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Sign-up for the Community Connections Conference Learning Labs
Register for this year’s Community Connections Conference,
“Your Voice, Your City,
CommUnity!” Free to all participants, the conference is on April 1 at the
Minneapolis Convention Center from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Participants will have access to Learning Labs, an
exhibit hall with 50+ vendors and a keynote address during the complimentary
lunch.
Conference Learning Labs are interactive sessions to
explore policies, issues and ideas, share techniques, and develop solutions. Conference
presenters will guide participants to advance equity in their daily lives, work,
institutional, and community contexts. This is accomplished through an
immersive and experiential learning format.
The conference boasts a diverse set of topics covering
policies, local initiatives, and community-driven issues. Whether it’s with
housing and future development of the City (Minneapolis 2040) or establishing
better relationships with your neighbor (Refugees and Resettlement: Knowing Our
Neighbors). The goal is creating avenues for robust dialogue and collective
action.
Below is a snapshot of the program. Please visit the
NCR’s website for more information.
Community Connections
Conference l Register l Facebook
Here is a sample of the 2017 Conference Learning Labs
Equity in Minneapolis’ Street Prioritization Process
On April 29, 2016 the Minneapolis City Council passed an
ordinance to equitably address funding for City of Minneapolis streets and
neighborhood parks. The measure provides $800 million over the next 20 years to
keep up maintenance and operations costs for City streets and neighborhood
parks. The 20 Year Streets Funding Plan is the document that details the
process and criteria for how the City selects street improvement projects for
the annual Capital Improvement Program. This presentation will highlight how
racial and economic equity components were incorporated and evaluated within
the prioritization process, followed by a moderated discussion.
Hmong Archives: Collecting and Preserving the Past for the Future
Throughout history, the Hmong have migrated within China
and to various parts of the world to escape wars and persecution and to
preserve their way of life. This has presented new challenges as the Hmong
adapted and assimilated to life as minorities in new countries. This workshop
will focus on identifying the different types of collections of Hmong materials
and the importance of preserving Hmong history, cultural values and artifacts,
and why preserving “your voice” of the past creates the “community unity” of
the future.
Working Effectively with Muslim Clients & Colleagues: Introduction to
Islam and Muslims
An interactive exercise gauges where the audience is on
their understanding of the religion, basic beliefs and practices. This session
then highlights Muslim demographics worldwide, in the United States and in
Minnesota. This session includes an in-depth explanation of the religion and
cultural norms, including keywords, holidays and customs held in Muslim
culture. The training concludes with a discussion on how Muslims practice their
beliefs, emphasizing the continuum of diversity of practice within the
religion.
Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) are being sought for the 2017
One Minneapolis Fund. The One Minneapolis Fund is designed to develop diverse
leadership and community engagement in Minneapolis. This year non-profit
organizations based in Minneapolis that meet program criteria can submit proposals for one of two funding
groups:
Group A Funding: Community or Cultural organizations should submit
proposals for projects that develop and prepare leaders to serve on City boards
and commissions and on one of Minneapolis’ 70 neighborhood organization boards.
Group B Funding: Community or Cultural organizations should submit
proposals for projects that that connect diverse residents to the City and
engage communities, beyond neighborhood boarders, in specific targeted
audiences. These programs may be either established and on-going programs or
new programs.
The deadline to submit an RFP is Monday, May 1, 2017. A
pre-proposal conference will be held at 2:00p.m.,
March 23, 2017 in the 1st floor Conference Room of the Crown
Roller Mill Building, 105 5th Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota
55401. All potential applicants are
encouraged to attend this conference.
Visit the One
Minneapolis Fund webpage to download the RFP and learn more about the
program.
On February 10, the Minneapolis City Council approved the Nicollet
Island – East Bank and West Calhoun NRP Phase
II NRP Plans – the final NRP plans submitted.
The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) was created by the
Minnesota Legislature in 1989 and funded through Common Project TIF districts.
The first Phase I Plan – Whittier’s – was
approved in July of 1992.
Over the life of the program, neighborhood NRP plans have allocated
over $225 million to projects and programs in every Minneapolis neighborhood.
Many neighborhoods continue to implement NRP strategies.
Learn more about the NRP and view
the complete
City Council presentation here.
 NRP Phase I plan allocations by program area; Housing 53.5%; Economic Development 14.2%; Community Building 5.26%; Crime Prevention and Safety 4.1%; Transportation and Infrastructure 1.7%; Environment 2.89%; Parks and Recreation 7.58%; Human Services 6.9%; Schools and Libraries 3.82%
 NRP Phase II plan allocations by program area; Housing 78.94%; Economic Development 4.5%; Community Building 3.85%; Crime Prevention and Safety 2.8%; Transportation and Infrastructure 1.8%; Environment 3.46%; Parks and Recreation 2.17%; Human Services 2.53%; Schools and Libraries 0.56%
The Neighborhood and Community Relations Department, the Minneapolis Police
Department Community Engagement Team (MPD C.E.T) and Face2Face LLC., have recently partnered on a six
week Police and Community Engagement Series.
The event series focused on
providing African American and Southeast Asian residents in north Minneapolis an
opportunity to learn about law enforcement protocols during police stops,
interactions with suspicious persons and affiliation groups. Attendees also learned what to expect from law enforcement and emergency personnel at the
scene of an emergency or crime through role playing and group scenarios.
The series has provided rich conversation between police and community members and has propelled participants to consider what law enforcement and the community can do to work together to foster education between youth and law enforcement.
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A number
of board and commission positions are open for City Council and mayor
appointments this spring. Board and commission members in the City of
Minneapolis provide valuable insights, help shape key policy decisions and
provide community-based input into administration of services. The City is
seeking applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to
strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are
available upon request to ensure all residents have the ability to participate.
Applications
will be reviewed beginning April 14 unless otherwise marked. The positions are
open until filled. There are 89 open positions on 15 City boards and
commissions:
Visit the Appointed Boards and Commissions
website for a list of appointment opportunities, position descriptions and
the applications.
Boards, commissions and advisory
committees
The City
of Minneapolis has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and
advisory committees that advise the City on issues and help with policy
development and administration of services. Boards and commissions fall into a
handful of categories: appeal boards, development boards, general advisory
boards, and special service districts, which are defined areas within the city
where special services are rendered.
Appointments
to boards and commissions are made twice a year — in the spring and fall. This
streamlined appointment process makes it easier for people to learn about
volunteer opportunities, ensures a more open and understandable process for
residents and staff, and increases the diversity of the applicant pool.
 District 2 Representative
Term: 2nd
Ward: 2
Neighborhood: Armatage
Sub-committees: Neighborhoods 2020 Committee and One Minneapolis Fund Committee
How long have you been active in your community and what made you get involved in community work?
I live in the Armatage neighborhood in southwest
Minneapolis, and I have participated in Armatge community activities for the
past fifteen years. I first became involved with the Armatage
Neighborhood Association because it solicited people's opinions in the early
2000s on how the neighborhood should spend NRP Phase II funds, and since my wife
and I had a small child I considered it important to help the neighborhood
determine how to best serve its residents.
What do you like most about your neighborhood or community?
My neighborhood is small and close-knit, with
many retail businesses and restaurants within walking distance. It also
includes a vibrant park with a skate park and several playing fields,
activities for all ages and a magnet school that serves many Armatage
residents.
Are there other boards and committees you are or have been on?
Along with the NCEC, I am the president of the
Armatage Neighborhood Association.
Do you have any tips for residents interested in running for neighborhood boards and/or City boards and commissions?
If a resident wants to participate in a neighborhood
or city-wide board or commission, the first step is to attend meetings.
By doing this residents can meet current members, learn about each
organization's role and the issues it faces, and eventually either get elected
or appointed to the board or commission.
Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
My wife Rebecca and I have lived in Armatage for
twenty years, and we have two sons, Anton (20) and Dmitri (13).
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City Council approved the creation of the Transgender
Equity Council. The council will serve as an advisory board to the City and the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on matters of importance to the
transgender community. The council’s work will include studying issues, courses
of action, policies, and programs as well as making recommendations.
The board will be comprised of 15 appointed members and
will meet monthly. Board members will be chosen through the City’s open
appointment process. Information on the application process is posted on the Transgender Equity Council website and on the Minneapolis Boards, Commissions, and Advisory
Committees webpage.
For more than 20 years, the City of Minneapolis has
explicitly protected the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming
residents to be free from discrimination based on gender identity. In 1975,
Minneapolis became the first city in the country to pass an ordinance
preventing discrimination. Despite this, disparities still exist in virtually
all areas including employment, healthcare, safety, housing and access to
public spaces.
In 2014, the City of Minneapolis Transgender Issues Work
Group was established to look at transgender disparities, engage the broader
community and make policy recommendations for the City to improve the lives of
transgender residents. The work group includes participants from City
departments, City Council offices, the Mayor’s office, and the community.
In 2016, the City Council and Mayor of Minneapolis passed
a resolution supporting continued efforts to further transgender equity in the
City of Minneapolis, including the creation of an advisory board.
A Minneapolis partnership around Somali food
businesses has won a Healthy10 award in the category of Healthy Environment
from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The foundation’s Health Means
Business campaign honors American businesses and their partners for their
strategic and sustained positive impact on the health and wellness of their
employees, community, environment and society.
Somali restaurateurs are vital to Minneapolis’
business community and vibrant restaurant scene. However, many business owners
struggled to meet the compliance standards critical to food safety because of
language barriers.
Together, the City of Minneapolis Health Department,
the local Somali community, GlobeGlow Consulting and Research, the Minnesota
Somali Chamber of Commerce and food safety evaluators created the Minneapolis
Somali-language Food Safety Coalition to help close service and equity gaps. By
working together, policymakers gained a better sense of how to address cultural
differences to communicate food safety issues with business owners and
employees. They also gained insights into Somali business operations that
helped the Health Department develop new best practices.
In Minneapolis, a city with a strong immigrant-owned
business community, greater inclusion yields equal opportunities for health and
economic success.
Healthy10
The Health Means Business Healthy10 Awards
were created by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, with support from the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as a way to honor 10 outstanding business-led
initiatives or cross-sector collaborations between local businesses and
traditional and non-traditional partners to improve community wellness and
access to economic opportunity. Find out more about the program and the other
winners on the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation's website.
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This forum will address the continuing
problem of serious street crime in Downtown West at Hennepin and First Avenues.
Representatives from the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minneapolis
Downtown Council, Downtown Improvement District / Safe Zone and YouthLink will
be on hand to provide crime stats and talk about possible solutions to criminal
activity in the downtown community. Secured guest presenters include the
following:
- Renee Allen, Minneapolis Police
Department, First Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist
- Lieutenant Chris House,
Minneapolis Police Department, First Precinct Sector Lieutenant
- Shane Zahn, Minneapolis Downtown
Improvement District / Safe Zone
- Steve Cramer, Executive
Director of the Minneapolis Downtown Council
- Youth Link representative
For more information go to the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association's website.
The University of Minnesota Immigration History
Research Center invites you to make a digital story about your own immigrant
experience or that of your family members. For more information go to the Immigrant Stories website.
The official launch of the Immigrant Stories website will be March 9, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., in Room 120 Andersen Library on the West Bank. The event is free, but registration is requested. Click here to go to the event registration website.
The Harrison Neighborhood Association (HNA) is hiring a
full-time Community
Outreach Director. This position will lead the organization’s outreach and
engagement initiatives and build grassroots leadership in the Harrison
Neighborhood.
HNA is a powerful resident driven community-based
organization located in the Harrison Neighborhood of North Minneapolis. HNA
represents a diverse neighborhood of more than 3,200 people consisting of
African Americans (39%), White (28%), Southeast Asians (17%), and Latino
(9%).
HNA is dedicated to grassroots leadership development,
community self-determination, and the advancement of racial and economic
equity.
How
to apply:
Applications packets should include cover letter, résumé and
three professional references emailed to info@hnampls.org.
The position will be posted until filled. No phone calls please.
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CNA Mission: We unite neighbors to strengthen our community. We envision
Corcoran as a place that fosters leadership, engagement, and a sense of
belonging.
Job Description and
Background:
The Community
Development Manager works with CNO leadership, residents, business and
property owners, and other neighborhood stakeholders to improve and protect the
physical neighborhood and small business environment. The Community Development
Manager helps the CNO Board identify relevant issues of concern to the
community, and coordinates the creation of community capacity, plans, strategy,
partnerships, political will, and other resources to realize CNO’s desired
outcomes, which are often accomplished by CNO’s partners or other parties.
To Apply: Send a resume along with a succinct cover letter or e-mail
explaining your qualifications and readiness to succeed on the Draft Workplan
outlined above to: hiring@corcoranneighborhood.org. Applicants will receive
confirmation their materials were received; we will get in touch if we would
like to set up an interview. No calls, please.
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The City of Minneapolis invites and encourages participation by every resident to each program, service and event within our city. Should you require an accommodation in order for you to fully participate, or should you require this document in an alternative format, please let us know by contacting 612-673-3737.
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