Get to Know Bridging Agency Partner Face to Face
Cook and advocate Julie M. adds an extra ingredient of love in her work alongside youth.
“I love being in the role of cook,” Julie says. “Because food is love. When you cook for someone and add that extra ingredient of love, they feel it.”
Julie McCarthy is the cook and one of six youth advocates at SafeZone, Face to Face’s drop-in day shelter for youth ages 14-24, open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in East St. Paul.
Face to Face, a St. Paul-based youth services organization and a decade-long Bridging agency partner, referred 64 youth to Bridging in 2024 alone. Young people often hear through word-of-mouth that they can drop by SafeZone for a warm meal, hot shower, and free laundry facilities, and find much more in their supportive community.
“The youth come in and have some warm food. They have some warm conversation. It can change the trajectory of their day. They’re sustained and nourished for whatever they have to do for the rest of the day,” shared Julie.
Face to Face’s team provides a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach that supports each young person’s unique goals and aspirations, as part of their work to collaborate with youth on advancing economic and healthy equity for them and their communities.
Case managers and advocates connect youth with resources and opportunities like Face to Face’s mental and physical healthcare (at SafeZone or their Eastside Clinic), housing, education and employment opportunities, and justice support.
The youth at SafeZone are resilient and constantly building connections, new skills, and independence within this supportive community that is often the first place they have found true belonging. Working alongside staff at Face to Face, many youth secure stable housing and a referral to Bridging.
Staff often assist youth with completing Bridging paperwork, coordinating transportation, and sometimes accompanying youth to a Bridging appointment.
“When a youth gets into housing, —somebody we have helped place in housing or someone who has gotten housing before coming to SafeZone, our drop-in day shelter — most of them furnish their homes through Bridging,” says Julie.
“It’s exciting to get your place, and it’s REALLY exciting to furnish your place at Bridging! Many youth would not have access to furniture without Bridging.”
The Face to Face team actively supports Bridging’s important work in the community. Last year, Julie and three team members, dressed as
Kitchen Betty and the Utensils, participated in the Bedrace for Bridging! This year, two Face to Face Bedracing teams will participate in the event at Buck Hill!
Julie sees the impact of Bridging services and encourages people in her networks to support Bridging through the Bedrace and other engagement opportunities.
“I think just putting it [Bridging’s mission] out there to people is important! When you already work with a place like Bridging and SEE the good work that Bridging does for youth, it’s easy to talk about it! Friends and family want to support an organization like Bridging because it’s so important for youth and the community.”
Thank you, Face to Face Team, for your partnership and incredible work with youth!