About RIF
Born on Minneapolis blocks. Rooted in faith.
RIF Initiative — Rooted in Faith — is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit walking with young people through mentorship and violence prevention. We are culturally connected to the Somali and broader Muslim community, and our doors are open to every youth and family.
Our Story
RIF Initiative started where every real movement starts — with neighbors who refused to look away. Watching too many young people fall through the cracks of our city, a small circle of mentors, parents, and community elders began showing up: in masjids, in schools, on the corners. What grew was a steady, faith-grounded presence committed to the youth of Minneapolis.
Today we are an organization in motion — pursuing 501(c)(3) status and building programs that meet young people exactly where they are.
Mission
To mentor Minneapolis youth and prevent violence through faith-rooted, community-led programs that restore dignity, identity, and purpose.
Vision
A Minneapolis where every young person is known, mentored, and given a path to rise — and where neighborhoods heal from the inside out.
Values
Faith. Mercy. Service. Family. Honesty. We hold these as the soil our work grows in.