Harambee Village at NACAC -- FAQs

FAQs

Scroll down, or click on a link below to read the FAQs. If you have a question that isn't answered by the FAQ, or if you have additional concerns, please feel free to contact the program assistant Aubrey Haddican at HarambeeVillage@nacac.org.

Registration

Registration

How do I register?
Use our online form, or stop by in person.

What if I arrive late?
We prefer that you arrive on time or ten minutes early, but we will not turn you away if you’re late. However, we often have administrative paperwork that needs to be filled out at the beginning of a Village. We suggest arriving early so there is time to fill out this paperwork without missing the beginning of the event. Whenever you arrive, please allow at least five to ten minutes for paperwork.

What kind of paperwork do you need?
We will have a sign-in sheet so we can track attendance. For parents with children attending Kid Villages, we have a permission form with emergency contact information. There is also an optional photo permission form.

Will Harambee Village confirm my registration?
Confirmation of registration will be emailed every Thursday. Additionally, reminders will be sent to attending families about a week before each event. If a family is taken off the waiting list, they will be contacted as soon as this happens.

Can I be contacted by phone instead?
No problem! Just let us know your preferred method of contact.

Payment

How much do Villages cost?
East Metro, West Metro, and African American Parents’ Villages are free. Preschool and Kid Villages (Nia, Umoja, and Kuumba) are $20 per month, per child.

What are my payment options?
You may use our online registration form to pay by credit card. You may also come to see us in person and pay by check, credit card, or cash.

When do I have to pay?
Payment is required at time of registration, and processed immediately (excluding those placed on the waiting list). Registrations received without payment go on a waiting list until payment is received. Immediate processing of payment is necessary for us to create and maintain a budget, and to provide families with accurate information about space availability.

My child was a Minnesota waiting child. Do I still have to pay for their attendance?
Yes.

Cancellation

If I am unable to attend a Village, can I receive a refund of my registration fees?
Harambee Village is unable to offer refunds of registration fees. If we receive a cancellation notification 48 hours prior to the event, we will apply your paid fees to a future event.

Why are you unable to refund registration fees?
Because we plan our staffing and event space in advance based on the number of families registered, we bear the cost of a cancellation or a no-show. Timely notification gives us the opportunity to bring another family to the Village, but if no other family is able to attend, we will still incur the extra cost. So even with prior notification, we are unable to refund, and are only able to guarantee use of funds for a future event. It is VERY IMPORTANT you notify Harambee Village if you are unable to attend an event.

What happens if I am unable to give notification of cancellation 48 hours in advance?
The first time this occurs, we will simply retain your registration fees, and be unable to apply them to a future event. However, if you are a no-show to two events, future registrations to all Villages will automatically be placed on the waiting list. Our Villages fill quickly, and consistent no-shows deprive families on the waiting list of the opportunity to attend our events.

Waiting List

Why am I on the waiting list?
For the most part, we have a first-come, first-served system. However, because of our funding arrangement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, we reserve a certain number of slots for families of children adopted from Minnesota’s foster care system and have a smaller number of slots for other families. Each group has its own waiting list, and one group may fill before the other.

What happens to my payment when I’m placed on the waiting list?
We keep your payment in case your family is able to attend. If the event passes and you were unable to attend, we will shred all credit card information and checks (notify us if you would rather have checks returned). If you registered for other events, you may also notify us that you would like us to apply your payment to those registration fees.

Miscellaneous

Where is the front door at Harrison?
Good question! The parking lot is on the south side of Harrison, but the entrance is cleverly hidden on the west side.

Where do I enter St. Paul Reformation?
The door we will be using is on the northwest corner of the building, facing west, closest to the Laurel and Oxford intersection. Usually the door will be propped open, but in colder weather it may be shut.