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From Ward 5 Minneapolis City Council Member, Jeremiah Ellison.
This month is a time to celebrate Disability Pride. Honor the diversity within the disability community, reflect on issues that people with disabilities are facing and inspire action to make the world more inclusive and accessible. Disability Pride Month occurs in the United States every July to commemorate the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990.
The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill and updated in 2021 to ensure accessibility. Each color of the flag represents a different type of disability: physical (red), cognitive and intellectual (yellow), invisible/non-apparent and undiagnosed (white), psychosocial (blue) and sensory (green).
The Minnesota Council on Disability has several resources to better understand the history of disability rights, including stories from those with disabilities.
Recently the City of Minneapolis updated it’s ADA Transition Plan addressing the accessibility of city streets and sidewalks and is currently updating its ADA Action Plan which addresses the accessibility of city programs and services.
Join me from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM every Monday for Open Coffee Hours! These are informal and a chance for me to hear directly from you while we share coffee or a meal (virtually).
Office hours is on a first come first served basis. Please try not to call in past 12:50 p.m. as we want to leave enough time to chat about what you'd like to discuss.
Please RSVP here and my staff will follow-up with the call-in details. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Dieu Do, Policy Associate, at dieu.do@minneapolismn.gov.
Thank you so much to Amelia, Andrew, Audua, Chris, Demetria, Denetrick, Eva, Heather, Ian, Kim, Kirby, Nate, Nichole, Jovita, and Vicky who joined Open Coffee Hours in the last few weeks to connect with me about support for small businesses and entrepreneurs, updates on the METRO Blue Line Extension project, connecting with neighborhood leaders, and to welcome a new constituent into the ward.
Senator Bobby Joe Champion and I cheering at the "Freedom and Fellowship": Juneteenth Violence Prevention Community Cookout.
Speaking at the BLUU Cooperative Housing Initiative Groundbreaking event.
Community leaders and I "breaking ground" at the George Modular Solutions Groundbreaking and Press Conference.
Ernestine Apartments Grand Opening
I was elated to join the grand opening of the Ernestine Apartments this past week and speak to the importance of building and maintaining affordable and dignified housing in our city. Ernestine Apartments offers 187 units of affordable housing with rent and income levels set at 30 - 60 percent AMI (area median income) in the Harrison neighborhood. Thank you so much to Wellington Management and city staff members who played a big role in helping this development come to fruition.
"Freedom and Fellowship": Juneteenth Violence Prevention Community Cookout
I was an absolute blast joining Senator Champion on stage at this community cookout to honor the ancestors who came before us and all the work that our community has done in honor of Juneteenth. It was a beautiful testament to our community, with live performances, amazing speakers, delicious food, and such a wide range of activities for Northsiders of all ages.
Thank you so much to Bishop Howell, Pastor Jalilia Abdul-Brown, our staff at Shiloh Temple, and all the volunteers who dedicated an enormous amount of energy and time to ensuring that this event was a success.
George Modular Solutions Groundbreaking & Press Conference
It was such a pleasure joining Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, Mayor Frey, and many community and policy leaders in celebration of the groundbreaking of George Modular Solutions. North Minneapolis developer and former NBA player Devean George unveiled plans for a $32 million, 83,000 square-foot project on the Northside that will manufacture residential and commercial modular housing out of an old printing plant. This is a remarkable development for our community and will create hundreds of jobs for Northsiders in Northside. We deserve state-of-the-art facilities on the Northside just as much as anyone else in the metro does.
Thank you so much to Devean George, Lewis Lockwood, Bill English, and all of the advocates at the city and state levels for your continued commitment to bringing economic and job development to North Minneapolis.
To learn more about this project, visit this MinnPost article that highlighted this groundbreaking event.
McKinley Community Forest Planting Ceremony
It was such a happy occasion to join the McKinley community for the installation of a Miyawaki forest at 37th and North 6th. A Miyawaki forest is a small, dense forest that can be planted in urban areas using native species to simulate the layers of a natural forest. What a neat technique to cultivate our community! Thank you so much to Joanne Goddard for inviting my team to be a part of this joyous occasion and for all the McKinley community members who organized and volunteered at this event.
Northside Juneteenth Family Festival
Our office had a phenomenal time celebrating Juneteenth at the Northside Juneteenth Family Festival on West Broadway Avenue. People were singing their hearts out. Our youth dancers gave an electric performance. To say it was a success would be an understatement. Thank you so much to Shemeka Bogan for inviting me to speak at this event, for her and all of our organizers who organized this celebration.
UMN Juneteenth Celebration
It was a rainy morning on the Northside, but the weather didn't stop our community from coming together to celebration Juneteenth. I had such an amazing time connecting with neighbors as we celebrated Juneteenth at UROC on Plymouth Avenue. Thank you so much to Professor Teresa Moses and all of the organizers who spent an incredible amount of time planning, preparing, and executing this event. Thank you to our UMN staff and volunteers who were such a helpful resource at the event.
V3 Sports Grand Opening Celebration
V3 Sports is now officially open! On the corner of Plymouth Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North, this 40,000 square foot multipurpose facility is a community-inspired health and wellness facility that features a state-of-the-art pool, fitness space, Boys and Girls Club programming, and a restaurant that is coming soon this fall. I am thankful for the collaboration and funding from the city and state to support this project.
Thank you so much for the extraordinary hard work of V3 Sports leadership team: Exec. Director Malik Rucker, Founding Director Erika Binger, Luke Day, Jayda Pounds, Jacquie Strebe, Molly Belk, Kasey Robinson, and Sabrina Taylor for their commitment to serving Northside.
Bishop Howell and I having a blast at the "Freedom and Fellowship": Juneteenth Violence Prevention Community Cookout.
Community leaders and I speaking at the McKinley Community Forest Planting Ceremony.
City leaders and staff speaking at the Way Home Progress Report press conference.
Council Member Wonsley, community members, and I smiling at the Vacant Building Registry (VBR) Ordinance press conference.
Celebration of Minnesota Voting Rights Act
I was honored to join the Celebration of the Minnesota Voting Rights Act hosted by We Choose Us at UROC a few weeks ago. The Minnesota state legislature passed the Minnesota Voting Rights Act into law this year and became the first and only state to respond to the Eighth Circuit Court's ruling that weakened the Federal Voting Rights Act.
Thank you so much to Chief Authors Senator Champion and Representative Greenman for championing the Minnesota Voting Rights Act and for our legislative and community partners Secretary of State Steve Simon, Attorney General Ellison, and We Choose Us for your advocacy and work.
District 59 Town Hall
My office was delighted to join the District 59 Town Hall and hear about all the incredible work that Senator Champion, Representative Lee, and Representative Agbaje led on this legislative session for the Northside. We are so appreciative of what the state has been pushing for voter rights and for our workers.
There have been a few recent groundbreakings including the George Modular Solutions factory led by Devon George that will employ hundreds of Northsiders. And for anyone who has seen the V3 Sports facility, we were happy to fight for the city to provide the gap funding needed for that project. And also, I would be remissed if I didn't mention that this project wouldn't be possible without the state's advocacy. We deserve state-of-the-art facilities on the Northside just as much as anyone else in the metro does.
Thank you so much to Senator Champion, Rep. Agbaje, and Rep. Lee and their staff Shemeka Bogan, Alexis Varner, Tom Melton, Shamat Abraha, and Alayna Smieja for their work on behalf of Northside and our office looks forward to continue supporting their efforts.
Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing
It was such a pleasure to join the most recent meeting of the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing and meet the members of the committee. I am grateful for the collaboration and intentionality of the co-chairs to invite me to address the committee. Thank you so much to co-chairs Sherri Boone and Michael Gionvanis for meeting with my office, sharing more about your experience, and speaking about your vision for the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing. I look forward to continuing to build a positive relationship between the advisory committee and council.
To learn more about the work of this committee, visit the city website on boards and commissions.
Vacant Building Registry (VBR) Ordinance Passage & Press Conference
Council Member Wonsley and I co-authored an ordinance addressing condemned and hazardous vacant buildings and it was unanimously passed by the city council on Thursday, July 18th, 2024.
This ordinance places a two-year time limit on the eligibility of a building to be on the vacant building registry or VBR. Before the passage of this ordinance, there was no limit so properties remained vacant for years. There are over 300 buildings on the VBR; majority of which are concentrated in areas of poverty that disproportionately impact communities of color. Condemned vacant buildings are a health and safety hazard for our community. When buildings and houses remain condemned and vacant for years, it drains the spirit of our neighbors and makes residents feel powerless.
I look forward to the commercial, economic, and housing development that will be created in the coming years as more buildings are removed from the VBR. To view the CBS News coverage of this press conference, click here.
Thank you so much to Council Member Wonsley and her team, Qannani Omar and Celeste Robinson, for their collaboration and support on this ordinance. Much gratitude to Felicia Perry, Kristel Porter, Taylor Dahlin, and Daniel Suitor for speaking at the press conference on the importance of this ordinance. It was delightful to be joined by Northside community leaders and members: former Council Member Jackie Cherryhomes, J. DeVon Nolen, Leona Martin, Ravie Singh, and KB Brown.
Way Home Progress Report Press Conference
I had the pleasure of joining leaders at Harrison Townhomes to highlight an updated report on the City’s nation-leading housing work over the past three years. The Way Home: 2021-2023 Progress Report showcases the historic work the City of Minneapolis has been doing under the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan – getting residents into safe, dignified, and permanent affordable housing.
Since 2018, the City has invested nearly $365 million in housing and homelessness and produced 4,679 affordable housing units. This is an average of 780 total units each year and more than double the average between 2011-2017. The City is also producing deeply affordable housing units (30% AMI or less) at nearly 8.5 times the previous rate.
Thank you to Mayor Frey, Mayor Coleman, Andrea Reese, Director Erik Hansen, and Director Elfric Porte for your collaboration and leadership in creating more affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities in our city.
To learn more about The Way Home: 2021-2023 Progress Report, please visit the city webpage on this topic.
Senator Bobby Joe Champion, Representative Emma Greenman, and I hugging at the Celebration of Minnesota Voting Rights Act.
Thanks to the dedicated disability justice organizers in our state, all-terrain track chairs are now available at 13 Minnesota State Parks. Track chairs are all-terrain, electric-powered chairs that can be used on designated trails within the park. These chairs can help visitors explore areas of the state parks in new ways, often on trails that are not suitable for regular wheelchairs.
Track chairs are available year-round in some locations, and seasonally in others. To reserve a chair, call the park you plan to visit.
Matthew Hulstein (Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid attorney) and Patty Walton (Community Clinics Fellow) met with my staff, Bethany Turnwall and Dieu Do, about the new in-person legal clinic in Harrison.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid has an in-person clinic in the Harrison neighborhood, offering free legal help! Legal Aid handles problems on this civil side (not criminal), including: housing, consumer, immigration, federal tax, public benefits, family law, and disability discrimination. Generally, clients must be Hennepin residents and be either lower income or aged 60+ (regardless of income).
Legal Clinic Details
- Days/Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Location: Harrison Neighborhood Association (HNA), 1501 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55405
- Walk-ins welcome/appointments preferred
- To schedule an appointment, call 612-352-9778. Residents can also call Legal Aid's central intake line: 1-877-696-6529 or visit www.mylegalaid.org.
- Patty Walton, pictured above in the yellow jacket, is a Community Clinics Fellow who is staffing the clinic in the Harrison Neighborhood.
The Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA) created the Homebuyer Assistance Program to reduce racial disparities in homeownership. HCHRA will provide down payment financing to assist buyers interested in purchasing a home to have as their principal place of residence in Hennepin County.
Eligibility Requirements
- Borrower’s gross household income must be at or below 115% AMI.
First-time buyer: Borrower must not have an ownership interest in another property for the last 3 years.
- Borrower can have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number (SSN).
- Borrower must contribute at least $1,000 of their own funds toward the purchase.
- Housing Ratios: Borrower’s PITI must be within 20-35% (front end), not to exceed 50% (back-end) of gross income.
Required Education
- Certificate of Home Stretch group education within one year prior to purchase; see available workshops on Minnesota Homeownership Center website. Framework or other curriculums are not accepted. Sign up for NWHP workshops.
- Certificate of 1:1 Pre-purchase advising is required within one year of purchase. Sign up for NWHP pre-purchase advising.
- If there are two borrowers, both must complete Home Stretch and pre-purchase counseling.
Click here for more information and to apply for this program.
Hennepin County is hosting community collection events for County residents to safely and properly dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes.
Minneapolis Event
- Date: Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th
- Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Location: Jenny Lind Elementary School (enter off Dupont Avenue), 5025 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55430
Learn what items are accepted, review safety guidelines and view all 2024 events on the Hennepin County website.
The Providing Resources and Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs (PROMISE) Grant and Loan Programs are new, state-funded programs that will provide grants and loans to disadvantaged small businesses located in certain areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) will administer the MN PROMISE Grant program and the Metropolitan Economic Development Association will administer the MN PROMISE Loan program, alongside community partner organizations.
Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
Want to check your eligibility? Click here to fill out a pre-application to see if you meet the program requirements.
The Transit Assistance Program offers discounted transit fares for low-income residents, making it easier to commute to work, school, medical appointments and other essential activities. With a reduced fare TAP card, riders pay just $1 per ride, even during rush hour.
Now, qualifying riders can sign up for a TAP card at the Minneapolis Service Center in downtown. With its location near high traffic areas like the Government Center and Metro Transit’s Blue and Green light rail lines, the service center will be easily accessible by thousands.
Minneapolis Service Center
- Public Service Building, skyway level
- 505 Fourth Ave. S.
Find out more about the new location on the City website.
Start your enrollment on the Metro Transit website.
Are you experiencing struggles with food insecurity, housing, career readiness, and legal matters? Are you in need of help? Please look below to see which resources can be beneficial to you.
Career Readiness
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Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
- PPL builds the hope, assets, and self-reliance of individuals and families who have lower incomes by providing transformative affordable housing and career readiness services.
Family Support & Educational Programming
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Way to Grow
- Way to Grow is a nonprofit organization on the Northside that provides free, year-round family support and educational programming for families in Minneapolis and in surrounding suburbs.
Food Insecurity
- EMERGE Youth-Led Food Shelf
- Days/Times: Weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Location: ECTC, 1834 Emerson Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411.
- Free Dinner
- Days/Times: Weekly on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM
- Salem Lutheran Church, 4150 Dupont Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN
- Contact: 612-521-3644
- Haven Community Pantry
- Days/Times: Weekly on Wednesdays & Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Location: Sanctuary Covenant Church, 2018 Aldrich Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Free/Discounted Internet
Housing/Tenant Protections
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Home Line
- This organization provides free and low-cost legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants throughout Minnesota can solve their own rental housing problems.
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United Renters for Justice/Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia
- United Renters for Justice/Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia is a base-building nonprofit working to transform the Minneapolis housing system.
Legal Representation
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Attorney General Keith Ellison's Office
- The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office appreciates hearing from members of the public. In many cases, they are able to provide direct assistance to people. Hearing from members of the public also alerts us to problems occurring in the marketplace.
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Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
- This organization provides free legal aid to people with low-income, disabilities, and seniors in 20 Central Minnesota counties. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Debt collection and unfair loans
- Disability-related cases
- Divorce and child custody
- Domestic violence
- Elder abuse
- Housing discrimination and evictions
- Immigration and citizenship
- IRS Tax Issues
Minneapolis 311
- Need to report an issue? Can't find the right information? Minneapolis 311 can help. 311 coordinates with City departments and service providers to report your concerns, find you information and connect you with nonemergency City services.
- There are many ways to get in contact with Minneapolis 311 for non-emergency information. Choose what's easiest for you.
- Call 311. Agents are here to answer your call 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 311 from within city limits or 612-673-3000.
- Email 311. You can email 311 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Agents will respond 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Text 311. You can text 311 a short question any time. Just text two or three keywords to 311TXT (311898) to receive an answer from the Minneapolis 311 information database on your mobile phone.
- Get the 311 mobile app. Report neighborhood issues on the 311 mobile app 24 hours a day.
- TTY. 311 agents use computer-based technology so hearing-impaired callers can easily communicate with the City using TDD/TTY devices. Call TTY 612-263-6850.
- Use the contact form. You can send 311 your comments or questions on the website contact form.
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