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From Ward 5 Minneapolis City Council Member, Jeremiah Ellison.
Ramadan Mubarak to all! As we begin this sacred month, I wish everyone a peaceful and reflective start to their fasting. May this time be filled with spiritual growth, compassion, and gratitude. I hope it brings good health, inner peace, and strengthens the bonds of community for all. Let’s cherish this time of self-discipline and generosity, and may our hearts and actions be guided by kindness throughout the month.
Council Members Chavez, Wonsley, and I presenting to the Housing Advisory Committee on the rent fixing algorithm ordinance.
State Representatives, staff, and I touring Avivo Villages and hearing about the incredible work being done to serve our unhoused neighbors.
Avivo Village Tour
I recently had the incredible opportunity to tour Avivo Villages alongside state representatives, and the experience left a lasting impact on me. Witnessing firsthand the compassionate work being done to provide shelter and support to our unhoused neighbors was truly inspiring. I am committed to continue advocating for and supporting initiatives that offer lasting solutions and a brighter future for our most vulnerable community members.
Rent Fixing Algorithm Ordinance Presentation
I had the pleasure of presenting to the Minneapolis Housing Advisory Committee alongside Council Members Chavez and Wonsley about the rent fixing algorithm ordinance that Council Member Wonsley is authoring. A few weeks back, the Minneapolis City Council received a briefing from the Minnesota Attorney General's office about the ongoing lawsuit against six of the nation's largest landlords, alleging a scheme to inflate rent prices by using anti-competitive pricing algorithms and data sharing.
The lawsuit targets RealPage Inc. and several landlords, including Camden, LivCor, Greystar, Cushman & Wakefield, Willow Bridge and Cortland – the latter four of which operate in the Twin Cities. According to the civil antitrust lawsuit, landlords are accused of using anti-competitive pricing algorithms by a company called RealPage. The scheme alleges competitors shared pricing information with each other to inflate the cost of rent, leading to higher living expenses for residents and bigger profits for landlords. This ordinance would prohibit the use of these algorithmic devices and protect renters in our city. More information and next steps will be outlined in our next newsletter.
Royalston Square Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Ward 5 Policy Aides Bethany Turnwall (on the right) and Dieu Do (on the left) attended the Royalston Square Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on my behalf and it was an incredible event.
This new event space will offer an immersive experience to attendees unlike anything we currently have in the State of Minnesota. For more information, please visit this news article that highlights this new space and what to come.
Ward 5 Policy Aides Bethany Turnwall and Dieu Do attending the Royalston Square Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Thursday, February 27th.
Recruiting members for boards and commissions opens March 1. We’re looking for applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting are available so all residents can participate.
Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. This is a way to help make changes and improvements that affect your community.
Applications will be taken in March for these boards and commissions:
- Advisory Committee on Aging
- Advisory Committee on Disabilities
- Advisory Committee on Housing
- Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Community Commission on Police Oversight (applications open until March 16)
- Homegrown Food Council
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Public Health Advisory Committee
Apply March 1st through March 31st, and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions, and timelines by visiting the City 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.
City of Minneapolis
The City of Minneapolis has a ton of job opportunities that span across multiple departments.
Recent Job Postings
Hennepin County
Hennepin County is the largest county in Minnesota and has a wide variety of job openings in different industries.
Recent Job Postings
Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities can be a great place to start to look for a new job/change in your career. Start by viewing the MN Council of Nonprofits Job Board here.
Recent Job Postings
State of Minnesota
The State of Minnesota is a great place to start your job search. Click here to view job openings in the state.
Recent Job Postings
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.
First Generation Down Payment Assistance
Minnesota’s two new first-come, first-served, down payment assistance programs are still accepting applications, and 50% of allocated funds remain.
Hennepin County HRA Homebuyer Assistance Program
Limited Funds Available: Check Page For Updates
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.
Northside Awesome Grant
Granted Awarded Monthly
The North Minneapolis Chapter of the Awesome Foundation grants support projects in business, sciences, arts, education, civic engagement, media, and entertainment — just about anything as long as it contributes to making the Northside of Minneapolis more AWESOME! And guess what – 501c3 status is not a requirement! The grants can go to groups, individuals, small non-profit organizations, almost any entity.
We prioritize applications that demonstrate clear ideas, project budgets, strong Northside connectivity and projects that positively impact the Northside. If you do not live in North Minneapolis or have a significantly strong connection to the Northside you will not likely be funded.
Apply by the end of each month to be eligible for a grant of up to $1000 for your Awesome Idea! One Grant of up to $1000 will be made each month. Click here to learn more and apply.
With more dark hours this time of year, you might notice lights out more on parkways or in parks. If you see a light not working, contact:
For Parkway Lights
For Path and Trail Lights in Parks
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board customer service: Call 612-230-6400 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday or email anytime.
- If you witness someone damaging a light, call 911.
The City of Minneapolis (City) and the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA) on behalf of Hennepin County (County) are seeking development proposals for vacant, City- and County-owned property the intersection of Lowry Avenue and Penn Avenue North. To learn more information on qualifications and application process, visit the city website here.
Proposals are due by 4:00 PM on March 20th, 2025 via the project SharePoint folder. Access to the folder will be removed promptly at 4:00 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Radel at jamie.radel@minneapolismn.gov or Ryan Kelley at ryan.kelley@hennepin.us.
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.
Free At-Home COVID-19 Testing Kits
You can once again get up to four free at-home COVID-19 testing kits through the federal government. With a high number of cases in our community, it’s important to protect ourselves and our families. Regular testing can help you stay informed about your health and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to loved ones.
You can use these whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms. You can take the test at home and receive results within 30 minutes—no need to drop anything off at a lab.
Click here to order your free tests today (no cost including shipping).
Get Vaccinated
Flu, RSV, and COVID season is just around the corner. Minnesota is also experiencing a significant rise in pertussis cases among children, and there is also a measles outbreak in the Twin Cities metro area. Talk to a trusted medical professional to discuss what works best for you and your family to stay healthy this season.
Available Resources:
Low-Cost Radon Test Kits
The Minneapolis Health Department is providing low-cost radon test kits and encouraging people to test their homes for radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Two in five Minnesota houses test high for radon.
Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that can:
- Enter your home through the basement
- Come from the dirt surrounding your home's foundation
The only way to know how much radon is in your home is to do a test. You can:
- Buy a do-it-yourself test kit at a local hardware store, or
- Hire a licensed radon mitigation specialist
Click here to learn more about the City's initiative and order a low-cost ($12.95) radon test kit online.
Minneapolis Trees Program Creating A Climate Legacy
The City Trees program is providing low-cost trees to Minneapolis property owners. Since the program began in 2006, the City has helped plant more than 20,000 trees. Minneapolis is one of the country’s greenest cities.
Trees are available year-round to:
- Businesses
- Nonprofits
- Organizations
- Apartment buildings with five or more units
Residents in Minneapolis Green Zones are encouraged to participate and to plant shade trees for the most benefits, including natural cooling during the hotter months.
The Climate Legacy Initiative is funding the City Trees program.
See what tree programs are offered on the City website.
Watch a video and hear from our City Trees team.
You are invited to learn about and provide input on two proposed developments in the Harrison Neighborhood:
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Penn Wood Village & Fresh Food Market, currently the Penn-Wood Market site at 2125 Glenwood Ave, proposed to be a mixed-use project to include a market/grocery store and community space at the street level, and 86-units of affordable housing above.
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Senior Flats at 529 & 535 Logan Avenue, proposed to include 48-senior apartments (55 and older).
Community members are invited to provide input through a series of community meetings. Local developer James Archer, of Matrix Development, will be on hand to share information and gather ideas from the community on ways to improve the projects.
Mark your calendars for the following dates. Each session will be unique and build upon each other, so community members are encouraged to attend all four meetings. All meetings will be in-person. The events are free and open to the public.
Session 1: Overview of Penn Wood Village & Fresh Market Proposal (currently the Penn-Wood Market site)
- Date/Time: Wednesday, February 26th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- Location: Living Room, 1716 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
- The session will review the concept plan for the Penn Wood Village & Fresh Food Market and gather input on concerns and ways to improve the project. Presentation provided by local developer James Archer, Matrix Development.
Session 2: Panel Discussion - Potential Commercial Uses for Penn Wood Village
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 12th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- Location: Living Room, 1716 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
- Explore the opportunities and challenges of potential commercial uses with a panel of market experts and grocery store options.
Session 3: Overview of Senior Flats Proposal at 529 & 535 Logan Avenue
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 26th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- Location: Living Room, 1716 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
- The session will review the concept plan for Senior Flats and gather input on concerns and ways to improve the project. Presentation provided by local developer James Archer, Matrix Development.
Session 4: Create Final Recommendations for Penn Wood Village & Senior Flats
- Date/Time: Wednesday, April 9th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- Location: Living Room, 1716 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
- Participate in shaping the final recommendations for the Penn Wood Village and Fresh Food Market and Senior Flats proposals. The final recommendations will be submitted to the developer, James Archer, Matrix Development, MN Housing Finance Agency, and the City of Minneapolis.
To help us get a head-count for refreshments, please RSVP to Gretchen Nicholls, LISC Twin Cities, at gnicholls@lisc.org or 612-327-2149.
Childcare will be available for those that register one week in advance. Please contact Gretchen Nicholls at gnicholls@lisc.org to request childcare.
Come to a public meeting March 12. You’ll get updates about the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department’s path to meet the requirements of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement. Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA), the independent evaluator of the settlement agreement, will present the updates.
ELEFA will present an overview of its role in the settlement agreement, describe its requirements and how it checks compliance, and provide implementation updates from the first semi-annual evaluation report.
Event Details
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 12th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
- Location: Ukrainian American Community Center, 301 Main St. NE
- There will be food and refreshments from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM and the event presentation will begin at 6:00 PM.
If you have questions or require accommodation to attend, please contact ELEFA.
Learn more about the March 12 information sessions on this flyer (PDF).
You can also learn more about the evaluator and its work on its website.
If you or someone you know is a college, graduate or law student, encourage them to apply for the Urban Scholars Internship Program. This summer leadership internship is for college and graduate students interested in public sector careers.
The 2025 Urban Scholars program runs from June 2 to Aug. 15. The program is a full-time summer program providing internships, professional development and mentorship opportunities for young professionals. The interns work full-time with the employers four days a week with leadership development every Monday.
Candidate applications are due March 17.
Did you know that there are a ton of free events every week at your local library? From reading with an animal, to community chess, to researching the history of your home, there are endless opportunities to learn, connect, and play at your local library! Click here to view a full list of upcoming events.
Here are a few notable events to highlight:
Drop-In Tech Help
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 5th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Location: North Regional Library on Lowry Avenue North
Medicare Information and Resources
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 5th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Location: North Regional Library on Lowry Avenue North
Sit and Paint
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 3rd from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Location: North Regional Library on Lowry Avenue North
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