Frogtown Loop launches

The Rondo-Frogtown Loop van is on the road, providing transportation and opportunities for children and teens ages 10-18. The $1.5 million project is a joint effort between the St. Paul Department of Parks and Recreation and St. Paul Public Libraries.
St. Paul City Council members, meeting as the Library Board, heard a presentation about the circulator van in April. The Parks and Recreation Commission has also heard presentations during its planning.
All have praised the project and agree it is much more than a transportation program. Young people involved can use the van to travel and take part in a wide range of activities.
The idea is nothing new. It has been raised in past neighborhood plans, and there have been smaller efforts over the years to provide such youth-focused transportation. Library Director Maureen Hartman and Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez, who praised city staff for making the program happen, said the program is more than just rides. They also cited the strong collaboration between the two city departments in making the program happen and the work of city staff to get the program underway.
Kali Freeman, community services coordinator for the project, said the loop makes it easier for services to be connected and serve young people who may not otherwise be able to get to their destination.
One part of the program, Freeman noted, is the partnership between the city and community organizations to provide culturally affirming programming. The two partners are the Black Youth Healing Arts Center and Network for the Development of Children of African Descent. The latter group focuses on literacy. The center is one of the van stops; the literary-focused group holds its events at the Rondo Community Outreach Library.
Another is to link people to regular family nights and the information and resources provided at such events. The first was held April 16. Freeman said these events promote engagement in learning and building community connection.
Drivers go through background checks. Passengers need permission slips signed by parents or guardians. Permission slips are at Rondo Community Library, West Minnehaha, Frogtown Community, Jimmy Lee/Oxford, and Martin Luther King recreation centers. The slips can also be found online.
The Rondo-Frogtown Loop is funded with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using state funding, After-School Community Learning Programs.
The van schedule is posted, as is a schedule of activities and the loop map. Go to https://www.stpaul.gov/residents/the-loop. 
If you need to access the permission slip in a different format or have additional questions, call Kali at 651-266-7419.