Cookie Cart provides teens 15-18 years old with lasting and meaningful work, life and leadership skills through experience and training in an urban nonprofit bakery.  Founded in 1982 by Sister Jean Thuerauf, Cookie Cart started as an alternative to gang involvement for North Minneapolis children.  Today Cookie Cart offers a first paid job experience for 140 teens each year.

Through a combination of hands-on work experience, classroom job skills training, formal customer service education, skills certification and financial literacy, young people gain the tools they need to become successful, self-reliant adults.

Cookie Cart sells about $280,000 annually accounting for approximately 1/3 of the organization’s revenue.  Cookies are delivered throughout the Twin Cities metro area, at the bakery, and by youth employees at local corporations and community events.