Community Corner

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Nears Formal Approval

The southwest coalition could receive approval as early as September.

After just a little more than a year of work, the Twin Cities Southwest Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Coalition is nearing formal approval from the state.

The organization plans to submit a rough draft of its action plan to the state level by mid to late August, said co-chair Jocelyn Northenscold. The state will then review the plan (“It’ll be scrutinized for sure,” Northenscold said.) and offer feedback.

The coalition will then make any requested changes and resubmit. If all goes well, the organization could receive formal Beyond the Yellow Ribbon designation by September.

Find out what's happening in Hopkinswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We don’t want to cut any corners. We really want to do it right. That’s why it’s taken all this time,” Northenscold said.

The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program is a campaign that creates awareness and builds support networks for members of the Minnesota National Guard and their families. Qualifying to be a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group is not a quick action. It requires a 16-step process that takes a year to 18 months.

Find out what's happening in Hopkinswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The southwest coalition—which comprises Edina, Hopkins, Minnetnoka and St. Louis Park—first got together in June 2012. Since then, members have been steadily working through the required steps.

They’re now focusing on identifying programs that are already available and working with people and groups to lay the groundwork to ensure everything in their action plan actually happens.

They are already planning support initiatives such as family nights, carnivals and games and VFW-sponsored fishing and hunting trips. And they’ll adjust as necessary even after receiving the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon designation.

“It will still be kind of a work in progress moving forward,” Northenscold said.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here