We Inspire Tomorrow's
Leaders, Today!

Encouraging Leaders mission is to provide the necessary tools and resources for youth and young adults experiencing poverty, trauma, or social injustice to become thriving contributors to society.

Our programs target BIPOC youth residing in the poorest neighborhoods in Minneapolis and around Twin Cities, particularly in the high-crime and poorest North Minneapolis neighborhoods. The diverse cultural groups we serve include African Americans (Black), American Indians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Pan African Americans (African born). Our beneficiaries are described as “Opportunity Youth”- both because they seek opportunities to improve their lives and present an opportunity to us if we invest in them. 

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Latest news

Encouraging Leaders recently we got an award for Employer of The year from the mayor, Jacob Frey of city of Minnesota!

Our Growth Statistics

Encouraging Leaders began its initiatives in 2015 as an advocacy organization dedicated to providing a platform where the BIPOC community can raise their grievances peacefully rather than violently. EL has grown to be a very influential organization in Minneapolis, being sorted by granters to execute transformative projects.

We spearhead over seven projects from different funders, including Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis. Our track record and dedication to transforming the lives of the BIPOC community have made us the number one Nonprofit organization that the BIPOC Youths look up to. Our achievement below is a clear indication of our growth:

Our funding has had a growth rate of 150% from the organization’s inception. We currently run a couple of funded projects, with the shortest duration being six months and the longest being five years.
We have a vast social media following, including on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
We have successfully provided career pathways to over 200 BIPOC youth who would have otherwise found themselves with no tangible career.
We have successfully provided case management to over 250 BIPOC youth and families experiencing various challenges, including addiction and violence.

Past Present Future

Our history

Encouraging Leaders (EL) is a youth-led, non-profit organization located in North Minneapolis and was formed in 2015 to provide an outlet for grieving for traumatized community members following the killing of Jamar Clark in North Minneapolis. Our mission is to amplify underrepresented voices by providing street outreach, mentorship and multimedia arts education to African American and Pan African youth dealing with hardships and providing them with resources to promote healthy living and healthier communities. 

Since our inception, EL has been a credible messenger of equity, peace, and prosperity in BIPOC communities and has worked to advance social and systemic changes for a substance-free and economically empowered community in MN, with a particular focus on BIPOC youth. Encouraging leaders, staff and Leaders are youth who have grown up in Minneapolis and are conversant with the challenges. Hence, our enthusiasm for what we do has been driven by the need to rewrite the story of the future BIPOC youths whose life depends on our struggles.

The Present

We are one of the most recognized and influential nonprofit in Minneapolis. EL has experienced core leaders who have successfully executed the different projects awarded. For instance, is currently managing seven (7) projects and initiatives. We are the lead fiscal agent, i.e., a subcontractor of MCCA coalition organizations that serve the diverse needs of the youth of color. The shortest project duration for our current grants is six (6) months, and the longest project duration is five (5) years. It is worth mentioning that Encouraging Leaders has remained in good fiscal standing with the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and other foundational granters throughout the several past and current projects where grant funding was awarded. EL has the manpower and expertise backup with years of experience as a fiscal agent and subcontractor of different organizations that execute awarded grants. EL has developed data safety policies and procedures applicable during the execution of the contracts by third parties. Furthermore, EL has a significant influence in Minneapolis and has developed partnerships with the community stakeholders that service the BIPOC community.

The Future

EL is dedicated to seeing the following transformation in the key pressing issues in Minneapolis:

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