Community Partners

Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA) is a public charter high school located in the West Phillips neighborhood not far from our sanctuary. AFA’s mission is to provide a passionate learning community dedicated to serving the academic, social, and emotional needs of high school students in a safe and welcoming community; to prepare students for life and careers; and to promote social justice and equity through education.

AFA was established in 2005 to support underserved students. Many of its 100+ African American, Somali, and American Indian students experience housing and food insecurity throughout the school year. For the past seven years, First Universalist Church has sponsored and stocked Food and Clothing Closets at the school. Our Sunday offerings designated for AFA support the Food Closet and other needs. Congregants have donated backpacks, school supplies, food and snacks, and teen appropriate clothing.  First U hosted the AFA Spring Prom in our social hall in 2018 and 2019. (Prom was cancelled in spring of 2020.) In past years, First U volunteers provided needed classroom assistance.

This year (2020–21) we collaborated with AFA staff to determine how best to provide support during the pandemic, given distance learning. AFA asked First Universalist to be their Community Partner and financial sponsor with Every Meal (formerly The Sheridan Story); each school participating in Every Meal requires a Community Partner to serve as the final sponsor for the donated food. Food bags are distributed at AFA on Fridays and through delivery by staff to student homes.

Current opportunities to support AFA include donating to support Every Meal and other needs. This fall congregants donated winter jackets for students; watch for information about additional clothing drives. We are exploring an opportunity this spring to pack food bags at an Every Meal warehouse; this opportunity is open to families (children must be over 8).  Rigorous safety protocols are in effect. Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which provides nutritious, high quality food bags to students in need; in the last 10 years 6 million meals were provided to Minnesota students in over 400 locations.

First Universalist Contact for AFA: Cindy Marsh (Reach out to the church office for contact information.)

Because we all benefit when we all have a home. First Universalist is a member of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, made up of over 100 metro area congregations working together to ensure all people have a home.

Beacon’s work (through congregations like ours) is in three areas:  First, a shelter program called Families Moving Forward, for families currently experiencing homelessness. Second, building affordable and supportive housing in the metro area with congregational public support and advocacy.  Beacon has built dozens of beautiful affordable apartment complexes around the metro for those with no or very low incomes. And third, organizing congregants (like us) to powerfully advocate for change, including change to laws and funding, help ensure all people in Minnesota have a home.

Together, we’re changing the conversation—and policies—at the local, regional, and state level to make home a reality for everyone. We all experience a stronger, more prosperous community by investing in home. This work also supports our church’s commitment to racial justice, as homelessness impacts communities of color at a disproportionately high rate.

There are many opportunities (ranging from very easy to more involved) to put faith into action in this area, including opportunities for organizing, powerful advocacy, fundraising, education, and training. First Universalist’s Beacon Leadership Team invites and welcomes you to explore these opportunities with us.

Please note: First Universalist has participated in Families Moving Forward for many years to host families experiencing homelessness in our congregation. Hennepin County is no longer referring families to Families Moving Forward (due to the high number of shelters in Hennepin county). Several nearby counties continue to participate. And so, our congregation’s FMF organizers are regrouping to understand what opportunities exist for our congregation to participate in FMF moving forward.

First Universalist Contacts for Beacon: Autumn Huiras and Sara McMullen (Reach out to the church office for contact information.)

We believe that everyone deserves safe and affordable housing, and we’re partnering in our community to make that happen. 

Our Habitat Team works faithfully in collaboration with our Community Partner, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. First U typically takes part in at least six build projects during the year, and all are welcome to join. No experience is needed, and it’s a chance to learn some skills and connect with a smaller group of folks from church. Watch our weekly newsletter for current builds, sign-ups, and updates from the Habitat Team. Visit our Twin Cities Habitat Volunteer Hub to grab your spot on the crew.