HF4844

Purpose

• Provide funding to support the Power of People Leadership Institute’s work through two programs: Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope.
• Aims to help students, especially girls of color facing social, demographic, racial, and economic barriers, improve graduation rates, pursue postsecondary education, and access workforce opportunities.
• Expand services beyond the seven-county metropolitan area and strengthen programs in the metro area and St. Cloud.

Main Provisions

• Money appropriated:
  • $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the Power of People Leadership Institute to sustain the Girls Taking Action program (including mentoring, academic support, health and wellness counseling, financial education, and career development).
  • $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner for a grant to sustain the five community-based Girls Taking Action programs in the seven-county metropolitan area and one community chapter in St. Cloud (one-time).
  • $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner for a grant to sustain and expand the Boys of Hope program to support boys in at least 14 schools in the seven-county metropolitan area and St. Cloud (one-time).
• All funds are one-time appropriations and come from the general fund, administered as grants by the commissioner of employment and economic development.

How the Funds Will Be Used

• For mentoring, academic support, health and wellness counseling, financial education, and career development through the Power of People Leadership Institute.
• To sustain and expand existing Girls Taking Action programs and establish new or expanded services in targeted areas.
• To expand Boys of Hope to more schools and reduce violence and behavior referrals, while increasing academic engagement.

Geographic and Demographic Focus

• Geographic scope includes the seven-county metropolitan area and St. Cloud.
• Target population includes students, with emphasis on girls of color facing barriers related to social, demographic, racial, and economic factors.

Expected Impacts

• Improved graduation rates.
• Increased pursuit of postsecondary education.
• Better access to workforce opportunities.
• Higher academic engagement and fewer violence or behavior referrals among participants.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This is a new, one-time funding appropriation from the general fund to support a private nonprofit program (Power of People Leadership Institute) and its initiatives. No statutory changes to program authorities or existing law are described beyond the new grant funding.

Relevant Terms - Power of People Leadership Institute - Girls Taking Action - Boys of Hope - seven-county metropolitan area - St. Cloud - general fund - commissioner of employment and economic development - grant - mentoring - academic support - health and wellness counseling - financial education - career development - one-time appropriation - demographics: girls of color - graduation rates - postsecondary education - workforce opportunities - violence referrals - behavior referrals