Longfellow School has become a high school for mothers

Tatianna Carpenter, Darryanna Williams, Jocelyn Gums, Larencia Bigbear Photo by Opal Ehalt

The doors are once again open at the Longfellow building at 3017 E. 31st St. in South Minneapolis. Presently housed in this unique and lovely complex is a growing and wonderful program for pregnant and parenting mothers. These female high school students are earning credit while continuing to balance motherhood, study and often work.

As young mothers they are motivated to learn and problem solve as well as balance the everyday challenges in their lives.

Now that this creative alternative high school is redefined and housed in the Longfellow building, the staff and students have been in discussion about having a new name to title the program.

The Longfellow building name would not be changed but the high school program would. The staff and students have come up with some initial ideas that mostly focus on honoring women in history.

The school is asking for community input in the renaming of the program. In recent years the program was housed at the Broadway site in North Minneapolis, and for a brief year at North High. In the early years the high school took on the name of Broadway High School because of its location. The school is now looking to have a unique name that represents its endeavors while not being described under a specific building’s name, such as Broadway, North or Longfellow.

If you have suggestions or would like to get engaged in the discussion on what to name this fantastic program, please call the school office at 612-668-4700. Feel free to give them your ideas, or you could support them by volunteering your time for a roundtable discussion.