The Link (organization)
The Link was founded in 1991 by Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed, two former Minnesota Vikings football players, in collaboration with the late Leonard Lindquist1. The organization began by offering youth development services in the areas of math, art, athletics, theater, and job and leadership trainings. Since its inception, The Link has worked with youth using a strength-based approach, fostering each youth’s own resilience. Today, The Link serves over 600 youth and families annually. Over its 15 year history, The Link has touched the lives of an estimated 13,000 youth and their family members.
The Link is a community-based nonprofit organization, that provides in-home and in-community truancy intervention services; family support; community outreach and trainings; affordable, supportive housing; and after-school and summer youth groups. The Link is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serves Hennepin County and is expanding its services throughout the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Today, The Link currently has 22 staff members, 13 board members, and hundreds of partners and supporters in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
The mission of The Link is to build a supportive community network that links youth and their families to their inner strength through life skills, education, advocacy, supportive housing, and a dynamic network of social services to transform lives. The Link’s Project Potential program provides intensive case management, role modeling, and Health Realization training to youth at high risk for delinquency and drop out. Building Supportive Communities supports and trains students, parents, educators, school administrators and social service providers in Health Realization. Lindquist Apartments provides 24 units of permanent, sober, supportive housing for youth, ages 16 and up.