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UPDATE 9/17/20: Hedi’s story was featured on Kare11 and you can see it here.

A year ago, Hedi Moussavi was near death. Now, he is running his 50th marathon in Minneapolis on August 28 in honor of the memory of George Floyd.

Prior to mid-May, Hedi had never run more than 7 miles. But, on the anniversary of a spinal infection that nearly took his life in 2019, he looked for meaning for his existence, and set a goal to complete 50 marathons in 3-4 months. The idea came from a “feeling of helplessness” during this challenging year.

“I am trying to run an 8:46 per mile pace in honor of George Floyd, Minneapolis, the BLM movement and every group that’s been oppressed and continually beaten down by the system,” said Hedi.

This (run) is proof that no matter how hard someone might be beaten down in life,…nothing is more powerful than the human heart, and the infinite energy of love, compassion and dedication to a higher purpose.

Hedi Moussavi

Raising Money for TFP

Hedi has asked on his social media feed for donations of any amount that he will match up to $1,310 (50th marathon X 26.2 miles) for The Family Partnership. You can donate online here and please note in the “In honor/memory of: 50 marathon Hedi”.  

“I was so fortunate to have access to a good health care plan, to have amazing parents that took care of me, and a great support system that boosted my spirits when I was emotionally down,” said Hedi. “I realize that many don’t have these necessities. This is why it is important for me to support and raise awareness for an organization like The Family Partnership.”

As a volunteer on The Family Partnership’s strategic planning committee, Hedi knows our programs provide services to families in the hardest hit areas of Minneapolis – the Lake Street neighborhoods and North Minneapolis.

“We must continue to push for equality and justice whenever we can, because everyone deserves a chance at this life,” said Hedi. “Children are the future of this planet, and we need to provide them (regardless of background) with the tools to live a balanced, healthy, and beautiful life.”

We will provide an update on his 50th run!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Hedi on completing his 50th marathon on Friday, August 28th, with a time of 8:58 minutes/mile!

Photos courtesy of Hedi Moussavi

A message from Molly Greenman:

The murder of George Floyd is a horrific and incomprehensible tragedy. At The Family Partnership, we share the anger and sadness at the loss of another African-American man – a father, neighbor, and friend.

And, we understand the rage felt by many. “Hurt people, hurt people.” We also need to say it is clear where the problems lie – in systemic racism and inequity. Black Lives Matter. It is that clarity which sparked the protests everywhere, the truth that has haunted us for centuries captured on video in the murder of George Floyd.

The Family Partnership’s work is to provide time, space, and resources to help people heal—people who have been hurt and who are hurting on an individual level. Yet, people, especially black, brown, and immigrant people have been suffering at the collective level for generations.

Our beloved city is in pain, and that pain came out in many ways, including rioting in our own neighborhood. Now is the time that we, as community members, can come together to address that pain and respond powerfully to the murder of George Floyd.

The Family Partnership will continue our work on an individual level with families and children, to clear the path to success. We will also join with others to fight racism and inequity on a systems level to build a Twin Cities where all children and families, regardless of income or origin, reach their full potential.

The Family Partnership is re-opening our Children’s First Early Learning Center (as of May 20) and our Four Directions Family Center (as of May 26) with adherence to strict safety protocols.

Our preschool staff are using a phased approach as they invite enrolled families to return their children to The Family Partnership centers.

A detailed TFP COVID-19 Safe and Healthy Workplace Plan has been implemented to provide maximum safety for children and staff. The Family Partnership’s plan is science-based and follows the guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Minnesota Department of Human Services, and federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and includes, in part:

Unified Therapy Services

Our Unified Therapy staff will resume services to children at our preschools following all safety precautions. Our therapists are continuing working with children and families virtually until we resume services for other children at our facilities, or in facilities operated by community partners (such as PICA Head Start). More information on all services during COVID-19 here.

During this stay at home time, our music therapist Jessica Nagel is producing videos so our families can continue therapy sessions at home.

These sessions are fun, interactive times. However, music therapy is also an important developmental activity. Children develop language skills by singing repetitive, familiar songs. And, they gain motor skills by moving and dancing to the music.

Music also helps the brain to develop new neural pathways as rhythm and melody activate both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. In addition to other kids, our music classes involve parents/caregivers and their children, reinforcing prosocial behaviors. Music therapy helps develop children’s brain “executive functioning” (the ability to self-regulate behavior) skills.

Jessica is a board certified music therapist who interned at The Family Partnership and returned to work with us because of the families we serve.

Watch Virtual Music Therapy with Jess:

Feeling isolated or anxious? We can help.

If you or someone you know is feeling isolated, anxious or depressed – our licensed mental health therapists are here to help during COVID-19.

Contact our Central Intake lines.

While COVID-19  has changed our world, The Family Partnership’s mental health services are still here for children, adults, couples and families.

Our licensed therapists are available for confidential telemedicine for anyone seeking help and support. If you are feeling isolated, you do not have to be alone.

To connect with one of our therapists call our Central Intake Lines:
English/ Español: 612-728-2061
Hmoob: 763-569-2625

To learn more about our Mental Health services watch this short video.

The Family Partnership continues to support individuals and families in need of our services and resources by carefully following safety protocols during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Food and Groceries

Benefits and Financial Assistance

Transportation

Housing

Legal

Internet Service

Health and Wellness

List updated on 3/30/2020

Learn more about how The Family Partnership is continuing to serve families during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Serving Families During COVID-19 

The Family Partnership continues to support families with most of our programs remaining open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our remote workers are using confidential technology tools to support those in need of our services.

Contact us through our Central Intake Line:
English/Español: 612-728-2061
9am – 7 pm M-F, with after-hours messages returned the next business day.
Email:  info@thefamilypartnership.org

Programs assisting clients virtually include:

Preschools and Child Care

The Family Partnership re-opened our Children’s First Early Learning Center (as of May 20) and our Four Directions Family Center (as of May 26) with adherence to strict safety protocols. Our preschool staff are using a phased approach as they invite enrolled families to return their children to The Family Partnership centers.

A detailed COVID-19 Safe and Healthy Workplace Plan for The Family Partnership has been implemented to provide maximum safety for children and staff. The Family Partnership’s plan is science-based and follows the guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Minnesota Department of Human Services, and federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and includes, in part:

Unified Therapy Services

Our Unified Therapy staff will resume services to children at our preschools following all safety precautions. Our therapists are continuing working with children and families virtually until we resume services for other children at our facilities, or in facilities operated by community partners (such as PICA Head Start).

We have posted COVID-19 resources suggested by our program staff.

We are sensitive to the disruption our change in services means to those who need us the most. Our dedicated staff is committed to fulfilling The Family Partnership’s mission to building strong families, vital communities, and better futures for children.

Updated 5/26/20

Stay healthy and safe! 

For more information on COVID-19 visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website or the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website.

The Manhattan Toy Company (MTC) selected The Family Partnership’s North Minneapolis preschool as the recipient of the company’s first-ever “Happy Start” grant. The Minneapolis Company is donating 200 of its educational, high-end wooden and stuffed toys, and a check for $100,000, to boost the preschool children’s learning development.

“We want all kids to have a happy start in life, regardless of if they can afford our toys,” says Nora O’Leary, CEO of MTC.

We chose The Family Partnership’s Children’s First Early Learning Center for our first grant because they are doing great things right in our own community.

Nora O’Leary, CEO of MTC

O’Leary also cited TFP’s record with kids:  94% of the children attending TFP’s multicultural therapeutic preschools graduate “kindergarten-ready” vs. only 30% of all Minnesota children living in poverty.

More than toys – The $100,000 grant will support scholarships, transportation and family events, important services to the preschool’s families, 98 percent of whom live 200 percent below the federal poverty level.

Amanda Molstad, MTC, gives a toy to a preschooler during the 2019 Fall Festival

“The grant helps to provide financial stability so we can get kids to school and families can attend our hosted events and do activities together,” says Cassaundra Davis, Director of Children’s First Early Learning Center.  “Our teachers and kids were thrilled to unpack the toys and begin playing with them!  We plan to integrate them into our lesson plans.”

In addition, each preschooler will be able to select a toy to keep as their own!

For gift ideas from MTC for your family, see the KARE-11 story Toys that teach.

Openings available for families seeking reliable, quality care for children ages six weeks to 15 months! The new infant room recently opened at our North Minneapolis preschool.

”As soon as our current families heard about the room, they signed up their infant, so we have already booked three of our nine infant spots,” reports Cassaundra Davis, The Family Partnership Director – Children’s First Early Learning Center. “We have openings available for new families searching for reliable, quality care.”

First time The Family Partnership is helping infants

The infant room provides earlier intervention for The Family Partnership’s two generation (2Gen) approach to building strong families.

“We know there is massive developmental time in children from birth to 16 months,” says Caroline Hood, The Family Partnership Vice President of Programs. “Brain science tells us that the earlier we can intervene with our wrap-around services for families, the more difference we can make in healthy child development.”

Those services include access to unified therapies, parenting development, and other services identified by a dedicated caseworker.

For enrollment, contact Cassaundra Davis via email at cdavis@thefamilypartnership.org.