Depot Youth Engagement Project - Partners Report 2011Depot Youth Engagement Project
Partners Report 2011
Busy Year, Bright Future!
A good mix of innovation and building on successful past events kept
• everyone at the Depot very busy in 2011. Our goal for every event is youth
participation - in the planning, in the marketing, in the activity, and in the
evaluation. Our live music events continue to bring youth from the entire
West Metro to the Depot.
Financially, we are finding our way in a nonprofit environment that has
been shaken. Many of our traditional funders are experiencing a decline in
investment income and donations. By limiting our expenses, working some
unpaid hours, and seeking a broader base for funding, we have survived.
Hopkins School District
Park Nicollet Foundation
EventIncorne
• Donations
City of Hopkins
Rental Income
0
Depot Income 2011- $97,500
Depot Expenses 2011- $91, 000
Personnel (1 FT, 4 PT)
Building Expenses
Attendance/Participation for Depot events:
•
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Annual
EVENT DESCRIPTION
%
Total
Youth
Attendees
OPEN MIC NIGHT
Held every Tuesday, "first come" sign ups, no charge to
90%
2000
participate or be in audience. Volunteers run event, 1-2
staff. Average weekly audience is 35-40.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE AND LOCAL MUSIC
Held on Fridays throughout the year. Most bands are
96%
7000
high school students — sometimes Depot "alumni" bands
play. There are time slots for up to 4 bands. An average
of 80 - 150 attendees and 10-15 performers each night.
Volunteers (5-10 people) run event with a minimum of 2
staff.
BOARD SUPPORTED EVENTS
In order to find times for all the youth bands wishing to
95%
1000
be on stage at the Depot, 1-2 Wednesdays per month
will be run much like a Friday concert night.
Additionally, the Depot hosts and staffs open admission
events for other youth organizations like Teens Alone,
Hopkins and Edina Earth Clubs, Wayzata KIVA.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Board members meet at least once a month for business
96%
400
and planning as well as representing the Depot at
community meetings or in community service projects.
It is the same 12-18 people throughout the year.
ESTIMATED ANNUAL TOTAL ATTENDEES
10,400
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•
2011 Depot Highlights
The Depot annual MLK
Weekend Board and Staff
Retreat took place at YMCA
Camp Ihduhapi and
included group activities,
individual challenges,
review and evaluation of
the past year's events, and,
of course, goal setting!!
Music Events - The Depot reputation for hosting live music by and for area
students continues to strengthen. In addition to bands, many solo
performers take the stage to sing, play, do spoken word piece, stand-up
comedy, even Shakespeare! It is a low risk, highly supportive environment
with good equipment and with advance ticket sales promotion- can even
• provide pizza and gas money for performers. Teens Alone and other youth
allied groups bring their fund-raising events to the Depot to share in the
popularity of the venue and great customer service provided by our student
event staff. At the very end of the year, the Depot was awarded a grant
from the Minnesota Regional Arts Council to begin a sound stage recording
and mixing program so that the live performances at the Depot can be
captured and shared. We hope to have this set up by the early Spring.
•
New Positions - Youth Event Staff (Team YES!)
These part-time staffers have enabled the Depot to host more youth events
and rent out the space more often for private use.
Peter Mariutto Rik Lundgren Patrick Williamson
3
(Re)New(able) Energy at the Depot! •
One of the biggest and most dramatic events for the
Depot was the installation of solar panels on the
entire south facing roof of our 100+ year old train
station building. For years Depot students have
been seeking out ways to "green" the Depot
building and the ways the community uses it. The
Depot has intoduced commercial composting to Hopkins, switched to CFL
light bulbs, planted native shrubs, trees, and flowers, installed a rain barrel
to water all the plants, encouraged bicycle use, offered products that are
organic and fair trade, and supported local businesses and artists whenever
possible. In keeping with this commitment, the Depot sought funding to
add solar energy producing panels to the south -facing roof. The work was
completed just in time to take advantage of the longest day of the year on
June 21st. The Depot has the first non-residential solar array located
within the City of Hopkins. The funding came from the Solar Legacy Fund in
the MN Dept. of Natural Resources and was administered by Depot
Partner organization, Three Rivers Park District.
Now when •
people stop in
for music, a
meeting, or
just to pick up
a cold drink
and an energy
bar, it is
possible to
stop in to see
on our flat
screen monitor
how much
''" energy is being
produced at the Depot and how much is being used at any given time, or
over a period of time. Coffeehouse and concert guests can also learn about
renewable energy and how our system works. Field trip demonstrations
can be arranged for any grade level - classrooms or science clubs.
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4
•
•
C.
In the 13th year of our operations, it is clear
that the Depot must continue to increase
the number of sources from whom we
receive support. With the help of pro bono
legal counsel from the Minneapolis offices
of Dorsey and Whitney, we have
established the Depot Youth Foundation.
The Foundation will be able to participate in
fund-raising efforts like Give MN and solicit
funds from foundations and individuals who share our goals for the youth
of the community. Another boost to our sustainability came from our
relationship with the Hopkins/Minnetonka Recreation Services and the
City of Hopkins. In addition to the significant in-kind support we receive
from these Partners, we will now be part of their yearly budget cycles and
Depot Project Manager Ted Duepner will be in charge of Youth events for
Minnetonka Recreation Services.
After a meeting with members of the Park Nicollet Foundation Board, the
Depot was recommended to the Sapphire Consulting Team at Carlson
Business School. This group of business school students did some excellent
market research and analysis over the course of a whole semester,
providing our student Board with a package of actionable items to help us
build our program and funding base.
When Hopkins Mayor Gene Maxwell traveled to Ukraine with a Sister City
economic and civic development delegation, he presented a Depot slide
show prepared by our Board Chair. When it came time for the reciprocal
visit from the citizens of Boryspil, Ukraine, they all wanted to see the
Depot! Board Chair Alex Aronovich happens to be a Russian speaker and
served as host and interpreter at a wonderful breakfast reception at the
Depot. In any language, the Depot message is one about youth
empowerment and community partnerships!
Depot staff and students continue to
represent the Depot in community
meetings and events. One of the most
anticipated events of the year is the
Depot Halloween Party which was,
once again, a big success
To learn more about the Depot:
thedepotcoffeehouse.com
9451 Excelsior Blvd.,
Hopkins, MN 55343
Depot Board Chair Alex
Aronovich from Wayzata
HS speaks at Sister City
Breakfast.
The slide, "Nashi
Zadacha" is the Depot
Mission Statement in
English and Russian. •
Report prepared by: Jo Clare Hartsig, Depot Resource Coordinator
6
0 For Immediate Release
Contact Info: Jo Clare Hartsig (952) 4516440
Hopkins Depot Coffee Business Shifts Management to Youth Project
Beginning in February, all operations at the City of Hopkins Depot Coffee House are being
managed by Youth Project staff and led by the Depot Youth Board of Directors. Under this plan,
coffee operations, previously under private management, will be part of the City of Hopkins
fiscal management but will not be subsidized by municipal funds. Net proceeds will be
contributed back to the weekly youth programming that occurs year round at the Depot.
According to Ted Duepner, Youth Project Director, "This will bring the business management
piece of our operations even closer to our student Board Members. They have been eager to
jump in making decisions about product selection, pricing, and hours of operation. We will also
be hiring more students in order to provide them with business and customer service experience
along with specialized barista training".
0
The Depot will continue to provide commuters, trail users, local business people and families fair
trade organic coffee, locally sourced products, and friendly service. Daytime and evening rentals
are available for groups and individuals wishing to have exclusive use of the historic Freight
Room. For more information about rentals, contact Ted Duepner at tedduepner&gmail.com ,
thedepotcoffeehouse.com/rent.
Current winter hours of operation are open every day at 7AM. Mon ti17:30pm, Tues. Open Mic
til 1Opm, Wed. til 4pm, Thurs. til 7:30pm, Fri. til 11 pm, Sat and Sun til 4pm.
•