Ujamaa Place is a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty within the African American community in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota with a specific focus on transforming the lives of young African American men. It is inspired by the left-of-center concept of “equity” as it relates to race. 1
Ujamaa Place was launched in 2010 by community leaders John Harrington, Rick Heydinger, Bill Sands, and Bill Svrluga from the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. 2
Activities
Ujamaa Place is a partner of We Choose Us, a Minnesota-based coalition of left-of-center groups working to “expand multiracial democracy” and advocate for liberal policies. 3 It holds that African American males are suffering from “systemic, cultural, and political underutilization” as well as general disenfranchisement in the areas of education and employment, causing them to suffer at the “lowest end of the socio-economic spectrum.” 2
In response, Ujamaa Place’s leadership decided to set up an organization that would help African American males from ages 18 to 30 in the Twin Cities area learn skills that would lower poverty levels, reduce “recidivism and/or criminal activity,” and increase “child support compliance.” It claims to achieve this through a system called “Theory of Transformation,” which connects the youths with life coaches that teach lessons on housing, finance, family, community, the criminal justice system, and “wellness.” 45
Ujamaa Place is partnered with philanthropic organizations, corporations, politicians, law enforcement institutions, and community groups to achieve its goals. 2 Its criminal justice program, which engages in “social justice advocacy,” is partnered with 15 Now, All Square, state Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), the City of Saint Paul, the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, the Office of Justice Programs, Ramsey County, Minnesota State Senator Bobby Joe Champion (D-Minneapolis), the Great Rise, and the King Center. 6
Financials
In 2023, Ujamaa Place reported a revenue of $3,009,680, expenses of $2,717,269, and net assets $5,093,605. 7
Leadership
As of 2024, Christopher Crutchfield was working as the chief executive officer and president of Ujamaa Place. Crutchfield is an attorney and previously served as the deputy director of community relations for Ramsey County Community Corrections. He also teaches as an adjunct professor at Inver Hills Community College. As a legal partner at Capitol Heights Law Group, Crutchfield was responsible for securing one of the largest settlements concerning “gender equity” in Minnesota history. He has also been involved in various projects related to “anti-racism and race equity” over the course of his career. 8
Its board of directors includes chief deputy Ramsey County attorney Samuel Clark, CEO of Microgrants/Lights On! John Harrington, assistant chief to the intellectual property counsel of 3M Eric Levinson, and vice president of philanthropic services at Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation Jeremy Wells. 9
Ujamaa Place paid Linda Mahoney $164,393 for helping it raise $1,297,100 in 2023. Mahoney is listed on its website as its advancement director as well as an independent consultant. Prior to becoming a consultant, she worked as the vice president of strategic alliances for Scholarship America. 10
Ujamaa Place is strategically positioned to grow its capacity to serve more men by enhancing its Theory of Transformation service delivery model. The Theory of Transformation logic model consists of four (4) technical programs (Education, Employment, Housing and Behavior Health) supported by three (3) critical wraparound support programs (Cultural History, Criminal Justice Advocacy and 37 Transformational Services that view high-context African American coaches as the social change engineers of the organization, all critical in the transformation of the most marginalized population in society, African American men, aged 18-30. Critical and important funding from NWAF is allowing Ujamaa Place to serve a population other agencies will not enroll – young African American men who experience significant barriers, such as homelessness, lack a high school education, criminal justice involvement, and mental health issues. Since its first investment, NWAF has dramatically changed the lives of more than 5,000 young African American men.It is critically important to recognize that a 3-year investment from NWAF in 2021 allowed Ujamaa to build capacity to address the needs of a population marginalized, unserved and often neglected. The latest Wilder Research Evaluation of Participant Outcomes states: “Ujamaa Place participants are more likely to find and retain jobs and increase their personal income. Participants also earned educational degrees with the help of the Ujamaa program, improving their future lifetime earnings. Participants are also less likely to engage in criminal activities, which reduces the costs to society associated with law enforcement, incarceration, and victims’ costs.” The Wilder Research return on investment (ROI) analysis of Ujamaa Place suggests a return of $5.49 for every $1 invested in Ujamaa Place, as well as an estimated net gain for society of $3,389,594. This evaluation recognizes Ujamaa as having quantifiable impacts on not only participants but our communities as well. Men who walk through the Ujamaa Place doors have suffered from chronic bouts of homelessness, unemployment, addiction, connection to the criminal justice system and trauma from living life on the streets. As a result, Ujamaa Place men experience interruptions in their education and are academically at a 4th to 8th grade education level when they enroll in Ujamaa Place. The Ujamaa Place Theory of Transformation journey begins with stabilization services by assigning each man to a high context coach. Initial mentoring and coaching sessions, resulting in a transformation plan that gives the men access to Ujamaa Place’s support services at no charge, are used to help men reach their personal, educational, and employment goals outlined in each participant’s Individual Transformation Plan. ;
With deep appreciation, Ujamaa Place would like to quote Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF) President & CEO Kevin Walker, “ujamaa Place rebuilds the futures of young African American males.” The young men Kevin Walker referenced in early October 2020 identifies the more than 4,000 participants who have been enrolled in Ujamaa Place’S <strong<emtheory of Transformation</em</strong Program since 2010. These citizens represent generations of Twin Cities African American young men and the systemic racism they endure, even now, 155 years after slavery ended. Systemic racism is a topic talked about for years, but now more and more people in our communities are recognizing the impact it has on almost every aspect of our society. There is no doubt that is due in part to Foundation and Community leadership clearly speaking out.Systemic racism is among the greatest long-term threats our city and nation are facing, and the last two months have made that reality painfully clear, said Mayor Jacob Frey in a <a href=HTTP://news.Minneapolismn.Gov/2020/07/17/city-council-declares-racism-a-public-health-emergency/press release</a issued by the city following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. For Minneapolis to be a place where everyone can live and thrive, we must recognize this crisis for what it is and approach policymaking with the urgency it deserves. According to studies highlighted in the city’S <a href=HTTPS://lims.Minneapolismn.Gov/Download/RCA/14012/Declaring%20racism%20a%20public%20health%20emergency%20resolution.Pdfresolution</a, Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police as white people in this country. The imbalance has affected mental health in the Black community, but only one in three Black Americans who need mental health care receive it.Celebrating 10 years of service to Ujamaa Men and the community, Ujamaa Place strategically positioned itself in early 2020 to grow its capacity to serve more men by enhancing its <strong<emtheory of Transformation </em</strongservice delivery model. The <strong<emtheory of Transformation</em</strong logic model consists of four (4) technical programs (Education, Employment, Housing and Behavior Health) supported by three (3) critical wraparound support programs (Cultural History, Criminal Justice Advocacy and 37 Transformational Services that view high-context African American coaches as the social change engineers of the organization, all critical in the transformation of the most marginalized population in society, African American men, aged 18-30. Critical and important funding from NWAF is allowing Ujamaa Place to serve a population other agency’s will not enroll – homeless, criminal justice involved young Black men who lack a high school education while suffering the effects of mental illness.
Ujamaa Place serves formerly incarcerated African American men 18-30 years. Pohlad Foundation funding will support Ujamaa’s Theory of Transformation programming– a holistic approach to providing housing, education, workforce training, family relationships and ending criminal justice system involvement. Holistic and culturally specific services will help successfully prepare 350 Ujamaa Men for longer-term safe and secure housing and employment.
Ujamaa Place will use funds to serve young men who are transitioning from criminal justice systems. Programming includes homelessness prevention strategies, education support, and job placement.
For general operations to provide young formerly justice-involved African American men transformative wraparound programming: housing, education, workforce training, and mental/chemical health services, providing pathways to stability and gainful employment.
For general operations to assist young African American men released from criminal justice systems integrate into society with transformational holistic programming.
For general operations to assist young African American men released from criminal justice systems integrate into society with transformational holistic programming.
