Wednesdays4Kids June 6

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

-- Albert Einstein

NEW REPORT: Minnesota Kids Count 2012
Our friends at the Children's Defense Fund have released their 2012 Minnesota Kids Count databook focusing on children across the state, especially revealing the unique challenges that face children in poverty in Greater Minnesota. Some of the key findings from the report include:

• Child poverty is on the rise: Over the last decade child poverty has increased by 62%, and there are currently 192,000 children living in poverty (or 15% of all children).
• Child poverty is not just a metro issue:  While inner-city child poverty is an issue, the region with the highest poverty rate in the state is North-Central Minnesota.
• Rural poverty offers unique challenges: When we consider access to resources, we see that in rural communities there are fewer available options for families living in poverty, whether it is stable jobs with benefits, access to health care providers, or quality child care providers.
• Demographics in the state are shifting: In Minnesota, the 2010 census revealed that the child population in our state actually decreased by about 3,000 children over the past 10 years. There has been a concurrent increase in the number of children of color.

For more information and to access the full report, check out the Children's Defense Fund's website, and check back on our blog later this week for more analysis of the information and how to take action to improve the lives of our children!

Thank You Sheltering Arms Foundation!
We want to give a quick thank you to the Sheltering Arms Foundation for granting $3,000 to iCAN to support our organizing and education work around the state.

iCAN Summer Sponsorship Campaign
Thanks to you and other friends, sponsors, volunteers, and advocates, iCAN is a powerful interfaith voice for children in Minnesota. This summer we need to raise $10,000, and your iCAN sponsorship will make that happen — Become an iCAN sponsor today! Follow the progress towards our goal at www.icanmn.org.