for individuals to discover their strengths and take control of their futures -- we’ve reconnected with our goals of listening, engaging, and meeting our clients where they are. Together, we’ve empowered individuals, supported families, and inspired hope.

A Special Thank You to Our Staff

None of this progress would have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our staff. Throughout the transition period, they have demonstrated incredible resilience, adaptability, and commitment to our work. Whether working directly with clients, managing programs, or supporting behind the scenes, each team member has played a vital role in carrying us through challenging times.

Your determination, compassion, and belief in the work we do have not only kept Phyllis Wheatley moving forward but have also inspired hope and healing for the community we serve. We are profoundly grateful for everything you do, and we are honored to have you as part of the Phyllis Wheatley team.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Donors and Funders

As we reflect on our centennial year, we are also filled with immense gratitude for our funders and partners. Your generous contributions have made it possible for us to continue our work, particularly in times of transition. Every dollar you’ve invested in our programs, in Camp Katharine Parsons, in our facilities, and in our people has been an investment in the future of North Minneapolis.

You’ve helped ensure that we can continue our legacy of community empowerment, supporting youth, families, and individuals in meaningful ways. Your gifts allow us to dream big and continue reimagining the future of Phyllis Wheatley, knowing that we have partners who believe in our mission. To each and every one of you, thank you for your generosity, vision, and support. We could not have come this far without you.

Reimagining Outdoor Opportunities: Progress at Camp Katharine Parsons

Progress toward the restoration of Camp Katharine Parsons continues, thanks to support from funders, donors, volunteers, and camp alumni championing the project. A treasured resource that has served generations of North Minneapolis youth, the camp sits on the shores of Oak Lake in Carver County, about 30 minutes from Phyllis Wheatley's North Minneapolis facility. This camp was once a place for children to explore nature, build confidence, and create lasting memories. After decades of wear and tear followed by 20 years of dormancy, the camp is in critical need of restoration to continue its legacy of impact.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and an initial grant of $550,000 from the Minnesota Legislature for pre-development work, we’ve made remarkable progress. Plans are underway to replace nearly all the original structures while restoring the historic Tree House, a centerpiece of the camp’s history, thanks to a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Nature House at Camp Katharine Parsons won a prestigious grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation chose to fund the old arts and crafts building that sits atop the camp's boathouse at the edge of Oak Lake in Carver County.

To Our Camp Katharine Parsons Supporters

A special thank you to those who have supported the restoration of Camp Katharine Parsons. Your investment in this project helps ensure that the camp will again serve generations of youth for years to come. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to preserving this vital community resource and for your ongoing support as we bring new life to this cherished space.

Outdoor Adventures Won't Wait

Until all funds are raised and reconstruction completed on the camp, we’ve launched a pilot program, our Mississippi Summer Exploration, which gives youth opportunities to connect with the natural world while learning about ecology, water safety, and local history. This program has won support from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which included our proposal rfor support for the initiative for the next three years in its 2025 funding bill. This will ensure that we can continue to engage youth in outdoor experiences as Camp Katharine Parsons undergoes restoration.

The capital campaign to revive the camp is underway, and plans are in the works thanks to our partners at Snow Kreilich Architects, 4RM+ULA, and Coen + Partners along with the generosity of our camp community. Every contribution brings us closer to restoring this vital community resource and ensuring its availability for youth, many of whom would not otherwise have the chance to experience nature and the many things it teaches us.

You can learn more about how to contribute to the campaign or volunteer your time at www.phylliswheatley.org/camp. Donate to the camp project through Phyllis Wheatley's Camp Katharine Parsons Community Fund at the Minneapolis Foundation.

Holiday Reflections and New Year Aspirations: Building a Foundation for Long-Term Success

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center’s journey over the past 18 months has been about more than just weathering challenges and celebrating successes — it’s been about creating lasting stability and ensuring a resilient future. Our work has centered on creating a strong organizational structure that will empower our incoming executive director, David Hunter II to hit the ground running when he joins us to lead our team on January 6.

We’ve taken deliberate steps to enhance our operational capacity, implementing updated policies, clear processes, and more robust accountability measures. These changes have allowed us to stabilize our day-to-day work and better align our resources with our mission. By addressing root challenges, we’ve built a framework designed to ensure transparency, responsibility, and lasting impact.

A revitalized Board of Directors has brought new perspectives, skills, and connections to guide us into the future. This renewed energy, paired with increased community engagement and partnerships, has positioned Phyllis Wheatley as a hub for collaboration and innovation in North Minneapolis.

A Thank You to Our Board Members and Community Partners

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Board of Directors and our community partners. Your leadership, guidance, and unwavering support have been instrumental in helping us navigate this period of transformation. Your commitment to Phyllis Wheatley ensures that we are not only building for the present but also creating a foundation for future generations to thrive.

Transitioning Leadership: Preparing for Our Next Chapter

Valerie Stevenson, a 24-year PWCC veteran, organizational historian, and program- and community-oriented leader will step down after a prolonged interim as executive director, but has taken the role of Senior Advisor for PWCC's next leader for another year.

As we prepare to welcome our new executive director in 2025, we are confident that the foundation we’ve built will set them up for success. This work has been guided by Valerie Stevenson, our interim executive director, whose 23 years of dedication to Phyllis Wheatley’s programs and her institutional knowledge and strong ties to the community have been invaluable during this critical time.

Under Valerie’s leadership, we have:

• Created a detailed onboarding process to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

• Stabilized our internal operations and streamlined our finance functions to ensure we maximize every dollar.

• Streamlined program operations to align with our strategic goals.

• Strengthened partnerships with funders, community organizations, and stakeholders to ensure continuity.

Valerie’s mentorship over the coming months will provide our incoming executive director with the insights and support needed to lead with confidence. The new leader will benefit from a stable, transparent organization and a cohesive team ready to move our mission forward.

A Unified Vision for the Future

This transformation is about more than structure—it’s about purpose. With a foundation built on resilience, we’re reimagining our impact in North Minneapolis. From restoring Camp Katharine Parsons to expanding youth programming and creating spaces for healing and growth, we are committed to serving the community for the next 100 years.

Thank You for Your Continued Support

As we step into the future, we want to express our deepest thanks to all of our donors, volunteers, and supporters. Your belief in our mission drives us forward, and we are profoundly grateful for your ongoing commitment to Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient North Minneapolis.

We look forward to unveiling our dreams, aspirations, and plans at our Centennial Gala, Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future, on April 11, 2025.

Your Role in Our Mission

As we embark on this next chapter, we are filled with profound gratitude for your gifts of time, treasure, and talent. We hope you'll to join us in celebrating the past and building the future. Whether through a sponsorship, auction donation, or attending the Centennial Gala, your support ensures our work will continue to make a lasting impact and allows us to expand our programming and offer more developmental opportunities for youth, skills for families to find financial stability and independence, and meet the needs of our community in innovative ways that will have an impact on every life we touch.

Find out how you can get involved in the centennial celebration at www.phylliswheatley.org/centennial. Donate to the centennial fund here or purchase tickets here. We can't wait to celebrate this momentous occasion with you, the people closest to our mission.

Together, we’re creating a future where stability meets possibility and healing sparks growth. With gratitude, we wish you a happy holiday season and can't wait to see you in the new year.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The Leadership Team of Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

Our Mission: We create pathways for individuals to discover their strengths and take control of their futures.