Minneapolis Connects June Newsletter

Minneapolis Connects: News and information from Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations

June 13, 2019

Join in World Refugee Day festivities on June 20

World Refugee Day banner illustration

Join City and community leaders, activists and local artists on World Refugee Day, June 20, to recognize the strength, resilience and contributions of Minneapolis’ many refugee communities. 

World Refugee Day Thursday, June 20 City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.

Celebration: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Ground floor, Rotunda

Fun, food and dance. Learn how local immigrant leaders and City government officials work to support refugees.

Panel: 1:30 p.m. Third floor, Room 319

Panel discussion with the International Refugee Assistance Project, the Tibetan Association of Minnesota, Isuroon, the Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota and the Minnesota Council for Churches about refugee resettlement, legal challenges facing refugees and asylum-seekers, and key community issues. RSVP here to attend the panel discussion.

This event is organized by the City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations Department's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and We Count census complete count campaign.


Juneteenth, Somali Independence Day and Twin Cities Pride among community events this June

The Neighborhood and Community Relations Department regularly coordinates City attendance at major community events. This year, the We Count census complete count campaign will also be sharing important census information. Join us at any of these events throughout June.

Juneteenth performers image courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Juneteenth, June 15

To commemorate the end of slavery on June 19, 1865, many organizations and institutions hold Juneteeth celebrations throughout the Twin Cities. Check out the Minneapolis Park Board's Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 15, parade, music and performances, great local food and more.

Twin Cities Pride logo

Twin Cities Pride, June 22

On June 22 and 23, join NCR and other City departments for the Twin Cities Pride Festival in Loring Park for a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Stop by for food, music, activities and community resources.

Somali Independence Day block party 2018 crowd photo courtesy of KaJoog

Somali Independence Day, June 29

June 29 will kick off the 2019 Somali week in Minneapolis. During the week, there will be a street festival, soccer tournament, movie screenings and family activities. Annually, about 40,000 Minnesotans attend.

Neighborhood Gathering, June 25

We Count will also organize a 2020 Census Neighborhood Association Gathering on June 25, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Avenue, Minneapolis.


One Minneapolis Fund project Art Heals culminating community celebration on June 14

Art heals flyer, click to read accessible text version

The Art Heals project, a program of RECLAIM, received funding as part of the 2018 - 2019 One Minneapolis Fund cycle to build leadership skills and civic engagement among LGBTQ+ youth. The culmination of their project is Art Heals: A Community Celebration of Art and Healing, on Friday, June 14, from 6 - 9 p.m. at Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis.

From the organizers: "Art Heals brings queer and trans youth together with local queer and trans community artists to celebrate the healing power of expression...RECLAIM supports queer and trans youth to tell their stories in ways that make them stronger, and build our community resilience! These are the stories that connect us to each other, inspire us, and fuel our change-making work as healers, artists, and activists in community."

RSVP for Art Heals: A Community Celebration of Art and Healing.


Neighborhood organizations support Homeowner Navigation Grant Fund pilot program

House being painted, photo courtesy of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Since 2013, the City of Minneapolis Homeowner Navigator Program (HNP) has assisted low-income seniors, veterans, and disabled homeowners to address open housing orders, deferred property maintenance and in-home safety hazards using a variety of community resources. To do this, the City partners with community groups, government, nonprofit organizations and homeowners to remedy housing violations and safety issues. In the last two years, HNP has served nearly 200 homeowners across the city. 

This spring, HNP and NCR staff in partnership with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity worked together to create a pilot Homeowner Navigator Grant Program funded by neighborhood organizations. The fund will provide grants of up to $3,000 for emergency mechanical systems, other emergency situations and gap funding for larger projects where nonprofits are willing to help but require a partial contribution and the homeowner does not have the resources to contribute. These grants will only be used when all other existing resources have been exhausted.

To qualify, a homeowner will need to be a participant in the HNP program. The goal is to help vulnerable Minneapolis residents stay safely in their communities and in their most affordable housing option – their current home.

So far, neighborhood organizations in Sheridan, Linden Hills and Lowry Hill have committed NRP funds towards the Homeowner Navigation Grant Program. Several other neighborhood organizations are looking at supporting this program, but additional funds are still needed.

Want to get involved?

Neighborhood organizations can contact Rose Lindsay or their NCR neighborhood specialist to learn more about supporting this unique effort.

Pictured: Volunteers painting a home. Photo courtesy of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.


Minimum wage increases on July 1 in Minneapolis

Minimum wage increase schedule

On July 1, the minimum wage in Minneapolis is going up to $11 for small employers (less than 100 employees) and $12.25 for large employers (over 100 employees). Tips and gratuities do not count toward payment of a minimum wage.

The City’s Department of Civil Rights oversees the enforcement of the municipal minimum wage, and workers are encouraged to report violations online. The City has received 28 reports of minimum wage violations to date, and employees have received over $21,000 in back wages and penalties.

For more information, visit minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov, call 311 or email minwage@minneapolismn.gov.


Neighborhoods 2020 Directives from City Council

The Minneapolis City Council took action on the proposed Neighborhoods 2020 framework on May 17, which passed along with two staff directives. You can find City Council's final actions on the framework at minneapolismn.gov/ncr/2020.

In one staff directive, City staff were instructed to conduct an enterprise-wide evaluation of community engagement efforts and develop a work plan and timeline for adopting a citywide community engagement policy.

In the other, staff were directed to work with a consultant or consultants to continue conversations with neighborhoods and the community on program guidelines and metrics for the Neighborhoods 2020 framework. Staff were directed to continue to ensure that racial equity remains at the core of the work during this process.

NCR's immediate next step is to begin developing the scopes of work necessary to contract with a consultant or consultants. Read more...


Public comment closes July 25 on proposed Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) neighborhood plan modification approval process

A 45-day comment period, ending July 25, is currently in effect on a proposed change to the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) neighborhood plan modification approval process. The redlined NRP policy document found here shows the proposed change.

Currently, the NCR Department Director has sole discretion to approve or deny these requests from neighborhood organizations to modify plans. The proposed policy change would:

  1. Require plan modifications over $100,000 to have the approval of the NRP Policy Board;
  2. Allow plan modifications $100,000 and under to be administratively approved by the NCR Department Director;
  3. Authorize programmatic documents to reflect these changes.

To submit comments on these proposed changes please email ncr@minneapolismn.gov or call Steven Gallagher at 612-673-2905. Read more about NRP here...


Deadline extended to June 30 to represent these neighborhoods on the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission

If you are passionate about good government and effective engagement, consider serving on the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission (NCEC). The deadline to apply to run for a seat in one of these neighborhoods has been extended to June 30.

District 2: Armatage, Cedar-Isles-Dean, East Harriet Farmstead, Tangletown, Fulton, KennyLinden Hills, Lynnhurst, West Calhoun, and Windom.

District 3: Field, Regina, Northrop, Hale, Page, Diamond Lake, Nokomis East, and Standish-Ericsson.


Jobs

The US Census Bureau is hiring for many positions in the Minnesota area. Earn extra income while helping your community! Apply for census jobs in the Minnesota area here.


Upcoming Events

Thu., Jun 13

Sat., Jun 15

Wed., Jun 19

Thu., Jun 20

Sat., Jun 22

Tues., Jun 25

Wed., Jun 26

Thu., Jun 27

Sat., Jun 29


Neighborhood and Community Relations Department

Director, David Rubedor 
Crown Roller Mill, Room 425
105 5th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 673-3737