A conversation about what North Point will offer community youths

There has been a lot of curiosity about what is happening at the building that was formerly the American Legion lounge and then Grandma Ray’s in downtown Grand Marais. The nonprofit organization North Point purchased the building in January 2021. Since then there has been extensive remodeling and the building is now opening as the home of North Point Youth.

Brad and Brooke Shannon are leading the development of North Point. They sat down with WTIP Community Radio and answered questions about the organization and the plans for use of the building.

Brad told WTIP that North Point is a new nonprofit, giving credit to his wife, Brooke, for maneuvering through the bureaucracy of creating a nonprofit. He said the goal of North Point is to end hopelessness among teens. 

One of the community questions has been—how have the Shannons been able to purchase a building and do all the remodeling that has been done? Brad Shannon replied to that by saying, “The short answer is individuals that care about kids.”

Brad Shannon said that like most nonprofits, North Point has been funded to date by generous donations from people who believe in the goals of North Point.

Asked about those goals, Brooke Shannon points to the sign hanging alongside artwork and motivational messages. The sign reads: Truths we want every teen to believe: I am lovable, capable & worthwhile. I am loved without strings & never alone. I have a future.

The goals are borrowed from Treehouse, another nonprofit that has been working with teens since 1979. Treehouse is based in Minnesota and works to build resiliency in teens through “grace-based programs.” Learn more about Treehouse here.  

To reach those goals, North Point is inviting local youths in with ideas. The building won’t be open all day every day, but instead will have some after-school “drop-in hours.” The building will be open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for 8th – 12th graders. Wednesdays are reserved for 6th-8th graders. All after-school hours are from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

During those times, kids can play pool or Foosball, do homework, or just sit in comfortable chairs or hammocks and visit with friends.

The times were selected in part to give youths a safe place to hang out after school, before games, or other activities. An example of the use of the space was a recent gathering of the Cook County High School volleyball team. The team prepared for the first home volleyball game by using what was once the American Legion bar counter to craft school spirit signs.

There is defined programming such as what North Point has dubbed “Support Group” on Tuesdays, from 6 -7:30 p.m. This is described as “a time when teens give voice to the struggles they’re facing and talk about what is going on in their lives.” The hope is to create a time and place where teens feel safe and receive support from peers and adult leaders. That group will first meet on September 7.

As Brad Shannon has a ministerial background, there is a spiritual aspect of North Point. Starting on October 4, on Mondays, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. there will be a Community Youth Group that offers teens a chance to “learn more about our God-given purpose, develop spiritual and personal life skills.” It is also described as a time for teens to unwind and have fun.

The Shannons stress that teens do not have to participate in either the Support Group or Community Youth Group. If they want to just come and observe, or use the North Point building as a safe haven, that is encouraged.

Also encouraged are suggestions from teens for what they would like to see happen at North Point, whether it is something like Karaoke or outdoor adventures. Brad and Brooke Shannon both note that the goal for North Point is that it be youth-driven.

To learn more about North Point, visit the website: North Point. To see photos of what the remodeled space looks like now, click the slideshow above. 

WTIP's Rhonda Silence visited the North Point building to talk to Brad and Brooke Shannon of North Point. Here's their conversation.