Who We Are
Project G.E.M. (Growth, Experience, Motivation) is a local non profit out reach arts based education program that serves special needs youth through cultural, environmental, and holistic/social education to assist in the development of creative self-expression & self-growth.
The goal is to educate youth in the community to enrich their lives. The program has been serving youth since 1995. Our placement program is set up for college students looking at going on to become teachers someday and wanting to gain hands on experience in a classroom. Direct Services and Recipients: Work with low income/special needs youth ages 5 - 24 years.
These special needs are listed as behavioral and social disabilities. The program does not offer services during the summer. Services are only available during the school year, September - May.
Requirements and/or restrictions of service: 1) Must have available transportation to location sites. 2) For any volunteer or service learning student, there is a placement training meeting required before starting any hours in the program. The placement training meeting is located either in Mankato or St. Peter.
What We Do
Project GEM is a huge supporter of service-learning placement for local colleges students since 1996. It has served well over 1800 college students and totaled over 12,000 hours of volunteer and service-learning time into the community.
The program specializes in placing college students into teaching positions. College students will teach a class of their choice in either art, creative writing, music, and theater/drama for special ed, alternative youth programs located in Blue Earth and Nicollet county.
One of our biggest special event service-learning placements is for the Annual Mankato Traditional Native American Powwow held every September. Please check out our website for more details if you are interested in getting involved with the event.
Agency Needs
