The Link was founded in 1991 by former Minnesota Vikings players, Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed, who wanted to support youth in North Minneapolis who were being victimized by crime, getting involved in crime, and who were struggling with poverty and homelessness.
The Link is still based in their original vision and in North Minneapolis. The Link has grown from a two staff member organization with three programs to an organization that has 28 programs across the Twin Cities area, employs over 150 adult and youth staff members and supports over 2,000 youth and young families each year. The Link offers programming in three areas including their Housing and Services division, which offers housing and supportive services for youth and young families experiencing homelessness; their Youth Advocacy Division, which offers positive alternative programs for youth in the juvenile justice system; and their Safe Harbor Division, which offers emergency shelter, housing and supportive services for youth who have been sexually exploited.
