At Davis, we believe the strength of our buildings goes far beyond their architecture; that true strength is defined by the relationships inside. While many property management teams focus solely on maintenance and building operations, our team takes a proactive approach to cultivating thriving medical communities—navigating the complexities of medical asset management and regulatory compliance while prioritizing both patient and staff experience. We understand that operational excellence and meaningful connection go hand in hand, which is why thoughtfully designed tenant events play an important role in how we strengthen relationships, foster collaboration, and remind the professionals in our spaces that they’re part of something larger.
This past Valentine’s Day was one such opportunity. Across 13 local Davis properties, our team set up themed tables complete with festive décor, colorful balloons, and dozens of trays of delicious cookies hand-baked by entrepreneurial teens in our community through the Cookie Cart program. Throughout the day, we handed out roughly 1,500 cookies to hardworking healthcare providers, patients waiting with their families for appointments, and everyone in between—turning a simple gesture of appreciation into something that also invested in the next generation of leaders in our community.
Cookie Cart is a local Minneapolis nonprofit organization known for crafting high-quality baked goods in bakeries set up to also serve as classrooms, providing local young people with a space to gain real-world work experience through hands-on learning. Through a combination of on-the-job training and structured workshops, Cookie Cart teens build skills in service, communication, leadership and financial literacy, helping them gain the tools necessary to thrive in today’s workforce one cookie at a time.
Programs like Cookie Cart play an important role in expanding access to early work experience, which is not evenly available to all young people. While youth employment has increased in recent years, barriers still exist for more than a third of teens participating in the workforce, particularly for youth from underrepresented or lower-income backgrounds. Early job opportunities are widely recognized for providing a structured, supportive environment where young people can gain real-world experience, develop responsibility, and build a foundation for future success.
Strong communities are built through opportunity, relationships, and long-term investment in people. The Cookie Cart mission reflects the kind of impact we strive to support, and bringing that work into our buildings grew a simple moment of appreciation into something much larger. Our Valentine’s Day events were a reminder that even the simplest gestures can cultivate more meaningful environments.
How to Get Involved
At Davis, we’re proud to support nonprofits like Cookie Cart and encourage others to get involved. Whether through time, resources or partnerships, every effort contributes to creating meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and succeed.
Order Cookies: From community events to personal celebrations, Cookie Cart offers a variety of high-quality, handcrafted and decorated cookie options. Every purchase directly supports their youth employment program.
Donate: Financial contributions help fund paid work experience, training programs, and mentorship opportunities. Each donation is an investment in helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the workforce.
Volunteer Your Time: Cookie Cart offers opportunities to get involved through bakery production, fundraising events, and community outreach. Volunteers can also support youth development through mock interviews, workplace visits, and mentorship to help prepare participants for future employment.
Visit About – Cookie Cart to learn more.