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Reconnect
When the release date comes, and the key is turned, and you walk out those prison gates, a new life begins. However, closed and locked doors also await you on the outside when you have a felony record: doors to jobs, housing, and more. You need a "key" to open those doors and get a new start in life. A listing of Resource Links is listed below.
RECONNECT, a program of AMICUS, is an information and referral service especially for ex-offenders. We understand the special challenges that come with being an ex-offender. We can help you link up with:
- Shelter and housing
- Employment
- Identification
- Education
- Aftercare programs
- Clothing
- Family services
- Single-parent resources
- Food shelves
- Furniture
and much more. If you tell us what your needs are, we’ll try to find a resource that can help. We handle each case individually to try to surround you with a circle of support for your new life. Use the release planning guide in this brochure to organize your thoughts, and give us a call.
We don’t get involved in business between the ex-offender and the Department of Corrections, and we don’t advocate for you in the judicial system. But if you need practical help and leads for housing, jobs and other needs, we’ll meet with you individually and help you locate resources to build a new and positive life.
RECONNECT services are available through consultations in prison and also at the AMICUS office in downtown Minneapolis after your release. You can also access helpful information through RECONNECT Online. Contact us today to set up an appointment.
RECONNECT also welcomes employers, landlords, and service providers who might be willing to hire, rent to, or assist ex-offenders to contact us for information and be added to our resource list.
For more information call or email Ruth Johnson, RECONNECT Program Director - 612-348-8570.

Ruth Johnson is meeting with a client for services.
Letter
"Dear Dona and Greg,
I hope this letter reaches you in the best of health. I’m doing fine—OK, great. I’ve got a job at McDonald’s in Eden Prairie. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s a start. I started last week, working 40 hours a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
I’m constantly planning my future, and grateful to have people who have supported me and helped me get to this point. I was down at AMICUS the week before last. Dona gave me my birth certificate, whereupon I went to get my Minnesota I.D. I took your suggestion and am having it sent to AMICUS.
I’ll be writing Richard Amos next week about getting an apartment upon my release September 7.
I’ll be calling you Monday at approximately 3:30 p.m., #1 to see how y’all are doing, and #2 to see if I can get a bus pass for work.
My biggest goal in life is to be a responsible person, to stop hurting and taking away from the community and start giving back: sharing the knowledge I’ve gained and helping the young brothers with their self esteem and worth.
Always grateful,
Derrick
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| Here you'll find Reconnect resources and sites that are related to ours. We have listed phone numbers to call, however you can follow the hyperlinks (where available) for more information. If you know of more links that we should list here, email us at staff@amicususa.org |
| General Resources |
Greater Twin Cities United Way - 211 First Call for Help Call 211 for information and referrals in Minnesota
Alliance of the Streets A program of St. Stephens, Minneapolis
Restorative Justice Community - Minnesota A listing of resources in Minnesota.
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| Employment |
www.startribune.com/workavenue (Listings from the Minneapolis Star Tribune)
www.pioneerplanet.com/jobhunter (Listings from the St. Paul Pioneer Press)
www.co.hennepin.mn.us/jobs/jobs.htm
www.co.ramsey.mn.us/hr/index.asp
www.iseek.org (Contains lots of information about applying for jobs, interviewing, etc.)
www.mnworkforcecenter.org/jobs/jobnet.htm (Contains a link to the Minnesota Job Bank)
www.careerbuilder.com
www.jobweb.com
tbrnet.com (note: you do not need to type "www" for this site)
Agencies specializing in employment:
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Workforce Centers (Minnesota Department of Economic Security) call (888) 438-5627 or visit www.mnworkforcecenter.org
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Wilder EXCEL Job Club, call (651) 917-6225 for more information
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HIRED, call (612) 529-3342 or visit www.hired.org
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Project For Pride In Living (PPL) call (612) 874-8511 or visit www.ppl-inc.org
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Twin Cities Rise!, call (612) 338-0295 for more information
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| Public Transportation |
Metro Transit bus system, call (612) 349-7400 or visit www.metrocouncil.org/transit/index.htm
Anoka County Transit, call (763) 422-7075
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (Burnsville, Eagan, etc.) call (952) 882-7500
Plymouth Metrolink, call (763) 349-7000
Dial-A-Ride Services, call (612) 559-5057
Metro Mobility (disabled) call (651) 602-1111 |
| Housing |
If you need a place to sleep tonight - Call 1-888-234-1329 The MESH-TCCVM Metro Shelter Hotline gives you the information you need about emergency shelter and transitional housing programs for single adults, families, and youth in the 7-county Metro Area (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) - TOLL FREE. Have pencil and paper handy to write down information.
Housing Link
Salvation Army
Star Tribune Homezone
People Serving People - the largest homeless shelter in Minnesota: www.peopleservingpeople.org
Volunteers of America Minnesota: www.voa.org
www.MinneapolisHouses.com |
| Food |
Food Banks:
America's Second Harvest: www.secondharvest.org
Channel One Food Shelf and Food Bank: http://channel-one.org
Minnesota Hunger Partners: www.mnhungerpartners.org
Wonder Hostess Bakery Thriftshops:
- New Hope, call (763) 533-2268
- Minneapolis, call (612) 729-1710
- St. Paul (2402 N. Rice St.), call (651) 484-6020
- St. Paul (1546 West 7th), call (651) 665-9540
- Burnsville, call (952) 890-7335
- Maplewood, call (651) 770-7176
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| Clothing/ Household |
Sharing and Caring Hands Mary Jo's Sharing and Caring Hands
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.: www.goodwill.org
The Salvation Army: Minnesota: www.usc.salvationarmy.org
Ragstock:
- Warehouse, call (612) 333-8520
- Uptown, call (612) 823-6690
- St. Paul, call (651) 644-2733
- Northfield, call (507) 645-9081
- Crossroads Mall, call (320) 251-8962
- Mall of America, call (952) 854-5133
- Rosedale Mall, call (651) 697-1445
- Burnsville Center, call (952) 435-2686
- Northtown Mall, call (763) 786-6970
www.citypages.com/classifieds
Everyday People Clothing Exchange:
- Uptown, call (612) 824-3112
- Dinkytown, call (612) 623-9095
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| Legal Services |
Note: this list is for your information only. AMICUS does not provide legal assistance and is unable to advise or make recommendations in this area.
Volunteer Lawyers Network, Ltd. 612-752-6677
Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis 612-332-1441
Minnesota Legal Services Coalition: www.mnlegalservices.org
Minnesota State Law Library: Minnesota Legal Resources: www.lawlibrary.state.mn.us/mnlr.html |
| Education |
Computer Related Careers:
- UNITE - University of Minnesota, call (612) 624-2332 or visit www.unite.umn.edu
- MN School of Business, call (651) 229-3150 or visit www.msbcollege.edu
- Concordia University, call (651) 641-8723 or visit www.csp.edu/ce
- Caribou Lake, call (952) 837-9802 or visit www.CaribouLake.com
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College, call (763) 422-3303 or visit www.anokaramsey.edu
- Capella University, call (888) 227-3552 or visit www.capella.edu
- Computer Renaissance, call (651) 633-6600/ (651) 770-5322
- Inver Hills Community College, call (651) 450-8656 or visit www.inverhills.edu/ce-ct
- The Center for Training and Development, call (763) 424-0880 or visit www.nhcc.mnscu.edu/ct
- University of St. Thomas, call (651) 962-5500 or visit www.stthomas.edu
- Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, call (763) 576-4800 or visit www.ank.tec.mn.us
- AppDev, call (952) 943-1363/ (800) 578-2062 or visit www.appdev.com
- New Horizons of Minnesota, call (952) 896-6800 or visit www.newhorizonsmn.com
- The College of St. Scholastica, call (651) 298-1015 or visit www.css.edu
- Augsburg Weekend College, call (612) 330-1101 or visit www.augsburg.edu
- Rasmussen College, call (888) 743-3620 or visit www.rasmussen.edu
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| OTHER CAREERS |
| Health Care |
Find a Health Clinic - call (651) 489-2273
MN Dept. of Health:
"For confidential information about birth control methods, sexually transmitted infections and affordable clinic referrals."
call (651) 645-9360 or visit www.stdhotline.state.mn.us |
| Other Agencies that may be of help to ex-offenders |
Minnesota Credit Association, call (651) 460-8800 or visit www.mncredit.com
Hennepin County Government: www.co.hennepin.mn.us
Open Your Heart To the Hungry and Homeless: www.oyh.org/level3/faq.shtml
Minnesota Crossroads: www.openskypress.org
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Projects are funded/supported, in part, by the Office of Justice Programs through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. |