Transforming isolation into connection at CornerStone Center
Drop into the CornerStone Community and Youth Center in Frazee, and you will see youth finding connection: flipping crepes at the bistro, creating art in the maker space and singing karaoke in the lounge.
This social hub has been described as a “beacon” of support. The project was inspired by local research that found many
local kids face deep isolation. Mackenzie Hamm, executive director, worked with the University of Minnesota Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships to transform a retired Methodist church building into this innovative, youth-focused entrepreneurial space.
As a preteen, Emma Ketter (pictured left, with Karen Pifher) struggled with social anxiety. Since getting involved at CornerStone, she’s pushed herself outside her comfort zone, becoming a youth board representative and writing testimony that was read at the state Capitol. In the mural she painted on CornerStone’s walls, she wove messages of support: “You belong” and “You are enough.”
Highlights
- Colton Sayer, Height of Land 69’ers 4-H Club member, received 4-H animal scholarships (Rabbit $100, Sheep $200 and Swine $200). Eleanor Lage, Wild Things 4-H Club member, also received a scholarship (Poultry $100).
- Master Gardener volunteers are active in Becker County, teaching how to grow produce for cooking, composting, managing garden pests and how to save seeds. They’ve also grown produce for local food shelves.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Hanson family
- Kari Koenig, Aquatic Invasive Species coordinator for Becker County, participated in Class 15 of the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Leadership Institute. Participants build proficiency in critical areas such as communication, team building and visionary leadership that provide them with the skills to do effective conservation work across Minnesota.
- SuperShelf: Becker County Food Pantry
- The Climate Adaptation Partnership is making available new resources on future groundwater and soil moisture conditions for Becker County, allowing communities to address issues such as irrigation needs and drinking water availability based on long-term precipitation changes.
Becker County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Becker County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.