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Greetings! 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.
Following a heart attack in 2023, I led the County's investment into prevention and coordinated care, particularly for Black and Indigenous women who are suffering unacceptable outcomes. Last month, we officially launched that initiative.
Through this initiative, Hennepin County is expanding prevention efforts and strengthening care coordination before, during, and after serious heart problems, such as a heart attack. Learn more about warning signs and prevention here: https://www.hennepin.us/health-promotion/featured-projects/your-heart-beats-for-generations
Women’s Heart Health Screening at Blackbird Revolt
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The artists behind Hennepin’s “Your Heart Beats for Generations” campaign is Blackbird Revolt, we are so proud of how they’ve so creatively promoted heart health. Thank you co-founders Terresa Moses and Jordan for creating space for campaign participants to meet one another!
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I gathered with the other amazing participants of the “Your Heart Beats for Generations” campaign for the first viewing of Hennepin County's Women's Heart Health Initiative video. To watch the video, click here.
Black Women's Heart Health Event
 Rep. Ilhan Omar and I hosted an intergenerational conversation and resource fair focused on Black Women’s heart health. Our panel included experts Dr. Rachel Hardeman, Sara Hollie, and Dr. Rahshana Price-Isuk. Local physicians, researchers and elders joined our conversation and brought insight that will help us eliminate disparities in heart healthcare.
Hennepin Healthcare's Cardiac Rehabilitation
 Nurses Anita, Hill, and Cori presented to the Board how they help patients recover from heart attacks through Hennepin Healthcare's Cardiac Rehabilitation. Ad a graduate of the Cardiac Rehab program myself, I know just how important and impactful this program is in a patient's healing and recovery journey. These nurses are heroes and it was an honor to recognize their lifesaving work.
Hennepin County Heart Health Event at UROC
 Closing out Heart Health month, I had the opportunity to speak at Hennepin County's Heart Health event hosted at University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC)
 The Heart Health champion panel, moderated by UROC's Executive Director, Makeda Zulu-Gillespie. Panelist included (left to right):
Dr. Terresa Moses, Founder, Blackbird Revolt
LaTrese VanBuren, CHW Broadway Family Medicine
Marisa Anywaush, RN and Heart Health Campaign participant
Dr. Woubeshet Ayenew, Cardiologist, Hennepin Healthcare
Healthy Hearts Social Group!
Having serious heart problems can be scary. NorthPoint offers support and resources for African American, Black, and Indigenous women who've had heart attacks, strokes or been diagnosed with heart disease.
Join us for our Health Hearts Social Group.
Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30pm
Starting 4/1/25 through 4/29/25
- Childcare available
- Dinner Provided
Sign up at Healthy Hearts Registration
Starting off the month of March, I had the pleasure of joining the National Association of Counties (NACo) for their annual legislative conference in Washington DC.
 Day 1 - I presided as Chair of the Community Economic and Workforce Development Committee. Our policy steering committees lead key policy priorities for our nation's 3,069 counties, parishes & boroughs.
 Day 2 - I joined my peers at the National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) & the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) luncheon. I was part of a great discussion on the power of basic income pilots. I was proud to speak on behalf of Hennepin County's program, Raise the Baseline.
I was joined by Councilmember Will Jawando from Montgomery County, MD, along with Latisha Boyd, a participant in the CashRx program in D.C., run by Bread for the City, and Mayor Michael D. Tubbs, founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and former Mayor of Stockton, CA.
 Day 3 - We started the day with an empowering message from NACo President James Gore, report outs to the NACo Board of Directors from each policy steering committee chair.
 We closed off the day with a GREAT Minnesota delegation meeting!
 What makes this Minnesota meeting so great is that it now includes Ramsey County, Commissioner Garrison McMurtrey, who recently became the first Black man elected to a County Board in Minnesota.
Seeding Our Stars
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I visited Hosmer library to see the “Seeding the Stars” installation by Olivia Levins Holden. Rooted in our history, our connection to the earth and each other- the installation is a beautiful addition to Hosmer. To learn about the art and artist: https://www.hclib.org/.../2025/January/seeding-the-stars |
We Win Institute - Cultural Reading Room
 It was such a treat to stop by the WE WIN Institute, Inc.'s Cultural Reading Room. I had the opportunity to read "The Undefeated", a 2019 poem by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
Minnesota's Connection to the Underground Railroad
 We stopped by the Hennepin History Museum for a fantastic talk by genealogist Elyse Hill whose research and leadership made it possible for sites in Minnesota to be designated as apart of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network including District 4's own Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery.
There is an related exhibit, In Memoriam: Residents of Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery, that is available for viewing through 2025.
 Hennepin County's project team hosted a public open house at Park Avenue Methodist Church on February 13. Below are link's to the most recent draft designs and presentation.
The image above is the preliminary design timeline. As upcoming events happen, my office will continue be present and keep you updated.
To view more information, please visit the Park and Portland safety improvements project webpage here. Keep this page bookmarked to stay updated, we currently have concept designs and processing feedback from the last community engagement.
The Peoples’ Way: Community Proposals
 Meet the applicants who have applied to be the future community owner of the Peoples' Way and hear their presentations. The four groups who have applied to become owners of the site include Minnesota Agape Movement, P3 Foundation (David’s Place), Rise & Remember and Urban League Twin Cities. There are plenty of ways to learn more about the proposals.
Opportunities:
- (past) Peoples' Way February Engagement Event: - Wednesday, February 26th from 5 - 8:30pm at Sabathani Community Center
- (past) Pop-Up Event #2: Tuesday, March 4 from 2-5pm at Hosmer Library
- Pop-Up Event #3: Saturday, March 8th from 11a to 2pm at Bichota Coffee
- Pop-Up Event #4: Tuesday, March 11th from 3 to 6pm at Powderhorn Recreation Center
Garden Planning Night
 We hope you will join us next week for our spring garden planning night! All are welcome. See below for more information!
What: Garden Planning Night. Help us plan the upcoming garden season, pick what crops to grow, and shape the season's programming and events. Free dinner and childcare (please RSVP below).
When: Tuesday, March 11th from 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Hope Community Commons (611 E. Franklin Ave). Free parking in the lot off Oakland Ave. Enter on the doors off Oakland through the parking lot.
RSVP: https://hope-community.ourpowerbase.net/garden-night. Not required but helps us with planning for food and accessibility needs!
East Bank Neighborhood Partnership
 EVERYONE IS WELCOME
When: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Where: University Lutheran Church of Hope (601 13th Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN)
Open House begins at 5:30 pm — see informal presentations about upcoming projects in the neighborhoods, including the Dinkytown Pedestrian Improvement Project, the Grand Rounds Missing Link, Route 61 bus changes, Como Community Gardens, the Main Street Mural, Earth Day 2025 and more. Meet local elected officials able to attend. Learn about the organization and what we are doing this year. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.
Regular Meeting begins at 6:30 pm — more formal presentations from community partners, updates from the EBNP, local elected officials.
Once finalized, agenda to be distributed by March 13th.
Midtown Annual Meeting and Celebration 3/19
 When: Wednesday, March 19th from 6-7:30 PM
Where: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (2742 15th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN)
What: With Spring just around the corner, we're kicking off a new year of community organizing at Midtown’s Annual Meeting and Celebration. Join us for food, drinks, an interactive presentation, board elections, and exciting activities!
Hope Community Open House
 We hope to see new and familiar faces as we share about what each of our 6 programs are up to and how you can get involved. Connect with staff and community and enjoy light snacks and activities!
When: Thursday, March 27th from 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Where: 611 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Click here to RSVP
*free parking available in the lot off Oakland and on surrounding streets such as Portland.
4th Annual Seed Starting Event
Join Native American Development Institute and Corcoran Neighborhood Organization for our fourth annual collaborative seed starting event! Start your seeds with support from community farmers and shakers Gloria Iacono, Four Sisters Food Sovereignty Manager, Destiny Jones, Four Sisters Market Manager, and Mo Hanson, Midtown Farmers Market Manager. The workshop is free and all equipment will be provided.
When: Monday, March 31st from 5 - 7 PM
Location: CNO office, 3451 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN
Registration required; please register here.
Maternal Health Matters
 Where: Sabathani Community Center (310 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55409)
Supporting Black mothers & families from pregnancy to postpartum.
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Perinatal Yoga – Wednesdays beginning March 12, 4pm
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Community Baby Shower – Tuesday, March 18, 5pm
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Free Doula Training – April 1 – May 4
Womb to Wholeness Home Visiting Services – ongoing
To learn more, click here.
Registration is open for summer youth activities at Minneapolis Parks!
 Sign up your family for an amazing variety of fun, productive, and educational summer adventures at Minneapolis Parks! Registration is open for all summer youth programs and activities.
This includes summer camps, sports programs, swim lessons, teen activities, field trips, STEAM classes, environmental education, nature programs, and more!
Use the button below or go to minneapolisparks.org/register to browse 1,000+ summer youth programs and sign up today.
2025 Seward SEED Program
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Pillsbury United Community’s Brian Coyle Food Shelf has been selected as a recipient of the Seward Co-op 2025 SEED program. Since 2011, Seward’s SEED program has allowed customers to “round up” their grocery bills to support organizations that align with Seward’s mission of promoting a healthy community.
This March, you can round up your grocery purchase at any Seward Co-ops locations to support our food shelves!
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Franklin Store
Address: 2823 E Franklin Ave
Minneapolis MN 55406
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
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Friendship Store
Address: 317 E 38th Street
Minneapolis MN 55409
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
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Indigenous Art Gallery Seeking Artists
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Z Puppets invites Indigenous Artists to showcase their artwork at ᎦᏚᎩ Gadugi Gallery. ᎦᏚᎩ Gadugi is a Cherokee word for a community working together to lift each other up.
The ᎦᏚᎩ Gadugi Gallery is a pop-up, storefront window gallery at 4054 Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis featuring Twin Cities Indigenous Artists. We are now seeking artists to feature in May, June and July, 2025.
Each gallery artist will receive:
- 3-week exhibition in the storefront window gallery
- $500 stipend
- Production of a 3-5 minute video artist statement (edited by video artist Chris Griffith)
- Social Media support and promotion of exhibit
Priority will be given to artists who:
1) Describe a strong connection to the neighborhood of 38th & Chicago Avenue.
2) Submit family-friendly artwork that aligns with community standards defined by the ᎦᏚᎩ Gadugi team.
3) Demonstrate interest in being part of this pilot project.
For more information, click here.
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2025 McKnight Fellowships for Community-Engaged Artists application, administered by Pillsbury House + Theatre, opened January 24, 2025. Deadline: Friday March 21, 2025, at 5:00pm (CST)
Free AARP Tax Prep at Pillsbury House + Theatre
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When: Mondays & Wednesday from 10 AM - 2 PM; NOW - April 14th
Where: Pillsbury House + Theatre (3501 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407)
AARP provides free tax assistance to individuals and families. All taxes are prepared by volunteers who go through extensive training and are certified by the IRS. Each person listed on the return must bring their Social Security card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) card or letter, a picture I.D., and income statements.
Appointments REQUIRED at Pillsbury House + Theatre.
To schedule an appointment call 612-824-0708 between 9am - 2pm, Monday - Friday. No Walk-ins accepted. Find more information here.
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 Ramadan Mubarak to all of our Muslim neighbors that will be observing the blessed month! May the next three weeks be deeply enriching.
Contact us
Angela Conley
Commissioner, 4th District
Binta Kanteh
Policy Director
612-348-5204
Natasha Rice
District Director
612-348-3204
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