We are excited to welcome our two newest tenants to the Damiano Center, BikePlus and Mentor Duluth.
For those of you who don’t know, in addition to the six Damiano programs that are in our building, we also have seven tenants that rent space from us. We love that this truly makes the Damiano a community center where the whole community can come for a variety of services.
We would like to introduce you to our tenants so that you have a better understanding of all the services that are available within our building. Please click on each organization’s name for a link to their website for further information.
BikePlus, Room 216A
BikePlus, a program of Community Action Duluth, was designed to address and close the transportation gap in Duluth. There are many people who do not have a driver’s license, or cannot afford to drive a vehicle or carry insurance. They offer comprehensive on the road education, and participants can weigh in on upcoming policies, planning and projects. They aim to build community relationships and develop leadership and advocacy skills. With their bikes, people are gaining access to opportunities, improving their health, and participating in their community in new and exciting ways.
Bois Fort Urban Office, Room 204
The Bois Forte Duluth Urban Office opened in August 2017. The Duluth Office provides ongoing service to Bois Forte Tribal Members residing in and around the Duluth area, including the five counties St. Louis, Carlton, Lake, Pine, and Douglas. Some of the services include information & referral to local resources, computer use for employment & housing search, forms/applications for Bois Forte and Duluth area programs, faxing/copying/printing services, cultural activities, advocacy, notary, and other types of services based on individual needs.
Camille Hurtado, Room 203, 218-464-4877
Camille Hurtado has been providing full time assistance, as a non-attorney representative, to individuals who are applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI) disability benefits for over 29 years. The sole focus of her business is to assist claimants residing in Northern Minnesota with their SSI/RSDI disability claims. She is able to explain the standards used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine eligibility for disability benefits and assist with presenting evidence to SSA.
Duluth Community Garden Program, Room 214
Duluth Community Garden Program (DCGP) has been working to bring people together at urban gardens throughout the city of Duluth for over 40 years. DCGP strives to cultivate healthy neighborhoods by providing access to land, resources, and community. The program was started in 1977 by neighborhood organizers in Duluth’s Central Hillside. Today, they steward 20 community garden sites — over 255 garden plots organically gardened by over 200 families. DCGP strives to make gardening as financially and physically accessibly as possible to Duluthians. They provide plots on a sliding fee scale so that anyone, regardless of resources or experience, can have a place to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, DCGP has a garden and food preservation tool library and hosts a plethora of events and workshops through out the year.
Heart for the People, Room 216B
Community Advocacy for families involved in Family Court and/or Child Protection Systems. The Heart for the People (HFP) advocates build trust with families through engagement and support to enable advocates to accompany families as they navigate through mandated services and systems. Advocates take extra care working with families because of the current issues present that are cause for removal of children that leads to trauma to the family unit, as well as distrust to system and service workers. Through development of trust and nurturing family strengths, advocates assist families in problem solving, addressing barriers to success, and seizing opportunities of healing. Program goals include increasing families’ inclusion and active connections within their community; increase supports and networks of families; ensure families are afforded opportunities; nurture the growth of family resiliency. HFP developed by collaborative efforts of three agencies: First Witness Child Advocacy Center; Center Against Sexual and Domestic Assault; and Indigenous People Center, and is funded through the Duluth Superior Area Foundation, as part of the Opportunity Gap Initiative.
Mentor Duluth, Room 209
Mentor Duluth works to match positive adults with youth in the community in a one-on-one, community-based mentoring relationship. Mentors and mentees can do a variety of activities together; sports, outside activities, arts and crafts, cooking, baking, volunteering, etc. Mentor Duluth currently serves 220 active matches and there are 200 children on the waitlist waiting to receive a mentor. Mentor Duluth is a collaborative made up of 6 youth-serving agencies dedicated to providing high quality mentoring to the Twin Ports.
Praxis International Inc., Room 202
Praxis International, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that works toward the elimination of violence in the lives of women and their children. For the last twenty years they have worked with other progressive social change organizations and programs across the country to work toward the elimination of oppression. Their four national technical assistance programs work to integrate the full range of women’s experiences within advocacy, Social Services, Law Enforcement, Prosecution and the Judiciary to create social change.
