Black Meetings & Tourism - Minneapolis Convention Center Opens Its Doors To Project Homeless Connect

Hospitality Heartline
Minneapolis Convention Center Opens Its Doors To Project Homeless Connect
The Biannual Event Offers Resources and Help to City’s Homeless The twelfth Project Homeless Connect - Minneapolis on Dec. 12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center drew more than 1,500 people who are homeless or teetering on the edge. An estimated 1,000 volunteers and 400 service providers from 125 agencies were on hand to help. The event is a one-stop shop for people experiencing homelessness, connecting them to resources and services that can help break their cycle of homelessness. Now, in its sixth year, Project Homeless Connect – Minneapolis is one of 28 such events around the state. The first event attracted 500 people seeking help. The last event in May drew thousands, including many people who were impacted by the May 22, 2011, tornado in Minneapolis. The event is held twice a year at the MCC in donated space, in December and May, to offer its services to the community. The MCC’s exclusive caterer, Kelber Catering, donates free, hot meals to the attendees at each event. “Project Homeless Connect is a nationally recognized best practice in ending the cycle of homelessness,” said Cathy ten Broeke, the director of the City of Minneapolis – Hennepin County Office to End Homelessness. “Many guests who come for services leave the event feeling more hopeful that they can escape homelessness and they know that this community actually cares. They also often leave with things that actually help them escape homelessness; a line on a job, registration for a training program, long sought after benefits, and even occasionally keys to an apartment. This is a truly remarkable community, from the volunteers to the providers to the businesses who sponsor this work. They are all making a difference.” About Minneapolis Convention Center A blend of form and function, the MCC provides aesthetically pleasing and innovative solutions for a variety of conferences, trade shows and events. With nearly 480,000 sq. ft. of trade show space, 87 column-free conference meeting rooms, a 28,000-sq. ft. ballroom, and an auditorium with superb production and flexible technology options, the facility can handle any event from a small meeting to a large convention or trade show. About Meet Minneapolis Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area. Online: www.minneapolis.org On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

Hospitality Heartline

Minneapolis Convention Center Opens Its Doors To Project Homeless Connect

The Biannual Event Offers Resources and Help to City’s Homeless

The twelfth Project Homeless Connect - Minneapolis on Dec. 12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center drew more than 1,500 people who are homeless or teetering on the edge. An estimated 1,000 volunteers and 400 service providers from 125 agencies were on hand to help. The event is a one-stop shop for people experiencing homelessness, connecting them to resources and services that can help break their cycle of homelessness.

Now, in its sixth year, Project Homeless Connect – Minneapolis is one of 28 such events around the state. The first event attracted 500 people seeking help. The last event in May drew thousands, including many people who were impacted by the May 22, 2011, tornado in Minneapolis. The event is held twice a year at the MCC in donated space, in December and May, to offer its services to the community. The MCC’s exclusive caterer, Kelber Catering, donates free, hot meals to the attendees at each event.

“Project Homeless Connect is a nationally recognized best practice in ending the cycle of homelessness,” said Cathy ten Broeke, the director of the City of Minneapolis – Hennepin County Office to End Homelessness. “Many guests who come for services leave the event feeling more hopeful that they can escape homelessness and they know that this community actually cares. They also often leave with things that actually help them escape homelessness; a line on a job, registration for a training program, long sought after benefits, and even occasionally keys to an apartment. This is a truly remarkable community, from the volunteers to the providers to the businesses who sponsor this work. They are all making a difference.”

About Minneapolis Convention Center
A blend of form and function, the MCC provides aesthetically pleasing and innovative solutions for a variety of conferences, trade shows and events. With nearly 480,000 sq. ft. of trade show space, 87 column-free conference meeting rooms, a 28,000-sq. ft. ballroom, and an auditorium with superb production and flexible technology options, the facility can handle any event from a small meeting to a large convention or trade show.

About Meet Minneapolis
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Online: www.minneapolis.org
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis