Kaleidoscope Place Staff • Kaleidoscope Place Board • Contact Info and Directions
Kaleidoscope was founded in 1971 by Messiah Lutheran Church and Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. The churches wanted to provide a safe place for children to go during the summer months. The churches made a conscious decision to not provide religious programming in order to be inclusive to all children in the Phillips Neighborhood.
In 1994, Kids’ Place, our after school program, began to provide homework help, basic skill instruction, and recreational activities after school. The program began with the purpose of helping children perform at grade level in school.
Kaleidoscope strives to not only be a resource to those in the Phillips Neighborhood, but to be an active part of the community. To help meet the needs of those in our community, all of the programming at Kaleidoscope is free to participants. Currently Kaleidoscope offers six programs: Kids’ Place, Youth Village, Summer Kids, Children’s Garden, Youth Staff, and Families Together.
Quendy Raymond
Executive Director
I joined Kaleidoscope in September of 2006. I spent six years working with homeless children and parents. For four years I worked directly with homeless children as an intermediary between their schools and their parents, and then spent two years working as a program manager. I received my Bachelors degree from Macalester College in St. Paul. Working at Kaleidoscope gives me the opportunity to expand my passion to work with kids by helping to create sustainable and enriching programs for the children and families of the Phillips neighborhood.
Maria Cooper
Program Director, Kids’ Place, Summer Kids, and Families Together
I was born and raised in the Twin Cities area and attended college at the University of Minnesota. I received my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Studio Arts in 1999. Shortly after, I moved to Portland, Oregon and worked as a graphic designer, an art gallery associate, and a camp counselor. In 2001 I attended graduate school at Portland State University and received my Masters of Education in Visual Arts in 2003. I decided to move back to Minnesota and start my career as a visual arts teacher and substitute teacher in Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools. In the spring of 2005, I became Kaleidoscope’s Program Director for Kids’ Place, Families Together and Summer Kids. The kids, the staff and the families make my day! The kids have taught me many valuable lessons such as: be creative, be resilient, laugh at your mistakes, and take time out to play.
Matt Christenson
Information Technology Officer, K-1 Teacher
I graduated from St. Olaf College in 1992 with a B.A. in Psychology and Religion. From that point I worked in the Information Technology field, but I knew I wouldn’t be there forever, as my heart to work with children and youth grew. I have been at Kaleidoscope since September of 2003. I started as the K-1 Teacher, and then took on some additional responsibilities as a Program Director for our Youth Village middle school program, and currently as the Information Technology Officer. I love Kaleidoscope because the kids are incredible and it is a healthy place for them with staff that really cares!
Kyle Broadnax
Volunteer Coordinator
I was born and raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area and recently graduated from Defiance College in May of 2009. I majored in Wellness and Corporate Fitness and minored in Sport Recreation. My experience working with kids varies from working at a summer camp, mentoring at-risk youth, to even student teaching. As of August 2009 I will be working at Kaleidoscope Place for the next year by way of the Lutheran Volunteer Corp. I chose to be placed here because I have a passion for working with children and I will be able to spread my passion to others who I will be recruiting to volunteer here.
Teachers
Katie Bissen
I recently graduated from the University of MN-Twin Cities in December 2008. I received my bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language-Hearing-Sciences. I would like to continue my education towards graduate school someday, but right now I am focusing on my time at Kaleidoscope. I found out about Kaleidoscope when I was a tutor for America Reads in 2006. I was a tutor up until I was hired to teach during Kaleidoscope’s Summer Program in 2008. I look forward to teaching full-time here at Kaleidoscope because I believe in what they stand for and am honored to be part of this organization; and I love being around the kids. Seeing the kids daily is a big bonus for me. Each of them have a different personality and bring something new each day. Kaleidoscope is a wonderful place and I’m grateful to be part of it!
Tahnea Brown
I attended Saint Paul College and majored in Child Development. I am currently a nursery and child care coordinator at Park Ave United Methodist Church. I also work in schools around the Twin Cities teaching ArtsLit, Spoken Word/Poetry, and Community Building. I’m super excited about all the kids as well as the staff. I came to Kaleidoscope because I heard it was an amazing place!
Matt Christenson (see above)
Teacher and Program Assistants
Diamond Gladney
Brianna Jordan
Amatullah Muhammad
Laura Weghorst-Chair • Donley Johnson-Co-Chair
Leslie Bell Pashalek-Secretary • Tom Gustafson-Treasurer
Linda Olson • Karen Ploetz • Robert Purvis
Roxanne Cunningham • Ann E. Keating
Kaleidoscope Place
2400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404-3713
Phone: (612) 871-9268
Fax: (612) 871-0173
Here is a map to show you where Kaleidoscope is located.
Parking
Kaleidoscope Place is located in the Center for Changing Lives on the corner of 24th St and Park Avenue. You may park in either parking lot off of Oakland Avenue, or use street parking on Park Avenue, Oakland Avenue, or 24th Street. Kaleidoscope Place’s entrance is by the playground in the parking lot located off of Oakland Avenue. Go through the double doors and ring the buzzer located to the left to gain entrance to Kaleidoscope Place. If it is your first time coming to Kaleidoscope Place you may enter at the Center for Changing Lives’ main entrances off of Park or Oakland Avenues, check in at the main desk in the lobby, and a Kaleidoscope Place staff person will come meet you.
From the South:
Take 35W North to the 31st St/Lake St exit. Go straight 1 block to Lake St.
Turn right (east) on Lake St.
Turn left (north) on Park Avenue S.
Go north 6 blocks to 24th St.
Kaleidoscope Place is located in the Center for Changing Lives on the corner of 24th St and Park Avenue.
From the North:
Take 35W South (assuming you are north of 94) to 94 West.
Take 94 West to the 11th St exit.
Take your first right (east) onto E. Grant St NOTE: This is just before the end of the ramp.
Turn right (south) on Portland Ave S.
Turn left (east) on 24th St. Go 1 block.
Kaleidoscope Place is located in the Center for Changing Lives on the corner of 24th St and Park Avenue.
From the West:
Take 394 East to the Lyndale Ave exit.
Turn right (south) on Lyndale Ave and follow the signs to stay on Lyndale Ave. You will want to be in the left lane when Lyndale goes under the bridge.
Turn left (east) on Franklin Ave. Go straight until you drive over 35W.
Turn right (south) on Portland Ave S.
Turn left (east) on 24th St. Go 1 block.
Kaleidoscope Place is located in the Center for Changing Lives on the corner of 24th St and Park Avenue.
From the East:
Take 94 West to the 11th St exit.
Take your first right (east) onto E. Grant St.
Turn right (south) on Portland Ave S.
Turn left (east) on 24th St. Go 1 block.
Kaleidoscope Place is located in the Center for Changing Lives on the corner of 24th St and Park Avenue.