When most people think about remodeling, the first step that comes to mind is demolition smash, haul, dump, repeat. But there’s a better way. At Better Futures Minnesota, we offer deconstruction: a careful, deliberate process of taking apart buildings so materials can be reused or recycled instead of ending up in a landfill. It’s not just […]

Choosing Deconstruction Services: A Step Towards a Sustainable Future When it comes to renovating or dismantling a structure, the traditional method is demolition. However, there's a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative called deconstruction. At Better Futures Minnesota, we advocate for deconstruction over demolition for several compelling reasons, with the first being its positive impact […]

Embracing Environmental Stewardship: How Better Futures Minnesota Leads the Way. At Better Futures Minnesota, we are committed to environmental stewardship, a principle that guides our various programs and initiatives. Our mission is not just about supporting individuals on their journey to a better future, but also about protecting our planet for generations to come. In […]

Last Week MN Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura & Senator Zaynab Mohamed stopped into the ReUse Warehouse Store to quickly chat about their Bill to support Better Futures Minnesota. Watch video: On January 30th, PJ Hubbard our CEO & President spoke in-front of the MN House Committee on Jobs and Economic Development about the work Better Futures […]

Reclaim the Outdoors! Build, Paint and Bird with the The Longfellow Community Council, Better Futures MN, Black Table Arts Co-op & Urban Bird Collective. We're coming together as recipients of the Hennepin County Green Partners Grant, to build, paint and install Leopold benches in the community, followed by environmental bird walks. BIPOC are encouraged to […]

Looking for a holiday gift that supports Minnesota Environment? Check out the ReUse Minnesota's holiday Gift Guide for gift ideas for family, friends and co-workers. Click to view the whole guide: Holiday Gift Guide Reuse Minnesota was founded in 2012 and is a member-based nonprofit that builds partnerships and supports a vibrant network of reuse […]

Work to de-construct the first of three tax forfeited buildings in St. Louis County began Wednesday in partnership with a non-profit organization called Better Futures Minnesota. Through Better Futures Minnesota, materials from forfeited buildings that would otherwise go to waste are salvaged and men who want to construct better lives for themselves can through the de-construction of […]

Minnesota's mass incarceration problem  While the national prison population is on the decline, Minnesota's numbers are rising. A May 2017 Vera Institute of Justice study found that Minnesota was one of just 15 states (out of 45 reporting) that saw both increased prison populations and rising costs between 2010 and 2015. In fact, Minnesota's prison […]

Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union released its report on the successes of corporate policies geared to giving formerly incarcerated Americans a fair chance at re-entry. The results show what we at Better Futures have known all along: Second chances are good for people, good for communities, and good for businesses. Today, 70 million Americans—one in […]

In Minnesota, nearly 100,000 people are under probation—a form of supervised release that often includes strict daily check-ins with supervising officers. In fact, Minnesota has one of the highest probation rates in the country, leaving some people under supervised probation for 10, even 20 years. According to a recent Star Tribune story, Minnesota is tied […]

Across the world, forward-thinking cities, municipalities, and lawmakers are thinking about landfill waste in new ways. In July, for example, Portland, Ore. became the first city in the country to ensure that valuable materials from demolished houses are salvaged for reuse instead of crushed and landfilled. Here in the Twin Cities, landfilling is becoming a growing problem, according […]

Across Minnesota, older homes and barns are being demolished to make way for new buildings or farmland. When buildings are demolished, harmful chemicals and pollutants—like lead and asbestos—are released in the air. In addition, when buildings such as old barns are burned, the old-growth wood is not only wasted, but it produces noxious smoke that's harmful […]

This week, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill that would, among other things, address the prevalence of people in U.S. jails and prisons who are suffering from mental illness. The "21st Century Cures" Bill encompasses the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act, which authorizes funding for services related to mental health in […]

Better Futures Minnesota engages men who have had a history of incarceration, homelessness, poverty, and untreated mental and physical health challenges to help them achieve self-sufficiency and a better future for themselves and their communities. Ronald shares his story about how Better Futures Minnesota helped him walk a positive path in life. How did Better Futures […]

Reuse and deconstruction are growing in Minnesota, and we're excited about the opportunities to help lead Minnesota to a cleaner, Zero Waste future! Recently, we were featured in the Star Tribune, where Neal St. Anthony highlighted our ReUse Warehouse, online store, and deconstruction services. Two nonprofit enterprises, Better Futures Minnesota and Habitat for Humanity, are opening […]

At Better Futures Minnesota, we’re excited to be growing and making an impact on the lives of men and Minnesota's environment. Earlier this spring, we relocated our ReUse Warehouse to South Minneapolis near the “Minnehaha Mile,” a shopping district dedicated to recycled, reused, and reclaimed products. Most recently, Better Futures launched a brand-new online e-commerce site, Minnesota’s […]

A 2015 Yale University study shows that 12.8 percent of total materials in landfills is construction and demolition waste. Of those building materials, nearly 80 percent could have been recycled or reused. Better Futures Minnesota’s deconstruction services recycles or reuses 75 to 85 percent of all building materials. In 2015, through our deconstruction services and ReUse Warehouse, […]

Mass incarceration is a growing problem, and it's a growing problem in Minnesota. As MinnPost reported in June, harsher penalties for DWIs, drugs, and other offenses caused the state’s prison population to spike in recent years. From Minnpost: Since 2000, the rate of incarceration — the number of inmates per 100,000 residents — went up 42 […]