 Mark your calendar! The 2025 Community Connections Conference will be on Saturday, Feb. 8. This yearly event brings together residents of Minneapolis, community groups, neighborhoods and local government to learn and connect.
Community Connections Conference
Saturday, Feb. 8
Minneapolis Convention Center, first floor, Hall E
Learn more on the conference website.
Exhibit
We invite everyone in the community to share information, skills, resources and opportunities through exhibitor booths.
Apply for your exhibit space by midnight Dec. 13 or whenever space is full. We are especially looking for informative, fun, interactive exhibits for both children and adults. Exhibit space is free for nonprofits and public institutions, and organizers will also provide booth spaces for conference partners.
Apply for your space in the exhibit hall.
Spread the word
You can help us spread the word about the conference and exhibitor opportunities by sharing these resources:
 The City of Minneapolis shares important news and updates in English, Spanish, Somali, Oromo and Hmong over community radio stations and two television programs.
You can see the upcoming schedule for these shows and find past recordings on the City website.
Community engagement October learning labs
City staff, neighborhood organizations, City partners and community members are invited to learn strategies for effectively engaging Minneapolis communities through this free learning lab series. The fall session began on Sept. 12.
We have several online evening sessions coming up in October:
- Thu., Oct. 3, 6-7:30 p.m., Understanding Ableism to Effectively Engage People with Disabilities
- Thu., Oct. 17, 5-6:30 p.m., African American Community and Effective Engagement
- Mon., Oct. 21, 6-7:30 p.m., Southeast Asian Community and Effective Engagement
- Tue., Oct. 22, 5-6:30 p.m., East African Community and Effective Engagement
View details and save your spot.
We will open waitlists for afternoon, in-person learning labs when space is available. You can join the waitlist for these sessions:
- Fri., Oct. 4, 12-1:30 p.m., Latino Community and Effective Community Engagement
- Tue., Oct. 8, 12-1:30 p.m., East African Community and Effective Engagement
- Tue., Oct. 22, 12-1:30 p.m., Southeast Asian Community and Effective Engagement
- Fri., Oct. 25, 12-1:30 p.m., African American Community and Effective Engagement
View details and sign up for the waitlist.
The City of Minneapolis Department of Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) staff, including community and neighborhood specialists, teach the learning labs.
Twin Cities monthly immigration forum meets Thursday, Oct.10
The City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) in partnership with the City of Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Program hosts a monthly immigration forum to offer immigration-related updates to the community. The next meeting of this series will be on Thursday, Oct 10.
Twin Cities monthly immigration forum
Thurs., Oct. 10, 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Join online over Microsoft Teams
Or call in (audio only) at +1 612-276-6670 with meeting ID 365504388#
The topics covered include:
- Federal immigration news and resources.
- City, community and advocacy organization updates.
- Other topics important to immigrant, refugee and new American communities.
Watch previous forums on the City's YouTube channel.
Find dates and links to join the meetings on the OIRA events calendar. Learn more about the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) at minneapolismn.gov/ncr/oira or contact the office directly at oira@minneapolismn.gov.
NCR has recently completed community engagement as part of updates being made to the City’s ADA Action Plan.
In our engagement report, you can read highlights from staff and community survey responses, feedback from several community engagement sessions and recommendations to be included in the updated ADA Action Plan.
Read the community engagement summary report.
First approved by the City Council in 2016, updates to the ADA Action Plan will ensure that the City continues its commitment to the ADA, while also increasing digital and physical accessibility best practices. Updates to the ADA Action Plan are occurring right now and will be available for review and feedback soon.
For more details on this work, contact Guthrie Byard, community specialist for people with disabilities.
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 The City is recruiting members for boards and commissions to strengthen the work of the City. People with a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
Members are recruited twice each year, in the spring and fall. Fall recruitment ends on Sept. 30.
These groups shape key policy decisions, represent their community in the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights. For more information about boards and commissions, check out the City website.
NCR Department staff support two important committees: Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities (MACOPD) and Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging (MACA).
MACA
The Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging (MACA) advises the City Council, Mayor and City departments about concerns relating to an aging population and best practices, services, programs and activities that promote a healthy and vibrant aging community in Minneapolis. The committee meets on the second Thursday of every month from 1-2:30 p.m.
Apply for MACA.
MACOPD
The Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities (MACOPD) advises the City Council, Mayor and City departments about concerns relating to people with disabilities and ensures that City departments plan proactively and holistically to address issues affecting people with disabilities. The committee meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 4:30 p.m.
Read more about the committee in an article in Access Press.
Apply for MACOPD.
After months of community engagement, a community survey shows clear support to redevelop the property at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. into a new democracy center and community space. The site had housed the 3rd Police Precinct. Full community engagement results will be shared at an open house Oct. 2.
The City is proposing to move the City’s Early Vote Center to this building. It would be more centrally located, connected to transportation, and in an area with historically lower voter turnout.
The democracy center proposal also includes an 8,000 square-foot space for community.
Minnehaha 3000, a future democracy center and community space
5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2
Minneapolis American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin Ave.
Read more about the survey findings on the City website.
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The community is invited to come together with the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors and other leaders for a time of reflection, friendship, and community as Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations begin with this beautiful sunrise ceremony on the morning of Monday, October 14, 2024.
Indigenous Peoples Day Sunrise Ceremony
The shores of Bde Maka Ska at Thomas Beach
3740 West Bde Maka Ska Parkway
Gather at 7 a.m. Ceremony at 7:15 a.m.
The Sunrise Ceremony is a tradition that began in 2014 when the Minneapolis City Council officially voted to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. The ceremony itself usually lasts 30-45 minutes.
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Learn the basics of emergency preparedness at Ready Camp Oct. 22 and 23. The free two-day training will provide you knowledge and skills to build an emergency kit, develop a communication plan, prepare for severe weather emergencies and recovery from an emergency or disaster. The City of Minneapolis Emergency Management Department hosts Ready Camp.
All ages are welcome. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Ready Camp
4:45-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Wednesday, Oct. 23
Minneapolis Emergency Operations Training Facility
25 37th Ave. NE
Register now on Eventbrite.
Questions about Ready Camp? Reach out to LaVina Branscomb, Emergency Management communication and outreach coordinator.
Save Oct. 23 for a free seniors fair. The fair is tailored for our senior community members and caregivers. The day will feature workshops, an elected officials panel, a resource fair, and a free breakfast and lunch. The workshops will cover yoga and meditation, City services, public safety and connecting with community.
Seniors fair
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23
Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave. S.
Schedule
Raffle with prizes to be announced.
- 9 a.m. - Welcome and breakfast
- 10 a.m. - Morning workshops: yoga for all – mind and body, City services presented by Public Works and 311
- 11 a.m. - Resource fair and lunch
- Noon – Panel discussion with local elected officials including City Council Members Andrea Jenkins, Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury; and Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley. More to be announced.
- 1 p.m. - Afternoon workshops: the City’s holistic approach to community safety, a discussion about making community connections through art.
The seniors fair is sponsored by Wards 8, 11 and 12.
 Hosted by the City of Minneapolis, the 2024 Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit takes place Oct. 30. The summit is free and open to the public.
Trans Equity Summit: “A Safe and Thriving Trans Community”
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30
McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall, 200 Oak St. SE
The Trans Equity Summit is an event for trans and gender non-conforming community members to connect to resources and each other, and for all attendees to learn more about issues impacting their communities.
For general questions about the Trans Equity Summit, please email City staff.
Watch for updates on the City website.
Voter registration
If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register.
Register ahead of time
You can register to vote online. You can use this same registration link to update your current name or address on your registration.
Voters who prefer to vote by mail can now sign up using the voter registration application to have a mail ballot sent to their residence for all future elections. On either the paper or online application, select “I request to have an absentee ballot mailed to the address where I live (residence) before each election in which I am eligible to vote.”
Unsure if you are registered at your current address? You can use the online lookup tool to check your registration.
Register when you vote
You can also register to vote in person when you vote early or vote on Election Day.
You will need to show proof of residence. Certain types of ID can be your proof of residence, but there are other options that don't require an ID. Be sure to read all your options and come prepared.
The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, visit the City website
The City is now looking for a community partner to redevelop the Peoples’ Way site at 3744 Chicago Ave. In June 2023, the City of Minneapolis purchased the property to preserve it as community space.
Local organizations and teams can apply to buy the property. The City will review the applicants based on values centered on the community. Once the City Council and mayor approve a group, the City will help create a development and operation plan with the new owner.
Years of feedback from residents has shaped the guidelines for the project, especially in sections on community values, eligible applicants and property uses. Since 2021, the City has engaged with neighbors about the future of Chicago Avenue and 38th Street. In 2024, these conversations expanded to include the vision for George “Perry” Floyd Square, the Peoples’ Way, and the memorials offerings at the site.
For more information about the Peoples' Way project, visit the City website.
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Community safety center updates
Right now, City staff are looking at services that organizations may provide in the community safety center spaces.
Lake Street Safety Center
The lease for the Lake Street Safety Center building, 2228 E. Lake St., has been signed. Construction, design and build-out will begin soon. The City has hired Minneapolis 311 customer service agents who will work out of the Lake Street Safety Center supporting non-emergency requests. The Lake Street Safety Center is projected to open in November.
South Minneapolis Community Safety Center
From feedback gathered during community engagement March-May, community members would like to see services and resources in the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center. These include culturally specific navigators, and services around domestic violence, mental health, victims of human trafficking, and youths. City staff will gather proposals from organizations that provide those services.
The South Minneapolis Community Safety Center is projected to open in fall 2025.
More information
The City is hosting its first Latino Business Week Oct. 6-13. The whole community is invited to join in events around Minneapolis including workshops, resource fairs and opportunities to connect with Latino-owned businesses.
The week celebrates and supports Latino-owned businesses, which are vital to our community and help create jobs, drive innovation and foster a vibrant culture. Supporting these enterprises boosts financial empowerment across our entire city.
All Latino Business Week events are free to attend. We encourage you to register; seating is limited at some events.
Latino Business Week kickoff event
This fun afternoon will feature musical performances, a discussion panel and shopping with Latino vendors.
2-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6
Mercado Central
Latino Business Week coincides with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
See the complete schedule and register for events on the City website.
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New Nicollet Redevelopment survey
The New Nicollet project team wants to hear from you, the people who live, work and play near the New Nicollet site. The City of Minneapolis plans to reconnect Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and Cecil Newman Lane, through the old Kmart site, beginning in 2025. After road construction, the City will work in partnership to develop the remaining site into a high-density, mixed-use, walkable area.
We want to hear about your priorities and desires for the site, so we can reflect that in the design and outcomes of the future redevelopment.
Right now, the City wants your input on the priorities for property uses and buildings on the New Nicollet site.
Please take the survey and share it with your networks. Find English, Spanish and Somali versions of the survey on the City’s website. The survey closes at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8.
Visit the project webpage to find updated project information, project events and ways to get involved.
Please email staff with any questions.
Free community tree workshops - offered in English and Spanish
Join the City of Minneapolis Green Careers Exploration Program for a series of free community tree workshops! You will learn the best way to care for your trees, keep them healthy and enjoy them.
You are welcome to register for one or the full series of these free workshops.
Upcoming workshops
- Tree care and planting, Saturday, Oct. 19 | 2-5 p.m., Little Earth, 2495 18th Ave. S.
- Pruning techniques, Saturday, Nov. 2 | 2-5 p.m., Little Earth, 2495 18th Ave. S.
The City is also offering workshops in Spanish. Find the Spanish workshops and sign up for all of the workshop offerings on our registration page
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