Agate Housing and Services to Partipate in the 2023 Coldest Night of the Year Event with a 2.5k or 5k Walk, February 25
Friday, February 10, 2023 at 2:27AMArticle by Becky Fillinger, photos provided
Agate's Coldest Night of the Year Event will start and finish at Agate Housing and Services' Food Centre, 714 Park Avenue S, by Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC)
Living unhoused in the winter, when temperatures or wind chill can cause frostbite or death in a short time, is a harsh reality for many members of our community. Join Agate Housing and Services for a community walk to raise awareness and funding for housing and shelter for the most vulnerable among us. We talked to Anna Cisewski, Agate's Event Director, about the history of the event and all the different ways you may participate.
Anna Cisewski
Q: Please tell us the history of The Coldest Night of The Year.
A: This is Agate's first year doing Coldest Night of the Year and only the second that the event has been held in the United States. It has been held in Canada for the last 15 years. The goal of CNOY is to raise awareness of the harsh realities of living unhoused and unsheltered during the winter.
Every night, hundreds of people in our state sleep outside, in tents or on shelter beds that are not their own. Coldest Night of the Year will give walkers a chance to feel just how cold it is for our unhoused neighbors. Without first-hand experience, we can truly never understand the fear and trauma of living unhoused, but we can get a feel for just how cold it is.
The walk will be either 2.5k or 5k through downtown, starting and ending in our recently re-opened Food Centre and walking past three of Agate's housing and shelter locations.
Q: How may I participate locally - are there teams or may I walk as an individual?
A: Community members can join the Agate team or register to be a team captain and recruit family, neighbors or coworkers to join their team and fundraise! We've also had a few teams sign up to walk virtually or organize an event in their residential housing building or office. Lots of options! And the Agate team would be happy to help organize any iteration of this event!
Q: Is there a schedule of events happening around the walk?
A: All walks throughout the US follow the same schedule on February 25:
In addition to this general schedule, we will also be spending time talking and learning together about the realities of being unhoused and unsheltered. The Educators from our A Day in the Life program will also be in attendance, giving presentations and joining us on the walk.
Q: I really like the program: Meet, Move, Munch and Mosey! Will I receive a map of the walk?
A: Yes! A map is of the route is currently available on the event page and we will have printed maps available on the day of the event. It's a simple loop in downtown Minneapolis and it will be well-marked with volunteers at every turn cheering our walkers on!
Q: How may I follow news of the walk and your organization?
A: Interested community members can follow us on our social media platforms or sign up for our email list (at the bottom of our website) to receive updates for all things Coldest Night and Agate!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgateServicesMN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgateServicesMN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agateservicesmn/
We are excited for this event and the chance to connect better with our community and provide education and clarity on the harsh realities of living unhoused and unsheltered in our city. Agate works every day to end homelessness and hunger and this event is just part of that work.
Individuals can sign up to walk, join a team, or start a team here: https://cnoy.com/location/minneapolis.
