The Cookie Cart

"The Cookie Cart began in the early 1980s as a grassroots effort by Sister Jean Thuerauf, who opened her North Minneapolis home to neighborhood youth in an effort to help them escape gang recruitment. Every day after school, Sister Jean’s home was filled with young people working on homework and baking cookies. Word quickly spread of Sister Jean’s generosity, and, soon, her home was not large enough for the number of youth or cookies.

A pushcart was furnished by supporters of Sister Jean’s efforts, and young people began selling their cookies on the streets of North Minneapolis. In 1988, the Cookie Cart was registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the cookie baking was moved to a bakery on Emerson Avenue North, near West Broadway Avenue. Today, the Cookie Cart is located on West Broadway Avenue, in the heart of North Minneapolis. Since its inception, the Cookie Cart has served literally thousands of young people who live in North Minneapolis."

http://www.cookiecart.org/index.html

The Cookie Cart hosted its yearly fundraiser at my school (The Art Institutes International, Minnesota) November 7th. I was invited to photograph this event by a fellow student. The event included a wine tasting, silent auction and five course gourmet meal cooked by Ai culinary students.


Sister Jean Thuerauf

University Avenue

This is a project I have started for my Specialization class. I am documenting the people who live in the Midway/Frogtown area of St. Paul. I started this project with the intention of helping overcome my shyness by meeting new people, but I am extremely interested in the kinds of people I have been meeting, and the diversity that exists in this area. I am very exited to be starting a project instead of only shooting singles.