20 Best Free Training Programs For Adults In Minneapolis, MN (2022 Updated)

Think twice before attending this institution. I was enrolled to begin classes in the fall semester. One week before they began, DCTC contacted me saying they no longer offered the program that I signed up for. Again, ONE WEEK before classes began. This left me almost no time to scramble around looking for another school to attend for the fall semester. That kind of behavior is unacceptable and extremely unprofessional. The whole process just felt off anyway. They were always slow to respond, they fought every step of the way when I presented transfer credits from another institution. I was somewhat relieved in a way knowing I wouldn't have to deal with them any further. What a waste of time.Adam

Didn’t have the best experience overall. The instructor for the automotive technology class was only genuine once while he was teaching me something. Every other time, there was sarcasm and rudeness when trying to ask him questions. Not to mention half of the kids (quote “kids”) in the class were constantly on their phones and messing around. I wouldn’t have minded, except that we were placed in groups, therefor graded as a group. I wouldn’t return for the fact that I learned more working 3 months on the job than I did going 6 months to school, not to mention it was paid for.Sebastian Dina

Received my second degree here and they accepted a respectable number of credits from a previous college. Someone from admin called me a year or so after graduation and asked if I had gotten anywhere with my degree. When he found out what I was doing and where I had gotten in life he nearly dropped the phone. Thanks DCTC for sending me places in life I didn’t think were possible. But remember folks what you get out of it isn’t any more than what you put in.Eric Schmitt

Went here during 2013-2014 for my associates in marketing, its an alright college. Tho my only bad points I remember from this is the intern job finder guy was really rude and I had other people who told me they had him too and he was rude to them as well. another bad point was one of the class counselors who made me take an unnecessary course and told me if i didn't take it i wouldn't get my degree only to find out that they lied and i didn't need to take that course (no refunds of course). Last bad point I remember was one of the job counselors who said they would help me find a job pretty much ghosted me after our first meeting. They gave such a wonderful speech about how I was going to get a lot of help finding a job and that i wouldn't be disappointed. well disappointment city here i came first class. total ghosted and never heard from after the second week of trying to talk to them. gave up trying to finding a job threw here. otherwise its an alright place but seriously have enough parking places that people taking classes here and no teacher saved parking spots for teachers who arent even there and we can see are sitting empty for most if not the entire day. Edit to respond to the owner: Sorry but I will not be using your "job finding services". After the first guy Matt Coulter if i remember his name right, was really rude and pretty much did absolutely NOTHING to help me when I had a problem with my internship. Then the job helper person I got to help me find a full time job litterly GHOSTED me, IE: never returning any phone calls, emails and was never there even tho I told they were there on the days they would be in, on 3 separate occasions I wasted my time trying to meet someone who just happened to "not" be there. Sorry your place litterly had two chances to help me and all i got was nothing but rudeness and nothingness. Have a nice dayAlex Brown

This place was the worst college to go to. The counselors don't really help you. They just sign you up for any course they can just so they can quickly boot you out the door not caring to help you find classes for your major or even find a major at all. For the Danvers campus in particular, it's a very snobby, predominately white(and prejudice), unfriendly atmosphere. A lot of them also flow over to the Lynn campus so they bring their snobby attitudes there. The students are worse than the instructors though the instructors can be pretty stuck up themselves. That's just the type of community Danvers is. You will find most of the people who have the edge at this school AND of course speak highly of it are the predominantly white population. I took a Bio 101 class once, and the instructor said in front of the class that blacks usually don't do well because they come from a poor background and lack proper education. It really is not a good place to get your education. Also, a lot of classes they have wont transfer to another college such as their Bio 101 course. You may not know that, but be sure the classes you take are transferable. Be sure to follow up on Rate My Professors website to know if you have a good instructor or not otherwise it's a hit or miss on having a great successful academic year or not. The staff can be very unfriendly on the phone or in person when you go to any of their offices. When you attend this school, you better have direction on what you want to do because No one there is really going to help you unless you have a really good instructor. I transferred out to a better community college and it was one of the best choices I've ever made.Maximum Achievement

I have done four semesters at NSCC in the Criminal Justice program over the past two years. North Shore was a decent place for me to start my college education, as I feel like going to a full-fedged State University for four years is a massive scam and waste of money. Professor Koshivas and D'Agastino were great and I learned a great deal in their classes. The Danvers campus is very clean and modern and much nicer than the Lynn campus, which gave me the feeling of being in a dirty train tunnel. My issues with the school pertain to its administration. I had multiple issues when enrolling for classes during each semester. It seemed like no matter what some piece of paperwork would be lost. Once they even lost proof of one of my scholarships, luckily I had copies. When it came time to cut the check for the semester there would always be an issue with the amount. Sometimes we overpaid, sometimes we underpaid, it was as though they never got the final amount right on the first try. It was frusturating to deal with. Another issue I had was with the WiFi in the school. I would be in the library during the period between classes on my laptop trying to get work done, only to find the connection suddenly stopped and I could no longer connect to the internet. Some days were worse than others with this, it was very unpredictable as to when it would work and when it would not. I won't end up graduating from North Shore as of right now as I'm going the military route instead. However, there are some very good professors at this school, just be prepared to deal with a mediocre administrative department if you decide that North Shore is for you.Millard Fillmore

Currently in the Automotive program and beyond grateful to be at Dunwoody. Dunwoody has already changed my life and it's only fall semester. In my honest opinion if you are seeking a top notch school Dunwoody has you covered. Aside from being a father (which will always be number one) attending Dunwoody was the best strategic decision I've made. Thank you for letting me share my experience so far.Halfbreed

The staff at this college is absolutely phenomenal (or at least the staff I have met this far). They went out of their way to help me in a situation I didn't ever think would have a resolution. In addition, this school proves you don't need a 4 year degree to get an amazing job as most of their degree programs are 2 years, yet they still retain an amazing job placement rate.Brandon

This place forever changed my life. I thrived in the small class sizes and hands on approach to labs. Dunwoody has close ties to industry professionals that help shape and guide the curriculum. I highly recommend this school. Keep in mind it is private, not-for-profit, and entirely tuition driven, so staff and faculty are very dedicated to student success.Mark Anderson

They want everyone to attend classes on campus. Come on. They proudly and loudly proclaim "Saint Paul College – We're Back this Fall". There are multiple new COVID variants out now with record hospitalizations in MN but Saint Paul college wants us all on campus. My wife and I are both working from home. Our employees cared enough about our safety to let us do this, but Saint Paul college wants us all on campus. My wife is taking classes at a private college and they told her all classes will be online, at least for now. No need to risk your health and come in, but Saint Paul college wants us all on campus. Thankfully I did my research by talking to them and decided against going here. Spending a little more so that I can stay at home and take my Lit classes online. Don't bother with this place. If you can, spend a little extra and have the peace of mind that you won't end up in the ICU with a tube down your throat. There, I did my research so you don't have to. Feel free to call them. They literally want everyone back on campus. Ridiculous and unsafe.Dana Cooper

I havnt attended this school, & along with my experience so far & reading the reviews I may not. I have a degree; however, I work as a nursing assistant. I love my job, but I often see aids being treated pretty poorly. So, as I get older, I thought maybe I could look into being an LP . In this role, I could work fairly with the aides around me…blah, blah, blah. So I requested more information. I recieved no call back, only an email saying I had to put an application in. Eh, no. I want information from you, to see if this is a good fit, so I can decide if I want to put an application in….I guess, maybe within the bigger picture, I did get the information I needed.Jane Hallett

I ate at the City View Cafe at St. Paul College. This is the cafe that is operated by the students in the culinary program. I recently enjoyed the Valentines Tasting menu and it was fantastic. The only criticism I had for the meal was the shell on the dessert was a bit thick (I cannot believe I am complaining about dessert). It was hard to gracefully eat but it was so worth it. The combination of flavors was divine. If this meal was any indication of the talent these students have, we are going to have sone great chefs (hopefully in the Twin Cities area) in the future.Sharon Moen

Read the fine print on their contract before signing. Good gym, but really shady subscription handling. I signed up for ONE MONTH, and was told "okay thats fine" by the instructor. I had seen the reviews about them being not forthcoming about payment, so I emailed them to be sure. They THEN told me I'd be paying for a 6 month subscription, and that the only way I'd be able to cancel WITH a 100$ moving suspension fee would be to sign a form online and send them "3 forms of documentation proving that I moved." Well I just found out i've been charged for 2 extra months for 400$ I never made use of, so guess I'm gonna have to go to my bank or take them to small claims court, to try to get my money back.Wandering-Birds

Appreciated the fact that they answered my call the second time I called so I threw in an extra star. When talking to them over the phone, they refused to give me information about pricing/class schedules. There's no mention of this stuff online either. It's shady that they will not disclose prices and schedules until they get you in the gym. If they weren't ripping people off and being fair about their rates then they should have no problem disclosing that information over the phone and on their website. Every other gym I've inquired has had no issue providing this information. I decided to take my business to a different gym that was more upfront about rates/class schedule.Solid Snake

The foundations introduction class is great for anyone that doesn’t know anything about martial arts & isn’t sure where to begin or even if it’s something they’re physical capable of. I had the wonderful opportunity to do a free intro class with one of the instructors, Shawn. He is welcoming, and creates a wonderful environment of trust & encouragement. A thank you to Matt, as well, for the welcome package and helping make the signup process easy. Highly recommend this program and location.Gertrude Naomi

When I first started signing up for my MBA I advised them that I had just graduated with my bachelors degree. My goal was to start August 5, and I submitted all my necessary paperwork and cooperated as such. When it got to my transcripts I was advised I could not start because the conferral date was not on the transcripts. The enrollment specialist told me to reach out to my previous school. I did and it was a hassle. I called the enrollment specialist at Capella to advise of the updates to only find out that Capella’s registrar team had already been in contact with my school. I wanted to start on the 5th as it was very discouraging to go through the process to be turned away at last minute. 1). Total waist of time as I took time out of my day to complete orientation and do what they advised of me. 2) I asked to speak with a supervisor who was very vague and could not provide the information needed. 3) I again called Capella to try and escalate the situation, but the manager never returned my call. I feel as if they had me sign up because they were the ones to get paid for each student to enroll and failed to educate me properly in the beginning, which is very misleading and discouraging. Since no one wanted to comply and take responsibility I will be escalating this to the BBB as this is not my fault and I should had been able to start in the promised time given and should have been educated properly.Tearra McCray

The worst university ever! They made me waste my time and my money from the first day, every time I communicated with them each counselor told me something different, and more than a month passed and I did not have an accurate answer on the status of my application, after a month a person from human resources let me know that I had to do my transcripts equivalency again on another website because the one I had already sent twice to them waiting for they review it (and that they themselves told me it was okay to do it that way) was not valid for them to take me into account to start the course this past October. 1- First time the transcripts were not encrypted, so they asked my to ask the institution they send it again but encrypted this time and I did it and sent it again. And after that they let me know that didn’t work for them. So I wasted my time, my money and above all the opportunity to start on the desired date. A very bad job of the staff. Very bad communication with the students who want to start there, and they also contradict each other. They all say different things and waste your time. They are also very rude. I hope that no one has this bad experience, nor misses the opportunity to start the course on the date they planned, and due to the horrible work of other people you lose opportunities in life.Claudia Espinosa

From the beginning of my Master's level school search, Capella stood out. I had a great recommendation from a friend already, but in researching complete online programs to work with my schedule, Capella checked all of the boxes I needed. I had a wonderful experience with my admissions counselor and continue to have great interactions with all communication. I am happy with all faculty thus far and feel that I am learning exactly what I need for my future as a school counselor. The course load is what I expected it to be and the time I spend on classwork is time well spent. I feel very confident that I will be prepared to enter the field of school counseling when I graduate. The very first thing Capella does once you are enrolled is to start you in a class to help navigate your program and get you familiar with the online format. This helped immensely and calmed my nerves for entering into a graduate program online. I feel very well cared for and have not had a negative experience yet! I am 1 year into my program.Jenna Skophammer

I really like the flexibility of the online courses, the affordability and the variety of degree options they have. My advisors and teachers have been very great but communicating with the other staff at this school is very frustrating. The employees in the financial aid department are very rude and condescending and they hang up on you abruptly whenever they get frustrated with you. The registar’s office is by far the WORST. Very nasty employees in that department who talk down to you and treat you like a child. They seem to forget they work for a college, not an elementary school. One spent 10 minutes arguing on the phone with me just because I wanted my new advisor’s phone number and email. The “career counselors” offer no type of help or advice and they just tell you to “google it” whenever you have a basic question about a certain major. They are also very judgmental if you express a desire to finish with only an associates degree and not transfer to a 4 year, not considering not everyone has the financial means to do so. The call center employees are very disrespectful and seem like they want to find reasons to argue with callers. There are also huge issues with miscommunication at this school and everyone seems to have different answers about certain topics which causes a lot of errors. Certain departments are also not great about contacting back even after leaving numerous voicemails/emails. Overall I like the school itself but they need to either retrain the employees on basic respect and customer service or they need to hire new ones.Resident Anon

The teachers here are all outstanding and they make you feel like they want you to succeed. I have taken College Algebra, Biology and Spanish in the classroom and the instructors were all topnotch. There is also additional help available to students in the free math lab and writing centers as well as Spanish tutoring. The online classes are not that confusing but you do need to pay attention because sometimes you are required to take classes through third-party online textbooks via the access codes. The only problems I had were with transferring credits to the school and getting contradictory information from the financial aid office on one occasion. I do wish the school did a better job with advising students but I understand the logistics issues. Everyone at the hub is friendly and helpful! Use them they are a great resource. To all the people that left negative reviews, I would say "you get out what you put in". This is college and you get treated like an adult.Linda Brady

Mrs Jagal never cease to amaze me. I can’t count on her to get registered for the correct classes, motivation me, and share some knowledge on everyday life. She exceeds the title as an advisor and for that, I am forever grateful. She is authentic, sensible, and overall a down to earth amazing persons. She has been the perfect push I need to get my education I need to support my family. She approached. She is direct. She is Trident Tech. Thank you again Mrs. Jagal for Trident Tech the best part of my educational journey. The world needs a little bit of you everywhere. Continue to be, you!A Boss

A very heart warming experience, I had open Heart surgery on July 1,2011. Between Dr. W. Miranda and Dr. J. Dearani they saved my life, That’s how I and my Family feel. Mayo Clinic it self is full of Caring, loving and respectful people. Thank You All for ALL the hard work you do to help 💜 all of usFlorinda Martinez

I was pursing my Bachelors Degree but had to leave college due to unforeseen financial difficulties. I was looking for a job in the IT field but no one wants to hire you unless you have years of experience. I had heard about the Per Scholars program and decided it would be a great option in getting the experience I needed in order to obtain a job that would pay enough for me to go back to college. I attended the orientation which was very informative. Passed both reading and math TABE exams, filled out all the forms, submitted all the necessary documents, and took both assessments for their engineering programs. I have yet to hear back from the program on whether or not I passed the last assessments. Its been over 2 weeks! I've emailed, called, left messages and haven't heard back from anyone. Classes start next month, and I'm stuck! I've turned down numerous jobs thinking this program would be great for me. I appreciate programs like Per Scholas trying to uplift communities, especially minority communities, but this really is a shame.deKKo 213

Perscholas has changed my life dramatically and will always have a place in my heart and in my Future. The instructors are amazing. They work with you to help you become the best person you can be. I am A+ certified and working on my Network+. I am an alumni from Perscholas. The admissions director does a fantastic job at recruiting people who are determined and hard working individuals. My classmates were very helpful and diverse. I recommend this program to anyone who has a passion for IT and wants a great career. The course is 15 weeks. Not only do you get hands on IT training, but you also get business development. You have a separate instructor who helps build you resume and confidence to get you interview ready. I have nothing but great things to say about Prescholas. Hope this helps 🙂J “Dallas Habitant” G

I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity I had with Per Scholars! I learned so much and they prepared me so well for the real world and real experiences in the professional environment! The best experience I had! I’m surprised about the reviews they have so far! Are people complaining about this being beneficial to the company? They are training you for FREE, to prepare yourself as a potential employee of the company they are working with! They would not spend time, money, and effort just for you to learn for free! You can do that online! The entire goal of Per Scholars is to train you as a professional and then if you are good enough, you'll get the opportunity to become part of the team of a good company!Daniela Morales De La Riva

Plan ahead notes: go early! We went half an hour before the show started and we were glad we did because parking in Lyn Lake is never simple. The theatre has a small lot, but it fills up quickly, so plan on meter/street parking. Also note that they currently request proof of vaccination. Review: very fun! We went to see Star Trek: the Next Improvisation and had a great time! The setting is small and casual (the theatre holds about 100) and the casts are very on point and funny. They have a small bar in the back of the house where you can get 1 drink for about $5, but I didn’t see any non-alcoholic choices, so something to note if you can’t have alcohol. Overall a fun time with lots of laughs!Elizabeth Partington

HUGE is one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis. It's a small theater with a huge variety of improv available, and the tickets are reasonably priced (cheap, even – in other words, excellent value)! Classes are excellent, too, and you can rent the theater as a practice space. The staff and volunteers are friendly and helpful. There are decent NA options in the lobby and a bar in the theater if you'd like a beverage while you watch. Check out multiple shows on Fridays and Saturdays, sometimes-experimental improv on Sundays, or a variety show on Wednesdays. Or watch/join an improv jam on Thursday night.Amanda Helling

HUGE Theater is more than just shows–it is a community treasure. Each performance is "the actors' and directors' own interpretation of how to solve the puzzle of long form improv." If you have a bad experience, talk to the staff (or some random improviser in the audience) about what shows they would recommend. If you have a good experience, share it with others. And if you are one of those people sitting in the crowd thinking "I could this," then do it. Take a class, check out a jam, immerse yourself in a community that strives to live up to the motto of "Yes, and…."Amy Burge

I’m currently going to Summit, Now Summit is amazing. It truly is, They will try and help. However, I don’t think that this is the BEST option for most people with children, or bills or that have to overall deal with not being able to work 8:30am – 2:50pm. I’ll explain why. First, Summit is free. That’s not a lie. They do provide you with steel toe boots and a computer to start. That’s it! See, Summit is only free because they only take part in grants from FAFSA. You cannot apply for loans, Summit doesn’t take part in FAFSA loans. This is conflicting with schooling. You’ll have to pay $2.50 every morning (RUSH HOUR) to get to campus if you don’t have a car and take Metro Transit. The 19, and C-LINE run directly in front of Summit. It is also $2.50 to leave campus, (RUSH HOUR) totaling $5.00 a day. Good luck! So, they give out discounted bus cards also….discounted. You have to pay out of pocket to get it. They do give out grocery cards I believe $400 worth. That is week 3, same with Bus Card. They will not give you notebooks, backpacks, pencils, or the required pants they tell you to have. Did I mention they do not allow for you to apply for FAFSA loans? So if you’re following, after they take your Grant money you get $0.00 for start up help. You get $0.00 to pay rent with, buy groceries etc. things that a college would normally give to any 18 year old. In other words, there’s a 18 year old getting a better education than you at the community college (Minneapolis Community & Technical College) less than 1.5 miles away, and of course. They do get FAFSA, Grants & Loans. Easily over $3,000 just to help you focus on SCHOOLING. Now, I’ve shown up to classes and the teachers are on Thanksgiving break. That’s FINE! But if the student doesn’t show up for that class no one is teaching, You’ll get a tardy or whatever they call it. Splendid! 2 stars, because it is FREE, it is a trade school. No you will not get FAFSA loans while schooling. They give out $2,500 week 18. 18 weeks and you’ve made $2,500. That is a joke. My rent alone is $1,145.00. They will offer you work study! It’s 2 hours a day at $15.00 an hour. When applying to Summit do not even think you’ll get any financial help from the government that goes directly to you. You will have to pay for transportation. You will have to pay for all your materials. You will have to pay. Pell Grant clears for $6,045 at most. Summit used all my Pell Grant and I didn’t get a penny to help with expenses! Thanks Summit! Glad to put myself in a hole so deep, it’s hard to see light. Thanks for lying to me about Financial Aide during my FAFSA appointment. Had I known I wouldn’t get financial help to sit in a classroom from 8:30am-2:50pm, I would’ve directed my wife and Newborn daughter to a different path. Not this one, Not by a long shot! One last thing, for you women out there with kids. I know one with 7 kids, when she expressed how she needed extra help and that after 2:50PM she’s completely done with schooling because she needs to focus on her kids.This was the response she got; “Don’t excuse yourself with excuses.” 👍Sunny Muhammad

Overall a great school and every staff who works there, especially Dr King, truly is living their dream (helping students better their lives). Ms. Crystal keeps track of every student, which is a really good thing because it shows how committed Summit is to their students. I was referred to Summit by my brother who had completed his electrician program and is now working as an electrician. I took a different route though, I signed up for their IT program. I was excited to start. But I soon realized their IT program wasn't what i thought it'd be. We learned about ITIL which the professors explained over and over again that it was highly recommended by other IT professionals that they do not teach us ITIL, yet the professors at Summit decided to do so anyways. I feel like the IT professors at Summit taught ITIL the way they thought was right, even when it was not correct. The whole IT program consisted of presentations which i understood because if an IT tech wanted to present an idea to their boss, they would need presentation skills. But I didnt think the whole program needed to be focused on presentations. Some of the IT professors werent on the same page. Needless to say, I dropped out of their IT program and started a different IT program and i learn so much better now. Summit is a great school overall. I think they need a lot (and I mean A LOT) of improvement in their IT program though.M Y

The instructors here really care.They will make sure you understand that. One on one when needed. This place will help build friendships and a family like influence. Go Summit. Your staff rocks. The learning is made fun, challenging, and inviting. Makes you want to learn more. The very best part for me was The Community Health Fair. Awesome way to meet people learn from others and research the topic of your choice. Your instructors are Awesome, Caring and Love what they do. SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC It's the place to be. All are welcome. Wednesdays Information Session the start to your new you. You can do it.Melinda Crutchfield

This place is such a cool combination of laid-back, non-competitive, flexible and friendly with passionate/enthusiastic instruction that makes you want to take it seriously and compete with yourself! I just celebrated my one year anniversary here and I am still so happy to go to every class. Joelle's hip hop classes are my favorite – she really breaks it down to a beginner level, but inspires us to not be afraid to let our personalities shine. The barre classes are extremely effective workouts to keep toned and flexible, but aren't boring – Gretchen and all the teachers are genuine, nice people. And they add classes a lot, so there are still new ones I am excited to try. I can't say enough how awesome this place is. Oh yeah, and the space is really pretty, too.Jaime Delzer

Me and my friend decided to get out of our comfort zone and get the introductory offer for the 2 weeks. We made it a goal of going to the beginner hip hop class for the 2 weeks and it was so much fun! The teachers were excellent at instruction and making everyone in the class feel comfortable. The dances were great for beginners and people learning and I felt super cool for being able to do them! The atmosphere and everything about the studio I loved. Everyone was so friendly and I benefited a lot more from this place in 2 weeks than I thought I would. I look forward to being more of a regular go-er to this modern and down to earth fitness studio! I’d highly recommend this studio to anyone and everyone wanting to have fun, exercise and get out of their comfort zone!Lexi Csargo

I’ve been attending Straightline classes for over a year now and the main thing that drew me in was the wide variety of class offerings. I was specifically looking to add some dance cardio classes into my routine and instantly fell in love with the studio. The instructors are so encouraging and invest time in getting to know their students. Since classes are mostly online right now, I appreciate being able to jumpstart my day with a barre workout or end my day with a yoga session. Taking classes through Straightline has helped keep me accountable, focused, and motivated. I love being a part of this welcoming, fun, and supportive community!Christine Hazuka

The West End Conference Center is a trainer's dream!!! I taught classes there during a week in May 2019 and everything I could ever wish for in a conference center was available: plenty of space, lots of lighting options, state-of-the-art AV equipment and support, comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing furniture and surroundings, wall-to-wall white boards, plenty of extra training materials (markers, pens, sticky notes, wall charts, table toys, etc.), and delicious catered food for breakfasts and lunches. It was immediately obvious that the West End Conference Center was designed by trainers for trainers (we also call ourselves teachers, instructors, and presenters) – every tiny detail served the physical needs of the participants as well as the trainer. Here are a few examples of the details that made teaching in the West End Conference Center SO delightful: 1. The training room was spacious and inviting and the lighting in the room was wonderful. A bank of large windows along one wall provided ample natural light. The fluorescent overhead lights had one row separate from the others that could be turned off to accommodate slide-viewing on a huge, state-of-the-art screen that covered another wall. The overhead LCD projector was also state-of-the-art and projected slide photos with excellent clarity of color and detail. 2. The furniture in the room was on wheels which made tables and chairs easy to move when an activity called for a different furniture arrangement. The chairs were ergonomically designed to recline and to accommodate different heights. 3. There were enough electrical outlets everywhere so no cords needed to snake across the floor and trip up unwary participants. A small "AV Center" to the side had all the hook-ups necessary for a trainer's computer and the room's sound system. 4. Two white-boards covered two walls, from one side of the room to the other – it was awesome to have SO much space on which to write or hang chart pages (the boards were covered with participants' work by the end of the week!). 5. There were plenty of smaller break-out rooms available in the West End Conference Center for individual and small group work during the week. 6. The dining and kitchen areas were right out the door of the training room – spacious meal areas that invited participants to sit and chat. The West End Conference Center took care of all our meal-catering needs at a fraction of the cost that we would have paid to a hotel catering service. And the meals were delicious! Plenty of excellent coffee, tea, sodas, and snacks were provided throughout the day, as well. 7. Throughout the week, the West End Conference Center staff checked in with us to make sure we had everything we needed to make our stay satisfying and successful. I know I've left out dozens of other details here that made my training week at the West End Conference Center so gratifying. In conclusion, I would just say that if you have a class, training, workshop, meeting, or conference to organize/present in the Minneapolis area, I would heartily recommend that you talk first with the wonderful people at the West End Conference Center about your conference/training needs. You will not find a more congenial, professional, and inviting environment anywhere! Sharon Bowman, President Bowperson Publishing & Training, Inc. Glenbrook, NevadaSharon Bowman

Professional, well run, comfortable, centrally located; Just what every trainer and participants needs can be found at the West End Conference Center! I had an awesome experience – delivered there the first Scaled Agile training, and the Persuading the Bear workshop – it is everything a trainer/facilitator is looking for in a training venue and so much more! Participants had great many positive things to say about it as well – it was convenient, roomy, and comfortable – the chairs , tables, meeting spaces and collaborative interaction opportunities. Staff is very attentive and will get you those Jelly Beans if you ask for them:-)Michael Nir

WECC was my first venue choice for an offsite meeting I needed to schedule for a date when I was out of town, needing everything done right. WECC did not disappoint! Not only was Dave Simpson extremely helpful, patient, and provided every bit of information I needed, he left me feeling confident my meeting would go off without a hitch. Reviews by those in attendance were rave (all unsolicited) asking me to use WECC as a venue for future events. The entire WECC team pulled off a flawless meeting for me! I strongly encourage you to use this multi-faceted venue.Cristy Siede

I've been working out 2x/week at Discover Strength for about 3.5 years. I continue to come back for several reasons: their idea of failure had been different than mine – I am (respectfully) pushed to real failure on each exercise, and leave each session feeling like I gave it my all; every workout starts and ends on time; the trainers listen, and are organized and professional; the other people who train there are great – it's a super supportive environment; I am physically stronger; I look and feel better; it's a 45 minute workout, so easy to fit into my day; the concierge staff work to accommodate my schedule. The trainers are good people – super friendly and fun. Most important – working out at Discover Strength has been fantastic for my physical and mental health!Cecile Bedor

Smart, educated trainers who push me to exceed my expectations every workout. I've been a client since 2006 and have always placed a high value on my DS workouts. They keep me feeling healthy and strong and I consider them an investment in my future. In the past year, I've really focused on an increased protein intake as part of my regular diet and am seeing results I never thought possible. Having the option to utilize the Bod Pod to monitor my progress has been a really good motivator and provides instant feedback so I can continue to make adjustments in real time. Thanks DS for your thoughtful, evidence based approach!Ann Davenport

These last three years I have comeback to doing the kind of athletic adventures that were part of my life in the past. I thought I was done skiing marathons and paddling long arctic canoe trips. Working with Kevin as the lead trainer for me at MPLS I have been able to gain the strength, balance and stability for these endeavors and the mental focus needed. I love the woods and I love these challenges. DS has brought me joy.Randee Edmundson

Jill Thiel at Minnesota Reiki Center for Healing is an amazing teacher and mentor. I've taken Holy Fire Reiki levels I and II and master with her and look forward to taking the Karuna class next year. As a teacher, she takes the time to explain well, answers questions, and allows plenty of time to practice. I think my favorite part of the classes where her guided meditations and singing bowl sound bath. There is something magical about meditating together in a group setting which helps me to go deeper into the experience than I would manage on my own. I have also appreciated the connections that I've made with other students. I highly recommend Jill's Reiki classes to anyone who is serious about learning Reiki at a deep level whether it's to practice professionally or for self-development.Tera Kolbeck

I have been living in a spiritual chaos and hell for many years. I have sought guidance and help from so many different people and different modalities. I have not been able to figure out the cause nor the solution. On this journey of healing, I have felt the most connection and relief in Reiki. I recently found Jill and The Minnesota Reiki Center and took Reiki 1 & 2. Jill was very Authentic, patient, intuitive and perceptive about my situation, with very little information to go off of. I am just beginning this journey with my new practice and I know my life is changing for the better. I am beyond grateful for Jill, The Minnesota Reiki Center and the healing energy of Reiki.Suky Behm

Jill brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and integrity into her classes, meeting each student where they are at, all while being a shining example of what it means to “Be Reiki”. It is an honor to have taken several of the ICRT classes with her as my teacher and I am beyond thrilled to be enrolled in some of the upcoming advanced classes, so deeply grateful that I was guided here for training. Also, I just booked my first personal session with Jill and am so excited, not just for the experience which I’m certain will be amazing, but because I know it will be a great addition to help support me on my own Reiki path.Abigail Namaste

Solcana is a great space, while any gym/box is intimidating (at least to me) it was friendly atmosphere. I scheduled an intro session and met with Jerik who was warm and attentive. We went through a quick workout after he explained a few of the types of classes they provide. When you start, Crossfit has a way of letting you know you're out of shape LOL. After our quick circuit and having a look around, I knew I'd want to join. The gym is close to my home, the people are friendly and it's pricing is on par with other Crossfit boxes (i.e it's expensive lol). The thing that set it apart for me is their involvement with the LGBTQIA community. They provide classes geared towards their transitioning members as well as femme centric classes. They advocate in the crossfit community for their members as well. It's incredibly moving to me and while sure the membership may seem expensive, I'm so happy knowing my money goes towards such a good cause! . The day after my 8 minute butt kicking with Jerik, I signed up for my first actually crossfit session! I'm painfully awkward in new places so I got there and got my shoes on and wandered around wondering what to do with my hands. A few members trickled in and I sat across from Casey who is doing body adapt classes, a few people they knew came in and one of them showed us pictures of their friend's dog. Once 630 hit the crossfit crew gathered around Jerik and he explained the days warmup exercises. I had never kipped before so Jerik explained in very simple terms how to feel it in my shoulder blades. It'll take some practice but I got the hang of it sort of 🙂 We went through the warmup and Marijke arrive shortly after. She was our session's coach she was just late due to snow and public transport issues so Jerik started us off. She helped me with my cleans or jerks or whatever they're called since I've never done those and had no idea where to start. She told me to keep my knees high on the t2b portion (i could only do knees up not toes to bar) The session was fierce and naturally I was the slowest lol. . The classmates were great though. All wonderfully diverse. Between heavy breathing there were some jokes and some talk back and forth with various people. You bond in the pain and suffering it seems lol. . I don't know how I feel about the competitive nature of crossfit, the point system and the trying to get through things quickly. I'm def not trying to cut corners or sacrifice form for speed. That's easy to do when you start getting exhausted. I've worked out a lot (many years ago lulz) and listen to my body well and also correct myself the best I can when I am starting to arch my back or not squat deep enough(those things your body tries to do when you're tired). Maybe I'll always be the last to finish a circuit but I'll be happy to get that work in and done right 🙂 . Overall it was a fantastic experience. My legs are sore today but it's not stopping me from doing one more session today before I take a few days to recover. Looking forward to the next session!Nikolas Armendariz

Gyms have never really been my thing, especially because of how uncomfortable they can feel as a fat and queer person. Solcana is a GAME CHANGER! From the first time I spoke to Scout to inquire about services to my consultation with Garrett H. to now having been to classes and private trainer sessions – I feel so welcome, so comfortable, and so seen! Garrett H. is an amazing personal trainer and takes the time to explain the "why" in addition to the "how" – as a lifetime learner and researcher by nature, I really appreciate this. KK coaches the Big Body Fitness classes (that's right, a class just for big bodies, yes!) and is equally amazing at leading the class and explaining movements as we learn them. I have NEVER EVER been someone that would go around recommending a gym, but here I am. Give Solcana a try, you will not be disappointed! Especially if you are fat or just never felt comfortable in a gym setting, I can't recommend this place enough. And it's queer/women-owned, so – what more need I say?! Get yer booties to Solcana already.Johanna Swalley

I’ve been at solcana long enough to speak to a few points that anyone who is thinking of joining should know: 1. Bring yourself. Everyone is welcome and the community here shows that and there are no big egos here. If you are experienced and want to push it you can do that here as well. 2. Never be intimated by workouts (well most of the time 😋) the coaches will help you adjust movements to your needs and make sure you are doing the movements will right form. If you want to progress to a more advanced movement they can do that as well. 3. They make the classes fun. The hour passes really quickly. Who can ever say that about most gym workouts. If you are considering I highly recommend you contact the gym as you can do a limited trial at this time of writing with no strings attached.Ryan

I’ve been going to F45 for a couple years now and love it! The best thing about it that keeps me going is the variety. The classes are constantly changing so you never feel like you’re doing the exact same routine. Also the option to pick different class times throughout the week to work with your schedule. It’s nice to do a 630am one day and a 12pm the next. The instructors are all awesome as well and are quick to correct you on form if you’re doing something wrong. Very happy to have their studio right in my neighborhood!Hanna Gilsvik

I began my free 2 week trial on May 31, 2019. I joined up the day that expired. I find the workouts really interesting and motivating. The instructors bring high energy and are very good at getting you motivated / inspired. They also show you a variety of adaptations for each exercise and encourage you to work hard, but keep good form so that you can keep working and avoid injury. It's a really nice, encouraging community for every body (and body type.) I haven't high-fived people this much since high school!Leo Arms

I tried F45 starting with a free 2-week trial and was hooked after the first class. The coaches/trainers are super encouraging, friendly, approachable and supportive. There's so much to love: the community, the workouts, class times and facilities. The best part of the workouts is they go by so quickly because you're always moving and working different body parts. There's also no ego and people with a variety of fitness levels. The price is higher than other fitness locations but totally worth it.Kyle Wilman

My husband and I joined this gym in August 2021 after we moved to this neighborhood – the sign up process was stress free compared to our experiences from other gyms in the twin cities. Noah is great to work with and is available to answer any questions like the sign up process, meal plans, the workouts etc… The 21 day challenge caught our attention so we decided to give it a try in December 2021 after 21 days, we committed to the program for 6 more months. If you are looking for a personal trainer but cannot afford it and/or looking for a team workout setting for motivation and accountability, this is the place. Mike does a great job with training and pushing you just right with each session. The apps that come with this program are great tools to track your progress and have made scheduling easy. The change in workout routine every month (4 weeks) keeps it interesting and fun while working on different muscles. The program really caters to any experience level (as a beginner myself) and yet challenges you from where you are.Shruthi Ingarsal

This gym is amazing, everything is so bright and fresh. It’s a newer location so all of the equipment is really up to date. It is literal SQUAT RACK HEAVEN with 6+ racks. The showers and bathrooms are extremely clean. They have lockers and cubbies available for use. It is open 24/7 and a entry is granted via key fob. They have invested in a state of the art surveillance systems, which as a woman who works out by myself at odd hours it makes me feel really safe to know all of the security in place to protect me. Jay runs the place and he’s great! He is extremely accessible, personable, and friendly! There was no pressure for me to join, but an outpouring of support which was refreshing. Lots of great machines and workout options. Highly recommend joining if you’re looking for an inclusive workout space with dedicated staff who actually care about you, your health, and your progress.Eliza Williams

"Micheal – the lead trainer – is a superb fitness trainer. He is at once professional and personable while being immensely knowledgeable about nutrition and strength training. The trait that makes him truly stand out is the nuanced way that he keeps us all going. He encourages self reliance and accountability without drawing undue attention to one person over another. I appreciate his consistent, supportive, actions that let us all know he is paying attention and working to facilitate an efficient and logistically smooth experience for each of us and as a group. He takes things in stride, yet steps in firmly when needed. He seems to recall what weight each of us can tackle that day and is careful to provide alternatives for those with temporary or permanent weaknesses or injuries. We are so lucky to have his earnest and capable guidance throughout. No, I’m not making this up!"Beth Hunt

Just this week my girlfriend and I moved to Minneapolis together to start a new journey in the city we love so dearly. I have lived here before but she has not had the pleasure. All month before our move I raved about all of the exciting things Minneapolis was going to offer – and most notably – One Yoga. "We HAVE to try One Yoga to see if it's still as amazing as it was before – because if it is – we're going to have to get a membership together and go all the time" I thought there was no way I was hyping it up too much. But today was the day. We parked a block away & walked through the new Minnesota cold with our yoga mats in hand. Just before the One Yoga doors, my GF says to me "Alright – here it is! Hopefully this is everything you've made it to be!" – I said "Oh honey, we got nothin' to worry about" – and proceeded to open the doors. We were greeted by a lovely lady. I briefed her on the aforementioned intentions, and asked if we could quickly fill out the necessary paperwork, hop into Shira's "Gentle" class & try One Yoga together for a month before we commit to $85/month contract. $85 is a hefty monthly bill – higher than any monthly bill I have – aside from Student Loans, Rent, and electricity – so – although I am confident this place is worth it – I can't really be sure that after 2 1/2 years – nearly 1000 days – One Yoga's staff hasn't changed, members haven't changed, and the entire energy of the place hasn't taken a whole new form. In fact – I hope it has changed quite a bit – I know I have! This new form could CERTAINLY be a perfect fit for my GF and I, but we really can't know unless we try. The lady at the front desk says "Oh, I'm sure you are eligible for a trial period. I think it renews after 2 years." After checking the computer "I found you – but for some reason – even though you haven't been here since 2017 the computer doesn't recognize that you're eligible." She then calls over one of the instructors at the studio, and asks her how long it takes to become eligible for the trial again. She says "Two years – maybe it's two and half? If the computer isn't pulling up that you are eligible, I don't really know" The lady at the front desk then proceeds to show me the other options I can do with my Girlfriend instead of a $30 for 30 day trial: 1. $85/month Contract Commitment Membership = $1020/yr 2. 30 Day Pass = $125 I let her know that I was very aware of all of the options. She then saw another instructor, and called her over so I could explain my situation to her to see if she could override whatever the computer isn't pulling up as "eligible". I, again, explain the aforementioned situation to her. She responds with "We don't have a timeframe on eligibility. You are only eligible once. We are a nonprofit. You can apply for our sliding scale pricing and find out in two weeks if you qualify. I'm sure you would qualify." I am not interested in a sliding scale. I'm interested in making sure that this place is everything I promised Amy it was. A place for us to find peace, solitude, and community. "I am aware of your sliding scale application. I'm not asking about what I already read on your website. I am asking you to let me re-try this place with my girlfriend. If you do, I'm sure we will find that it is everything it was before – and more – so she and I will then proceed to get a membership – $170/month from there on out. But if you don't let me trial this place after 2 1/2 years and instead make me pay over 400% more at $125/month… I guess I already have my answer about the character of this place. One Yoga, If you had more understanding today – you would be adding $2040.00/year to your revenue. So hungry for the RIGHT NOW $95 – you lost out on possibly 30-40 YEARS of $2040.00 a year. That's $81,600. Yoga is a vulnerable process. From choosing a studio to falling down in front of strangers. It's the principle of the matter. You didn't listen to me as a human being – you saw me as a number – a LOW number who "surely would qualify" for sliding scale.Joseph Bezenek

First, I'm very drawn to One Yoga because it's a non-profit with a social justice mission that they act on rather than simply making their statement and doing "business as usual" like we've seen with so many other companies and organizations. There's a fair amount of body diversity among instructors, regular Yoga for BIPOC Students sessions, and a free month intro offer for new BIPOC students, all of which tells me they actually believe in their mission statement. They offer sliding scale memberships without making you jump through hoops to prove that you deserve support. I'm not sure what the market is like for yoga studio memberships, but One Yoga's standard membership price seems competitive. I would absolutely say it's a good value, and I appreciate that there's also an option for a donor membership, which is $25 more than the standard and allows the studio to offer more discounts to those who need it (there are some other benefits of the donor membership but I'm not familiar with them). Next, the instructors. This studio has fantastic instructors who offer lots of variations and support so you can customize your practice based on your needs, preferences, and skill level. I love how many different classes and instructors are available and every instructor has been very welcoming and seems to make an effort to get to know students. I've had one instructor email me a livestream link and add that she's glad we keep running into each other, which makes me feel welcomed into a community. I have especially enjoyed learning from James and Greg. Both have been extremely welcoming, personable, and infused humor and humility into their teaching. As bonuses, James has a lovely cadence when he speaks and Greg gives big Steve Harrington vibes (post-redemption arc).Britt Van Buskirk

I've only taken one class so far, but first impressions are everything to me. I really do believe that if the first expierence is a bust, people will not return. As a mover, I am very critical about any type of Movement studio. I must say I was beyond happy with my instructor and experience. I've been seeking a holistic approach to movement/mediation but am usually turned away by "mainstream" fitness approaches – One Yoga keeps it real, down to earth and focuses on a mind/body/soul approach. The Earth studio is simply radiant – as well as their entire space. It feels very welcoming, safe and comforting. The entire studio gives off a sense of community and wholeness. I recommend this to anyone who is seeking something deeper. I look forward to making One Yoga part of my routine.Alexa Lautenbach

Best thing I ever could have done for my reactive rescue dog, Zara. I can’t give them enough stars for the hard work and dedication we were shown. Milo is the best!! I honestly don’t usually take time to write reviews but I had to because I seriously recommend this place to anyone who wants to improve their relationship with their dog in any way. My dog did the board and train with Milo and he really put me at ease the whole time and I didn’t worry about her while she was gone, I knew she was in great hands. He worked very hard with me as well in follow up sessions in order to help me execute what Zara had learned. I can tell that they genuinely care about what they do and the dogs they work with. Zara does so much better when we see other dogs, and I never thought I’d be able to introduce her to another dog because of how reactive she was, but she’s now able to be in the same room with other dogs and I don’t have to worry. She also is great at basic commands which have helped us to go on better walks, car rides and just live without the stress. Thank you to K9SF and Milo, I’m so appreciative 🙂Emma Zamec

One year ago we adopted Ludo, a staffie rescue. Quickly we realized that he had some behavioral issues that we didn't know how to manage. We found K9SF and started with a ten session package. Half of our sessions were with a previous trainer and the other half were with Milo. Ludo was very fearful of new men but seemed to take an instant liking to Milo. Milo worked with us on Ludo's reactivity and anxiety. Sarah was also amazing and brought her own pups to work with us. We have a much better adjusted happy boy after our sessions. I'm truly amazed at his progress and can't wait to see what the future holds for him. He now has a doggie best friend and does pretty well with meeting new people. We ended the package with a clear idea of the work we need to do going forward. We're so grateful to have found Milo. We'll definitely be returning in the future.Jackie Docka

We have a 2 year old black lab named Paul who is incredibly excitable and is always living his best life – at all times. We met many with times Sarah and Milo to go over all different types of training scenarios to help us learn how to handle Paul's excitability. We worked on leash pulling, 'leave it' commands, food aggression, greeting other humans (and dogs), etc. Sarah and Milo are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and professional, and we'd recommend their team to anyone in need of dog training. We learned so much, and owe a lot of Paul's development (as well as our own development from a dog owner standpoint) to them. They are also very reachable and available, responding to all questions we had and giving us good suggestions and recommendations. We'll gladly train with them again, and we very well may do so again in the future!Nicolas Etcheverry