Integrative Youth Program
Our Summer Youth Program
Our Integrative Youth Program is a safe, affirming space designed specifically for Somali adolescents ages 9–16 — where young people come first.
Through evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care, we meet Somali boys and girls where they are — honoring their identities, their experiences, and their futures. Outdoor activities, sport-centered workshops, and mentorship are woven throughout the program to build confidence, emotional resilience, and academic growth in ways that feel natural and engaging for young people.
We know adolescence is a time of growth and complexity. Our program gives youth the tools to express their emotions, build healthy relationships, and develop a strong sense of self — rooted in both their Somali heritage and their lives here in Minnesota.
Meet Our Mentors
Every young person in our summer program is paired with mentors who show up consistently, week after week, as a steady presence beyond the classroom. Our mentors are screened and background-checked, and many bring lived experience from within the Somali and East African community, so the youth they work with see someone who understands both who they are and where they come from. Whether a camper is part of Roots & Rising or Voices & Vision, mentorship is built into the program, not added on.
Saynab Abdillahi- Program Manager
Two Groups. One Community.
Group A — Roots & Rising | Ages 9–13 The foundation years. A safe, affirming space for younger adolescents to explore their identity, build emotional confidence, and find belonging among peers who truly understand their experience. Sessions focus on emotional expression, cultural pride, school confidence, and family connection.
Group B — Voices & Vision | Ages 13–16 The future-building years. Designed for older adolescents ready to step into their power. Sessions focus on leadership development, mental health literacy, career readiness, civic identity, and healing — honoring both where they come from and where they are going.
What Our Youth Gain
A peer community that shares their bicultural, bilingual experience
Emotional validation — a space where their feelings are named, not dismissed
Somali history, language, and values treated as strengths
Mental health language and tools — without stigma or shame
Skills to navigate family dynamics across generations
Somali adult mentors and near-peers as living examples of what is possible
How It Works Sessions meet in person on Fridays, 3:30–6:00 PM, beginning June 12, 2026. Youth participate in age-appropriate groups that meet regularly throughout the summer, with special whole-group gatherings that bring the full community together. Our curriculum addresses emotional growth, behavioral development, and academic confidence.
Families are part of the journey. While youth are at the center, we support parents in strengthening their relationships with their children — helping families communicate across generational and cultural differences and become stronger advocates for their kids.
Yasir
Ikhlas
Kamaal
You’re not committing today — this just helps us learn how to support you.
We will be exploring the following theories and practices:
Trauma Theory and the Therapeutic Relationship
Sand Tray Therapy, Play, Activity, Theater and Trauma-Drama, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
Trauma-Focused Care
Vicarious and Intergenerational Trauma and Self-Care
Special Issues, including Sexual Exploitation, Community Trauma, and Sexual Behavior Problems
Addressing Unhealthy Co-Dependency through Cognitive Restructuring and Behavioral CBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Each cohort offers a unique opportunity for you to engage, create, and connect.
Our Youth Program: Building Trust, Healing Together
Our licensed providers work directly with families on the challenges they're facing right now, using evidence-based methods, including cognitive-behavioral approaches, in both individual and group settings.
What Families Learn
How to build trust with your child through body language and tone, not just words
How to move through defensive reactions instead of getting stuck in them
How to stay calm and connected even when your child's emotions run high
Practical communication tools rooted in a gentle parenting approach, no matter your experience level
Guided role play that helps parents and children practice connection and calm together, in real time
Strengthening the Bond, Breaking the Cycle
This program helps parents recognize how past trauma can be passed down to the next generation, and gives them concrete tools to break that cycle and build a healthier family dynamic. It creates a safe, non-judgmental space for honest conversations between parents and teens, always with a licensed provider present.
Rooted in Community
Through partnerships with K-12 schools across Minnesota serving Somali students, we bring this program directly into the spaces East African and Somali mothers and families already are, making it easier to access support and advocate for your children.
