 When: Friday, May 31st from 12 pm to 1:30 pm
Where: Turtle Bread, 4762 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
What: Join Council VP Andrea Jenkins, Council Member Jeremy Schroeder, and residents of both Ward 8 and Ward 11 on Friday, May 31st, 12-1:30 pm, at Turtle Bread Bakery, 4762 Chicago Ave, for a conversation with our Legislators regarding the 2019 Session.
Throughout this session there have been robust conversations about making prescription medicines more affordable, transportation funding, banning conversion therapy, gun violence prevention, MN driver’s licenses for all, recreational marijuana, and many more. Join us for a conversation with our legislators about both highlights and challenges they encountered during this legislative session.
Invited speakers for the program include the City’s Intergovernmental Relations Director Gene Ranieri, Senator Jeff Hayden, Representative Aisha Gomez, Senator Scott Dibble, Representative Jamie Long, Representative Frank Hornstein, and Representative Jean Wagenius. Plus, we will have a special guest!
Hope to see you there!
 We know that cities thrive when people can live in safe, stable, affordable homes in healthy neighborhoods connected to opportunities without fear of being displaced. That’s why Minneapolis and St. Paul are part of the All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Policy Network — a network of local elected leaders, staff, and community based organizations from 10 cities across the country with the mission of preventing displacement through Policy Link.
Join us on either Tuesday, May 21st, in St. Paul, or Thursday, May 23rd, in Minneapolis for a discussion about the network, find out what we've have learned and to share ideas about how to prevent involuntary displacement in our communities.
When: Tuesday, May 21st from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: SpringBOX!, 262 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103. Located in the former Saxon Ford site on University at Galtier, between the Western and Rice Street stations on the Green Line.
Translation services provided upon request. Contact Joe Musolf at joe.musolf@ci.stpaul.mn.us or (651) 266-6594.
When: Thursday, May 23rd from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach- Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Translation services provided upon request. Contact Katie Topinka at katie.topinka@minneapolismn.gov or (612) 673-5068.
**The meeting agenda will be the same for both meetings. We hope you can attend one or the other.
Hosted by the MSP Anti-Displacement Policy Network Team.
Food and childcare provided. RSVP not required.
Comments can be submitted online: bit.ly/ADPN-TC-comments
 The City Council has passed the Neighborhoods 2020 framework and two staff directions supporting community engagement. City staff are directed to develop a workplan and timeline for adopting a Citywide community engagement policy. Staff are further directed to work with a consultant(s) to continue conversations with neighborhoods and the community on program guidelines and metrics for the Neighborhoods 2020 framework while continuing to ensure that racial equity remains at the core of the work.
The City recognizes that neighborhoods are positioned to identify local issues and opportunities and understands that Minneapolis greatly benefits from a robust neighborhoods system. The Neighborhoods 2020 framework addresses neighborhood programming, funding and governance structure for the city’s 70 neighborhood organizations in 2021 and beyond. This endeavor is part of broader work across the City to ensure greater equity for Minneapolis residents.
The framework goals include:
- Organizations reflecting the diversity of the communities they serve.
- Simplifying participation for all.
- Saving money and staff time for participating organizations.
Since 2016, the City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations Department has been holding conversations with community and neighborhood leaders and elected officials about the needs and goals of this growing and vibrant city, and identifying the role that neighborhoods should play in meeting them. This initiative, called Neighborhoods 2020, culminated in a set of recommendations presented to the City Council’s Public Health, Environment and Community Engagement Committee May 6. The May 17 City Council actions approved the core aspects of that recommendation along with the staff directives.
Find the framework resolution and staff directions here. Items 2, 4 and 5 were approved and are pending mayoral review.
More information is available at minneapolismn.gov/ncr/2020.
 Join in celebrating the completion of a new gathering place at Bde Maka Ska with public artworks that honor Maḣpiya Wic̣aṡṭa/Cloud Man and reveal and celebrate the history of Ḣeyata Ọtunwe, a Dakota village located on Bde Maka Ska from 1829 to 1839.
This public artwork project by artists Mona Smith, Sandy Spieler and Angela Two Stars is intended to educate visitors about the broader history and culture of the Dakota and other indigenous people who frequented and lived in this area over time.
Festivities include music, comments from descendants and the artists, refreshments and activities for the whole family. The event will take place rain or shine.
“Story Awakening” unveiling and celebration 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 8 Bde Maka Ska, southeast shore, Richfield Road
Find more information here.
 The City is looking for community members with public safety knowledge to serve on a workgroup. Workgroup members will analyze dispatch call categories to see if the City may be able to respond to those calls with resources outside of the Police and Fire departments. The workgroup will also evaluate training needs, time commitments and costs associated with the recommendations.
Community members will work with representatives from 911, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention and the City Attorney’s Office to complete the work and make recommendations.
The workgroup will meet at least monthly during a regularly scheduled standing meeting or as agreed upon by the members of the workgroup. Meeting times and locations will be determined based on workgroup members’ availability. The workgroup will serve for a limited time, likely to disband sometime in 2019.
Applications are due May 23.
Qualifications
- Applicants must be residents of Minneapolis and equitably reflect the cultural, linguistic, racial and demographic makeup of Minneapolis.
- Public safety knowledge or experience is preferred.
- Six applicants will be selected: three by the City Council and three by the mayor.
Application instructions
Applicants should complete the application form (PDF) and the voluntary demographic questionnaire (PDF) and send responses any of these ways:
Now that the snow has melted, Minneapolis residents should make sure to clean up any nuisance conditions in their yards before routine neighborhood inspections. Housing Inspections Services staff look for nuisance violations throughout the year to help keep Minneapolis safe, clean and livable, but they are most common in the spring, summer and fall.
Property owners with nuisance violations will get a letter and about a week to resolve the violations. If they don’t resolve violations by the due date, contractors will complete the work, and the property owner will be charged a fee. Anyone with questions about a letter regarding nuisance violations can call 311.
Some of the most common nuisance violations that City staff looks out for:
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Tall grass and weeds: Grass and weeds must be under 8 inches.
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Inoperable vehicles: Vehicles that are not in working condition may not be stored on residential property. This includes vehicles with flat tires or expired tabs.
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Vegetation overhanging the sidewalk, alley or street: Bushes and other vegetation overhanging sidewalks, alleys or streets must clear sidewalks by 7 feet and alleys and streets by 14 feet.
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Garbage, litter and junk: Yards must be free of trash and debris.
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Brush and branches: Brush and branches attract rodents and are a fire hazard. Solid Waste & Recycling customers can bundle them for pickup at their curbside or alley location on garbage day in the spring, summer and fall.
Some resources exist to help seniors, veterans and disabled people.
Visit www.minneapolismn.gov/inspections for more information. To report a property in violation or for additional questions, call 311.
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Last week, over 40 City staff and external subject matter experts completed two full days of work on both the Housing and Economic Development policy priorities for the Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan. The work sessions were facilitated by external consultants using the Metrics of Urgency/Vital Few process, which is a problem solving approach designed to identify vital projects that will improve outcomes for residents in each of the three policy areas of the Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan. Building off the important work that happened in these sessions, City staff will be refining and developing the following components for the final plan to be adopted in July 2019:
- Strategic need with rationale
- Key lagging indicators
- Problem statement
- 3-year SMART goals
- “Metric of Urgency” – highest impact lagging indicators
- “Vital Few” projects - 1-3 projects that will impact goals
- Workplan (City staff actions at high-level)
About the Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan
The goal of the Strategic & Racial Equity Action Plan is to prioritize and guide City work to eliminate racial disparities in three targeted policy areas. The strategic need for each policy area is outlined below:
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Housing: Reduce involuntary displacement in rental housing for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Immigrant communities that are disproportionately impacted.
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Economic Development: Increase the entry and sustainability of businesses in Minneapolis owned by people of color so that the disparity between Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Immigrant communities and white people is eliminated.
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Public Safety: Eliminate the disproportionate impact of violence in Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities.
You can find more information on the Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan on the City’s website. Additionally, if you’d like to provide input on any of the three policy areas of the plan, you can submit comments using the Strategic & Racial Equity Action Plan Community Survey.
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As things continue to warm up outside, the discussions are heating up in the Community Environmental Advisory Commission (CEAC) meetings. Tasked with advising the City Council and Mayor’s office on issues relating to the environment, CEAC has been reviewing the Bring Your Own Bag ordinance. We are debating if we feel the ordinance goes far enough and what additional recommendations we might have for the council as it moves forward. Would you support businesses keeping the bag fee as their profit? What kind of a fee or incentive will motivate shoppers to start bringing their own reusable bags each time they head to the store? You can find more details about the history of the ordinance and take a quick two-minute survey on the Zero Waste page of the city website. Your input on the single-use bag fee is greatly appreciated!
If you're interested in learning more about the work of CEAC or have an environmental concern you would like the group to consider, visit our website or our new Friends of CEAC Facebook page. Our meetings are always open to the public, and we encourage you to join us.
Next CEAC Meeting: June 6, 2019, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hope Community, “The Loft,” 611 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Agenda
9:00 AM Registration, light breakfast will be served.
10:00 AM South Minneapolis Healthy Aging Forum Begins!
2:00 PM Jazz Lounge Social Hour with Live Band
This event is free and open to the public.
Healthy aging is much more than just staying fit. Join local organizations dedicated to serving Minnesotans 50+, for a hands-on Healthy Aging Forum that will showcase real tools and daily practices geared towards improving overall health and well-being.
This is not your average health fair. Participants will have the opportunity to attend 3 breakout sessions led by local experts on numerous healthy aging topics-of-interest. These fun, interactive breakout sessions will span multiple rooms across the entire 2nd floor of the Sabathani Community Center. Nobody will leave the event empty handed. Folks will come away equipped with new awareness of how to proactively boost physical, mental, and financial health as they age and continue to thrive in community.
With input from the local AARP Sabathani Chapter, the forum will feature breakout sessions on topics including:
- Brain Health
- Fall Prevention
- Seated Core Exercise
- Fire Prevention & Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- Diabetes Management
- Fraud & Scam Prevention
- Long Term Care Planning
- And more!
Blood pressure checks will be available on-site.
 Z Puppets Rosenschnoz welcomes you to take a place at the table and call into action someone who inspires you to make the next step towards liberation from life’s narrow passages. This uniquely intimate puppet theater experience will delve into the rich emotional landscape of struggle, loss, and triumph which we inherit and inhabit.
Where: Z Puppets’ Studio, 4054 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407
When: Saturdays June 1, 8, and 15th at 7pm and Sundays June 2 and 9th at 4pm
Doors open 1 hour before.
Admission is $10-25 (pick your price).
Due to a limit of 15 participants per event, advance tickets highly encouraged at zpuppets.org/through-the-narrows
Event recommended for adults and youth 12+.
WATCH IT!
First, a story by award-winning Z Puppets’ artists Shari Aronson and Chris Griffith accompanied by Twin Cities’ stellar world music performer, Greg Herriges. Shari and Chris will use puppetry to bring into being two characters from their own ancestry: a 3500 yr.-old Jewish woman who was with Moses at the crossing of the Red Sea and a 6-yr old Cherokee time traveler bearing witness to the Trail of Tears.
MAKE IT!
Then, Z Puppets’ artists will lead you through simple steps to make power figures — small puppets embodying sources of strength.
TAKE IT!
Bring your power figure with you wherever you roam to help you find your road to freedom. Z Puppets encourages you to share back (via selfies, texts, and voicemails) where you and your puppet end up.
ABOUT Z PUPPETS ROSENSCHNOZ
Z Puppets Rosenschnoz is a Minneapolis-based company that brings people into the power of playfulness for feats of imagination, through performances, workshops and interactive environments. Since 1998, Z Puppets has won national and regional acclaim for their three main initiatives: Arts and Mindfulness, STEM of Puppetry and Arts for All Abilities.
Z Puppets is led by founders and Creative Directors Shari Aronson and Chris Griffith.
Aronson and Griffith are leaders in providing innovative, interactive arts experiences for families and youth.
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