District 3 September Newsletter

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commissioner marion greene

September 2019

Greetings and Happy Labor Day! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county news and services. 

As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to learn more about how to get involved.

My best,

marion signature

News

Fremont Bridge Replacement Begins

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Requires temporary short reroute of the Midtown Greenway at Fremont Avenue

Construction crews will begin replacement of the century-old Fremont Avenue Bridge.

The new bridge will provide a crossing that reflects the original design with updates for people driving, biking, walking and rolling.

In addition, crews will complete critical utility work under the Midtown Greenway, including replacing a city watermain.

Read more about the project here.

 

Lake and Excelsior Getting an Overhaul

LynLake

Photo source: Southwest Journal 

Known for it's traffic back-ups and crossing difficulty for cyclists and pedestrians, the intersection at Lake and Excelsior is receiving an overhaul. 

Hennepin County is set to begin preliminary efforts; heavier work is projected for next summer. 

Read the Southwest Journal's coverage here.

 

Juvenile Warrant Forgiveness Day

Young people can have misdemeanor warrants forgiven without fear of arrest at this event. It features free food, kids' games and activities, and a fair full of resources on education, health care, food assistance, employment and housing.

  • Saturday, September 21
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • 1256 Penn Avenue North, Minneapolis

The 4th judicial district, which includes Hennepin County is partnering with community-based and court partners to host the event.

Learn more about the event.

 

County Funds Environmental Education Programs

The county is teaming up with The Green Partners Environmental Education Program to engage residents in environmental education projects. Over the course of the next year, the program will work specifically with four community partners including Patrick Henry High School, Freshwater Society, St. Anthony-New Brighton Independent School District 282, and Three Rivers Park District. 

The Green Partners Environmental Education Program provides support and funding to organizations to implement projects that engage and empower residents to protect and improve the environment. Since the program was established in 2012, 147 grants totaling more than $1.5 million have been awarded. Funding for The Green Partners Environmental Education program comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.

 

Eviction Record Removal Assistance

Sumner Library is teaming up with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid to offer free legal assistance to remove evictions from renters’ records.

The service provides free one-on-one legal assistance in clearing your eviction record. From start to finish, volunteer attorneys will help prepare housing eviction expungement papers, will represent you in court, and arrange to have eviction information removed from court records and tenant-screening databases. Translation services available. For eligibility, you must live in Hennepin County and meet income guidelines. Walk-ins are welcome but the service does prefer appointments.

  • 10am-11am Presentation: “Know Your Housing Rights”

  • 11am-2pm Appointments

To set an appointment: 612.746.3705 or probono@mylegalaid.org. This service is provided on the first Friday of every month (Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6 in 2019) at Sumner Library (611 Van White Memorial Blvd., Minneapolis).

District 3 Profile

The District 3 team participated in a “ride along” at Hennepin County’s downtown Human Service Center which focused on the client perspective of applying for benefits, specifically those with federal requirements. Service center staff walked us through the entire process of applying for county services, from taking a number and filling out initial paperwork, to being interviewed about eligibility, and finally going through the various services clients can receive and how that is decided. We are so grateful for the work that Brittney and her colleagues do for residents of Hennepin County!

 

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Brittney Ross

Senior Human Services Representative

Downtown, Minneapolis

Describe your work.

As a Senior Human Services Representative for Hennepin County I provide support to individuals and families in need. A majority of the work is client facing — helping people obtain nutritional support, cash assistance and handle emergency assistance cases. 

What do you find most enjoyable about your work?

I consistently strive for quality service. I have developed close relationships with employees in the Quality Improvement department to cross-reference my work and to ensure I am adhering to best practices.  I take pride in what we do for people, for families, and for the Minneapolis community. 

What is the most challenging part of the work?

The most challenging part of my job is feeling the desperation and rejection some clients feel daily. They may be facing homelessness, hunger or having trouble maintaining healthcare. Although the hardships are challenging and emotionally taxing, the reward is in the stories that are aided by our services. Overseeing difficult cases from start to close makes the work worth while, every day. 

What is one thing everyone should know about the work you do?

My colleagues and I wear many hats. Some days it’s the role of social worker, other days immigration specialist, and a lot of times it's a listening ear or shoulder to lean on. There have been countless moments when a client receives relief solely from having someone listen to them in a safe space and that is the atmosphere we continuously cultivate, one of refuge and hope.

Board Briefings

You're invited. In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the County Board often meets for updates on Thursday mornings. These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made, and topics are subject to change. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public. Call my office to confirm briefing time and location.

Thursday, September 19

  • 10:00am-11:00am: TBD

County Calendar

Writing classes for kids, teens and adults

Write about your life experiences, build writing skills, or learn how to start blogging with The Loft Literary Center at Hennepin County libraries. Find a First Pages writing class at your library.

 

September is library card sign-up month

A library card is a ticket to a bigger world. It provides access to not just books, but to an astounding array of magazines, CDs and DVDs, and online resources. Get a free new or replacement library card today.

 

Latinx book lists

From September 15 through October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us to celebrate the culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Hear their stories in these fiction and nonfiction book lists.

 

Help us go for gold! Take a quick bike survey

Hennepin County has applied for gold status as a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) with the League of American Bicyclists.

The county recently was awarded silver BFC status, and we are hoping, with feedback from you and others, to move up to gold!

To better understand biking experiences in Hennepin County, the league is asking people familiar with biking here to complete this survey. We invite you to fill it out yourself and share it forward.

The survey will remain open through Sunday, September 22, and responses will inform the decision-making process. Award results will be announced this fall.

About District 3

D3

The 3rd District serves the city of St. Louis Park, and Southwest and Downtown Minneapolis.

County Information

Contact us

Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883

Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125

Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863

hennepin.us

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