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NCR invites you to join us at the 2019 Community Connections Conference on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Minneapolis Convention Center, lower level, in Hall A.
Community Connections is a free conference meant to build connections and foster collaboration between community, neighborhoods and government, focusing on best practices for community engagement.
The program will feature:
- An opening discussion about connecting activism to systemic change.
- An exhibit hall with a wide variety of organizations: from youth programs and housing to sustainability and civil rights.
- Interactive workshops.
- An opportunity to learn about and apply for City appointed boards and commissions.
- A legal clinic on immigration, family and housing law.
- A community round table with City leaders and Council members about the City of Minneapolis’s racial equity action plan.
- Free food.
- Free bus passes for transportation to the conference courtesy of Metro Transit.
Registration
RSVP for the workshops, opening panel and lunch, and sign up to volunteer, and request accommodations, interpreters if needed before January 25 at 4:00 p.m.
 Community conversations with the Mayor and City Council members about Racial Equity Action Plan
Facilitated by the Mayor, the closing session will bring conference attendees and City Council members together for round table discussions about the City’s Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan (SREAP).
This action plan is used to communicate City priorities around workforce, spending, data usage, community engagement and policy. The SREAP is a central document that policymakers can refer to, with clear goals, objectives and metrics by which to measure progress. Download SREAP goals...
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Spread the word!
You can share this invitation with your community:
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Free Exhibitor Space
A 10'x10' exhibitor space is free for nonprofits and public entities. Read more...
Thank you to our sponsors:
CenterPoint Energy and Metro Transit.
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 The beginning of the 45-day review and comment period for the Neighborhoods 2020 framework document, which will cover the proposed City neighborhood organization system and community engagement practices in 2020, has been rescheduled from the original expected date of January 14, 2019. NCR now anticipates that the framework document will be available for public comment by the end of January.
City staff are currently reviewing the work group recommendations, found at Minneapolismn.gov/ncr/2020, and working with the City Attorney, Internal Auditor, Division of Race & Equity, Finance and others to ensure that a quality product is released.
Public Comment Opportunity at Conference
Our department will have a space dedicated to the Neighborhoods 2020 process at the Community Connections Conference, where the public is invited to submit feedback and comments. Read more about the conference at Minneapolismn.gov/ncr/conf.
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 You're invited to display the work the your neighborhood organization does at the Community Connections Conference. Sign-up is open until January 16 here:
minneapolismn.gov/ncr/conf/exhibitors
Neighborhood organizations can choose to display information in a fully staffed exhibit space or a stand-alone, shared resource table as part of NCR's Neighborhood Showcase. Last year, just under 700 people attended the conference. We had 14 neighborhoods participating in the showcase and 2 neighborhood organizations with full booths in the exhibit hall.
If you cannot attend the conference, but would like to arrange for NCR staff to display information about your neighborhood organization, contact rebekah.tedrick-moutz@minneapolismn.gov or your assigned neighborhood specialist.
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 This December, the Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), Michelle Rivero, along with Southeast Asian Community Specialist Michael Yang, met with veterans of the US Hmong and Lao Special Guerrilla Units, which fought against communist expansion in Laos during the Vietnam War.
After the war ended in May 1975, these veterans and their families were subjected to an aggressive military campaign by the Lao government to eliminate them.
At their meeting, the veterans shared their concerns regarding current repatriation discussions between the US Government and the Government of Laos, and the possible threat of deportation for veterans who have immigration court removal orders and fear what they might face if repatriated to Laos.
This meeting is one of a series of community gatherings that Director Rivero has attended as part of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs's engagement process. You can learn more about OIRA at Minneapolismn.gov/ncr/oira.
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 In December 2018, the Audubon Neighborhood Association hosted a community discussion entitled "Mental Health and Well Being: A Neighborhood Conversation" at their monthly community meeting. Neighbors and a panel of education professionals came together to talk about mental health needs, challenges and resources with a focus on youth, what they can do as a neighborhood to help each other, and how important it is to have conversations about mental health and wellness.
From Northeast Middle School, Principal Vernon Rowe, Social Worker Bill Smart and Special Education Teacher Mason Sullivan joined the discussion alongside Research Coordinator Jesse Dzombak from the University of Minnesota School of Psychiatry.
 The City of Minneapolis youth employment program Step Up has begun accepting applications for 2019 summer internship placements. Eligible Minneapolis young people, ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the Step Up class of 2019 have until Feb. 10 to complete an application online.
After Step Up applicants are accepted to the program, they must complete work readiness training certified by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and then are matched with employers based on their skills and interests and the employers’ needs. Interns work part or full-time from June 17 to Aug. 16, and many also participate in additional professional development opportunities throughout the summer.
Businesses, public agencies and nonprofits interested in employing interns in 2019 can find information on the City of Minneapolis Step Up website.
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The Violence Prevention Steering Committee, created this year, has several open positions for City Council and mayor appointments. Applications are open now until filled.
The Violence Prevention Steering Committee’s roles include:
- Overseeing the general implementation of the City’s comprehensive violence prevention strategic plan including prioritizing focus areas, making decisions about programming and resources, and informing future violence prevention work in the City.
- Providing advice, recommendations and support with high level strategic policy and legislative issues.
People can apply and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting the open positions page.
 You have many ways to find out when a snow emergency is declared and what the rules are for each day to avoid being towed.
 The City Council approved a new ordinance that establishes a framework for developing a City of Minneapolis identification card program. The City’s 2019 City budget includes a one-time allocation of $200,000 to help start the program.
During the coming months, staff will work to figure out the partnerships and resources needed to create a City ID card program similar to ones in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and many other cities, such as operating budgets, staffing, an application process and implementation of card security technology. A comprehensive list of benefits and services for cardholders will also be developed.
Plans call for the creation of a card that would be recognized as a valid form of identification by all City departments and law enforcement. It would be available to all Minneapolis residents 13 and older, giving them the opportunity to have a form of government-issued photo identification. A Minneapolis ID would also help create a sense of civic pride and belonging, connecting City government to its residents. Read more...
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