Ka Joog is a nationally recognized, Somali nonprofit organization tailored towards enriching the lives of Somali American youth by utilizing the positive elements of education, mentoring, employment, and the arts. Ka Joog's mission is to motivate youth to pursue higher education while promoting and building community ties at events throughout Minnesota.Established in 2007 by a group of Somali young adults, Ka Joog focuses its efforts on encouraging Somali youth to "Ka Joog" or "stay away" from negative influences such as drugs, violence, and other behaviors that can be detrimental to their development and future. Instead, Ka Joog directs youth towards higher education, civic involvement, and a volunteer commitment to the community. Ka Joog helps Somali youth understand their options and make the right choices, through programs offering mentoring, tutoring, and job readiness training. Ka Joog also provides positive outlets through the arts, and encourages youth to share their talents with others.Ka Joog has received several local and national awards for its accomplishments, including, but not limited to, Somali-American Community Appreciation Award, the Youth Leadership of the Year Award by the City of Minneapolis, and the U.S. Congressional Records award in honor of "… its contributions to the Somali community of Minnesota through art, education, and political action."Mission:Our mission is to create a better world by providing community-based, culturally specific programs and services to youth and their families through education, the arts, and economic development.Vision:Our Purpose is to create a safe environment for our youth in our society. We want to motivate our youth to take part in the civil aspects in our community and to pursue a higher education. Furthermore, as we meet new emerging needs in our community, we plan to serve our increasingly diverse public with a dedicated diverse leadership team.