History of Kinship
Kinship of the Park Rapids Area is a mentoring program that matches children with adult volunteers to provide friendship and positive role models. The program was founded in 1954 by four theological students in Minneapolis, and it has since expanded. As of 2022, there were 19 affiliates throughout Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin
Kinship of the Park Rapids Area serves children ages 6 to 16 who live in Park Rapids and the surrounding area. Many of the children in the program come from single-parent families or live with alternative guardians. Mentors can be individuals, couples, or families, and the goal of mentoring is to provide a positive adult influence in a child’s life.
Mentees and mentors are matched according to their interests, location, age, and needs. The commitment is to spend at least one hour together each week for a minimum of one year. Kinship stays in contact with the matched pair to offer support and guidance. The program also offers monthly activities that all matches can attend.
Kinship of the Park Rapids Area believes that every child deserves a positive adult friend, and that mentoring can make a real difference in a child’s life. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Kinship of the Park Rapids Area today. If we positively affect the life of a child, we positively affect our community’s future
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The History of Kinship Inc.
Origins
Kinship began in 1954 with a group of students at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. As part of a class assignment, these students were asked to examine unmet needs in their community. They discovered that many young men involved with the juvenile justice system were coming from fatherless, single-parent homes. Recognizing the profound need for positive adult relationships, the students identified their mission.
A plan was developed to provide supportive, one-to-one relationships for young men on probation or parole through the Hennepin and Ramsey County Juvenile Probation Systems. The program started slowly, as many of the youth were understandably guarded. Over time, it became clear that meaningful breakthroughs occurred only through consistent, patient, and sustained relationships. The seminarians met weekly with the boys and became known as “Kinsmen,” laying the foundation for what would become Kinship.
Partnership
During this early period, the Christian Youth Center (PCYC) was established and became the sponsoring organization for the Kinsmen program. Eventually, a PCYC coordinator was appointed to support the work. Growth continued, and in 1962 one of the original seminarians became Assistant Director of PCYC and Director of the Kinsmen program.
In 1964, the Kinswomen program was launched, expanding mentoring opportunities for girls, and a female director was appointed. In 1967, the American Lutheran Church Men’s (ALCM) Board formally included Kinsmen among its ministries. Following a restructuring of the American Lutheran Church in 1973, the program became part of the Division for Life and Mission in the Congregation (DLMC). Congregation members began serving as mentors, and the program expanded throughout Minnesota and into neighboring states.
In 1974, the Kinsmen and Kinswomen programs merged, giving rise to the unified organization now known as Kinship.
Growth and Change
As Kinship evolved, it moved into the role of community support through early intervention. This included working with younger children (ages 5-18). Another key change was the inclusion of couples and families as mentors, recognizing the value of broader relational support.
One of the most pivotal milestones came in 1989, when Kinship became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization because it led to the establishment of the National Affiliate Network. New Articles of Incorporation and bylaws provided organizational structure while preserving local autonomy—each affiliate retained a single vote in network decision-making. The focus shifted from direct program management to form Kinship Inc., focused on affiliate strength, networking, and collaboration.
In 1995, the Kinship Affiliate Network ratified minimum standards of practice to guide local affiliates. A comprehensive program manual was published in 1996, integrating these standards into daily operations. Over the past 30 years, affiliates have continued to tailor their programs to meet the unique needs of their communities.
Today
The Kinship Affiliate Network is governed by a volunteer Kinship, Inc. Board composed of affiliate directors, educators, and professionals from a variety of business and community sectors. The board hosts an annual conference for affiliates across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and South Dakota.
The network provides training opportunities, best-practice resources, and a shared digital repository to encourage collaboration among affiliates. It also assists with collective insurance negotiations, maintains Kinship branding and logo maintenance, and supports marketing and digital presence efforts.
Kinship mentoring includes:
- Community-based mentoring (one-to-one relationships),
- Site-based mentoring (group mentoring at a set location and time), and
- School-based mentoring (programs during the school day, such as Lunch Buddies and Reading Buddies).
All Kinship affiliates are 100% supported by their local communities
Looking ahead, 2026 will bring updated bylaws and standards of practice aligned with the 5th edition of Mentoring Essentials and CASEL recommendations for supporting social and emotional development.
As determined at its inception, Kinship’s impact is rooted in consistent, sustained relationships—relationships that create safe spaces where young people are supported, valued, and empowered to become their very best.