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The Inner Hero Toys for Tots Program
Registration is now closed. If you have registered this year or in 2022, you can come to pick up the gifts.

Distribution is on December 9th 2023 from 9:00am - 1:00pm.

The location is at Brooklyn United Methodist Church.
7200 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Center, MN, United States, Minnesota
Remember to bring an ID that matches the address you provided.
Upcoming Event #1
The Inner Hero After-School Program at the YMCA

Our after-school program has begun. We are actively seeking more students between 3rd - 12th grades to join our program and enrich their learning experience. Register now!

Register Now
Teachers Wanted
The Inner Hero After School and Summer Club
We are looking to add two Middle School Math and Science Teachers along with Two High School Math and Biology Teachers to our team. If you're interested, please contact us.
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WCCO & CBS News Channel 4

Watch one of our mentees, Jamari, and Ambrose talk about our After School and Summer Program! Live in the studio with behind-the-scenes! Watch now!!!

Donate Here
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Van Fundraiser

We are raising money to purchase two 15-passenger vans. These vans will be used to transport students to/from our after-school and summer Club programs. The estimated cost for these vehicles is $60,000. Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated! Your donation is tax-deductible.

Donate Here
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Basketball
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The Inner Hero 7th Annual Basketball Tournament
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The Inner Hero App
The Inner Hero App

The Inner Hero App is now availible on both iOS and Android devices. Links are available below.

Android
Google Play Store
iOS
iOS App Store
Theme Song
The Inner Hero
Theme Song
from the 6th Annual Basketball Tournament
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Let The Healing Begin

The Inner Hero 3rd Annual Women's Cruise Saturday, August 13, 2022!! Thank you to Acer for donating towards the cause of improving our community!

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Ambrose R. Russell Celebrating the True Legacy of his Grandparents!
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Guidelines For Dealing With The Police On A Traffic Stop

You can set the tone for the encounter.

Download PDF
The Inner Hero Mentoring Program

If you are interested in becoming a Mentee, or are a parent/guardian interested in signing up a youth, click the link below.

Mentorship Registration
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The Inner Hero, D.O.J. Community Dialogue

On Monday, January 11, 2021, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Community Relations Service (CRS) will host a virtual facilitated dialogue session between the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and various community members. The purpose of the dialogue is to provide an opportunity for MPD, diverse community leaders, residents, and youth to voice concerns, identify issues, and suggest ways to improve police-community relations in Minneapolis. Space is limited, sign up now.

Sign Up
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The Inner Hero Pledge

As of today, I pledge to act and speak with kindness. I will work diligently and consistently to be the best version of myself, striving to help others discover the full potential in themselves because I am The Inner Hero.

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THE INNER HERO PROGRAM OUTCOMES
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
  1. Youth and parents learn how local government systems work.
  2. Police develop positive relationships with the community.
  3. Youth learn about jobs in law enforcement, fire fighting and other public sector employment paths.
  4. Service-Learning projects for youth increase civic engagement and personal communication skills.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
  1. The Inner Hero Pledge
  2. Collective healing skills are taught and practiced.
  3. Youth learn skills and values through civic engagement.
  4. Youth Circles connect parents, school staff and others.
  5. Sports Events
MENTORSHIP
  1. Youth have relationships with an adult that cares about them.
  2. Youth and police officers make connections that change their perceptions and the narrative about each other.
  3. Youth shadow and intern to learn skills for careers in government and public service.
  4. Peer to peer mentoring creates leadership from within. Youth leaders learn the skills to be positive role models.
  5. Mentors will set and monitor educational goals and resources to obtain their goals.
Donation
Campaign for The Inner Hero
Want to join me in making a difference? We're raising money to benefit The Inner Hero, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to the children and youth we will impact.

Our mission is to create spaces and programs for youth that reduce violence, build trust, and encourage education that empowers youth to be productive citizens.

With the money we raise, we will put it back into community schools, prisons and centers. From within we create a change so the outside world can look different. We look forward to bring positive change in your local community soon. Blessings, Ambrose Russell
DONATE
Feeding Event
Students and Police Breakfast Gathering
Wednesday February 19th 2020
4th and 5th grade students are invited to attend and must have at least one adult stay with them during the event.

Help build upon the positive relationships and trust between the police and our diverse communities.
Flyer (more details)
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Barbershop
Community/Police Discussions

The goal of these discussions is to provide a forum for community members and local police officials to address the challenges and solutions in building positive relations. The Inner Hero organization serves as the bridge to foster these discussions. So far, we’ve hosted community discussions with residents and Minnesota Chiefs of Police in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, Crystal and New Hope Minnesota. In 2020, we expect to foster the development of discussions in additional communities and police departments in the Twin Cities.

Breakfast Program
School/Police Breakfast Program
Watch the Video
This year we initiated a new program with the Golden Valley Police department where officers will have breakfast with students and parents at their local schools. The purpose of this program is to build more positive interactions with youth that lead to impactful mentoring relationships. We believe we can change the climate that exists in some communities into one of positive dialogue that builds acceptance and trust. The bridge of trust will take time to build. However, we are committed to investing the resources necessary today to build the relationships we desire for our children, communities and police departments for the future.
Mentorship
Mentorship
These programs encourage community interaction, teach life skills, and build self-esteem. We provide two areas of mentorship.

Peer to Peer Mentorship: We seek to provide youth leaders with the structure and skills to be positive role models for their peers; hence, to empower and serve the community from within. We recruit successful 11th and 12th grade youth to become the mentors in the program. In addition, we select one mentor leader to represent each school’s program and assist the program specialist. The Peer Mentors may be the “star students” as well as students who once fulfilled the profile of the mentored students. All programs are onsite school-based under the supervision of school staff.

Community Leaders Mentorship (CLM): Volunteers build personal relationships by providing one on one mentoring and counseling. The CLM is paired with youth based upon their interests and focus, so that the youth are developing key skills during this time.
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Celebration
Annual Community “Thank You” Celebration
The goal of this event is to thank participants in the community and further build interactions between local officials and the community. It’s a day of fun activities for children and adults, and it’s where relationships can be established over food and conversation. Additionally, it provides an avenue to encourage and recruit volunteers to contribute their time and talents to events and programs that will empower children and their families in the community.
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Our Mission

Create spaces and programs for youth that reduce violence, build trust, and encourage education that empowers youth to be productive citizens.

Our Vision

Safe communities for everyone where youth reach their full potential.

May 2020: We’ve updated our Mission and Vision statements and we are excited that it clearly aligns with our focus on Education, Community Engagement, and Mentorship.

The Scope of The Inner Hero’s Work

Then and Now

The Inner Hero In the Media

The Inner Hero is impacting the community! See some of the latest. Check out our Events page to see the full list of current and past.

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Past Stories - In the Media

June 16th, 2023 – Excellent Leadership Award from the Good Men’s Club

The Inner Hero Impact

Listen and see the impact by The Inner Hero over the last several years.

 

The Inner Hero Impact Stories

Listen to stories of those impacted by The Inner Hero.

Celebrating the True Legacy of my Grandparents!

Lessons from Dual Parenting – Our Story

Learn how to achieve success at home in a family setting.

2021: A Year of Success

We are Bringing Smiles to our Community Heroes.

 

Statement from “The Inner Hero Organization”

As a father, I am brokenhearted and crushed. As a member of the community, my emotions are raging. As an activist for a safer and more productive society, strengthening community-police relations, I am devastated by the death of George Floyd.

When police officers’ actions coincide with the death of a community member, it leaves a lot of strain on the police-community relationship, derailing trust and undermining the legitimacy of the service.

At this point, I will ask the community members to remain calm and direct their energy to prayer for the comfort and solace of the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, The Inner Hero organization, as part of and for the community, will reach out to the requisite authorities to ensure transparency and subsequently when the facts that are revealed show the officer(s) are negligent, justice.

The Inner Hero Impact

Ambrose R. Russell interviewed Maxwell J. Tahija, the content creator for The Inner Hero. Learn about him as well as his passion to work with The Inner Hero to bring long term change to the Twin Cities communities.

You Can See the Change

“I’m very proud that the Minneapolis Police Department is a proud member along with The Inner Hero because Inner Hero’s work is transformational.”

– Chief of Minneapolis Police Medaria Arredondo

 

Working Together For The Change We Love To See!! The Inner Hero Organization is a proud partner of Minneapolis police Chief Medaria Arradondo, and we are in support of his actions taken so far. We will continue our working relationship with him as we work together to restructure the police department, to heal and build our community relations.

“As a leader, if you want to be successful you got to listen to people.

When you speak less, but you speak profoundly, and you listen more. Because when people find out you can listen to them, they follow you better. Meaning the idea you have is not just yours, but theirs, it’s inclusive.”

– Ambrose R. Russell

Despite all of our differences within our homes, schools, communities, cities, states, and our nation, we at The Inner Hero Organization believe that love is the key in changing others’ unique lives. As you watch this video, please find The Inner Hero within you for us as a community to love again.

Main Menu

Testimonials

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Educate

Many youth who are struggling academically and socially are attending school, but not learning. We focus on identifying and cultivating their academic interests and passions as well as guiding them to explore and identify career interests and options.

Build Character

We believe that strong character is the foundation of a successful future. We work with youth to guide them both to succeed academically and also to develop values such as respect, perseverance, and excellence. We help them develop the social and emotional skills necessary to form and develop good relationships and build a strong foundation for their future.

Inspire

We provide mentorship and positive role models to inspire youth to strive for educational success, set and work toward future career goals and develop strong character. By connecting youth not only with caring adults but also with peers who understand their experiences, we show students that they can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.

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