 Council Member Jenkins with Mayor Frey, CP Payne, and community members launching Black Business Week at "The Square" at George Floyd Square.
Dear Neighbors;
It’s seemingly becoming a standard part of Minnesota summers, and that is hazy, smoky skies and flash storms as experienced last night. The City's Emergency Management Department is working across the City to assess impacts from the storm last night. Always report power outages to Xcel Energy. Unfortunately, poor air quality from Canadian wildfires is almost a daily occurrence. Hopefully we’re all paying attention to air quality alerts and responding accordingly by limiting outdoor activities for those with compromised health or respiratory issues, wearing masks, etc.
Last week was a busy one for the Council, lots of positive art news, resolutions addressing ICE raids, Black Business Week, and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was proud to author two of those resolutions and fully support the ICE Resolution. The resolution follows calls from immigrant rights advocates and local leaders who are urging cities across Minnesota to take a public stance against federal immigration enforcement policies.
Last Thursday, we kicked off Black Business Week (BBW) at George Floyd Square, at the new community event space called “The Square." The 38th Street corridor is an important cultural connector in our city. It's rich in history, from the legendary Black economic hub at Fourth Avenue, Sabathani Community Center, the nation's longest running family run Black owned newspaper company the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, Arts on Chicago, and the focus of the The 38th Street ThrivePlan. George Floyd Square has become an epicenter for racial justice and healing, and is home to many Black-owned businesses - a community that deserves lasting investment. Please check out some of the remaining events that celebrate BBW through July 31st, and patronize Black business every day.
Relative to the Arts, we approved a contract with two non-profits, Arts’ Nest, a nonprofit arts organization, will partner with Zenon Dance Company and School to operate the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts. Bringing dance education back, and fostering a dedicated space for dance, though the operators are considering other programming to activate the space and generate income as well.
After almost 10 years, we finally signed off on the deal to activate the Upper Harbor Terminal. The site will include a Community Performing Arts Center, expected to open for the 2027 concert season, that will be run jointly by First Avenue, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the African American Community Development Corporation (AACDC). The venue is projected to host up to 54 commercial events each year, with additional programming led by the AACDC. The City of Minneapolis in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will develop the 48-acre site, and will include affordable and mixed-income housing, a health and wellness hub, riverside parkland and new commercial space.
I want to offer a huge congratulations to the team at Pillsbury Creative Commons as they had their grand opening this past Saturday. PCC, formerly Pillsbury House + Theatre, has sown the seeds of a connected and thriving community for over 30 years. Now in their next phase, PCC is addressing the deep disparities in employment and resources in the arts and media industry, a field that today is 67% white males over 50. The new campus will support local BIPOC young people in entering high-paying, high-demand career fields where they are currently underrepresented due to a range of systemic barriers.
Lastly, July is Disability Pride Month. As a person living with a visible disability, I was proud to author a resolution recognizing the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will all experience some level of disability in our lives and it is imperative that we all continue to have full access to public life. To be clear, we all benefit from universal design because accessibility is about more than compliance with standards; it’s about developing solutions to meet the needs of all users, with and without disabilities.
Stay hydrated and check on your elderly family members and neighbors during these dog days of summer.
Love,
Andrea
 The grand opening of PCC.
 Two dancers, one using a wheelchair, celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Join in a public event July 30 honoring 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Share your story, watch a documentary and panel, and see the disability pride flag unveiling.
Signed into law July 26, 1990, the ADA is a critical civil rights law for people with disabilities. The law bans discrimination in all aspects of public life. This includes discrimination in City programs, services and buildings.
This anniversary celebration honors the importance of this law and the local leaders who have improved countless lives in and around the city. The City recognizes the important role the ADA plays in making life more accessible for people in Minneapolis.
ADA 35th anniversary celebration Please note the new date and time: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 Public Service Building, Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
Get more details and register for this free event on the City website.
If you have questions, email Guthrie Byard, community specialist – people with disabilities or call 612-554-3666.
Register now for the City of Minneapolis’ Trans Equity Summit Aug. 11. This year’s theme is Trans Equity and Intergenerational Power: Strengthening the Future by Honoring Our Past.
The Trans Equity Summit is a free event designed for trans and gender nonconforming community members. The day is meant to:
- Connect to resources.
- Connect with each other.
- Learn more about important issues.
2025 Trans Equity Summit 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street SE
Check back for more specific information about keynotes, workshops and more. The planning committee will also share up-to-date information about the schedule, speakers, workshops and accessibility on the Facebook event page.
Register now.
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 Rendering of proposed Community Performing Arts Center at Upper Harbor.
The City has finalized a deal for the Community Performing Arts Center at the Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment site in North Minneapolis.
The new 8,000-seat concert venue, run by First Avenue, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the African American Community Development Corporation, will bring world-class performances to the northside and drive lasting economic impact. A portion of every ticket sold will be reinvested directly into the surrounding community, ensuring that the Northside benefits from the venue’s long-term success.
About Upper Harbor
Located along the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis, the 53-acre Upper Harbor site is being transformed from a former shipping terminal into a vibrant community space. Plans include:
- Community Performing Arts Center to be developed and operated by Port of Minneapolis, a partnership of First Ave and the Minnesota Orchestra
- 20-acre regional park
- New housing
- Small business commercial space
- And more
Infrastructure work was completed at the site last summer, with construction set to begin this fall.
Learn more about the Upper Harbor redevelopment project on the City website.
 People sitting and standing at a National Night Out event.
You can still register your event for the 2025 National Night Out, Aug. 5 this year. National Night Out is a time for City residents to come together and celebrate with neighbors. Many blocks in Minneapolis take this opportunity to reconnect, eat and build relationships while kids play and bike freely in the closed street.
Registration is open until July 29 and is free. Pro tips:
- Include neighbors in your organizing efforts.
- Register only one event per block (appoint one neighbor to register).
- Consider whether you want your street blocked off to traffic.
- Checking the box for 75% approval is fine if you plan to notify every household of the event.
- Call 311 to request a fire truck, MPD K9, and/or MPD Mounted Patrol.
- Confirmation emails are sent on Mondays. The confirmation will include the NNO pop-up calendar for picking up caution tape and other supplies for your event.
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Contact a City crime prevention specialist with questions.
Registration closes July 29. Read more about National Night Out and register your block’s event on the City website.
Consider talking about online safety with your neighbors during National Night Out and any time. A safe neighborhood is not just about safe streets; it’s also about protecting ourselves and our families online. Find more information in a handout on the City website.
There are so many fun things to do this summer. Check out these events and lists curated by our partners:
Come to a public information session July 30. 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 second semi-annual evaluation report.
5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 5:30-6 p.m. Food and refreshments 6-8 p.m. Event presentation 3333 Penn Ave. N.
If you have questions or require accommodation to attend, please contact ELEFA.
Learn more about the July 30 information sessions on these flyers (PDFs) in English and in English, Oromo, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.
You can also learn more about the evaluator and its work on its website.
 Woman with a child and pushing a child in a stroller crossing the street at a crosswalk.
You can still request traffic calming in your area for 2026. Requests are due Aug. 1.
Make your request online by Aug. 1. If you’re not able to use the online form, you can print the application and either email it or mail it (postmarked by Aug. 1) to: Traffic Calming, 300 Border Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55405. If you need help filling out the form, you can contact Minneapolis 311.
Find more information about traffic calming projects on the City website.
 A hand breaking through a car window.
Recent reports of car break-ins and damage to vehicles in Minneapolis and surrounding cities over the last two weeks serve as a reminder to take simple precautions to protect your vehicle and valuables.
Keep your car safe:
- Always take your keys with you.
- Lock your doors and windows.
- Park in well-lit, busy areas.
- Use an engine lock or install a GPS tracker.
- Don’t leave valuables like bags or electronics in your car.
Report suspicious activity Residents play a crucial role in preventing crime. If you see something suspicious, call 911 right away. Try to give a clear description of the people, cars and where they went.
Report stolen vehicles Call 911 and your insurance company right away if your vehicle is stolen. If your car is found, let them know immediately.
One year ago, the City installed its first free NARCAN vending machine at Fire Station 21 located at 3209 38th St. E. A second vending machine was installed this year at Fire Station 14 located at 2002 Lowry Ave. N. Together, the two vending machines have dispensed more than 2,200 boxes of the life-saving medication Naloxone. Naloxone is a drug that reverses opioid overdoses.
The two Minneapolis vending machines were placed in neighborhoods with a high amount of substance misuse and overdoses. They’re free to community members with no questions asked.
Read more about the NARCAN vending machines on the City website.
Please trim brush and branches along the alley to help make our alleys safer for our crews and vehicles. With recent heavy rains, brush along many of our alleys has grown to where crews are having a hard time seeing the person behind the truck.
Bushes, branches and tall grass hanging into the alley is a safety hazard. Unkempt vegetation cuts and scrapes collection crews, scratches vehicles, and reduces visibility.
You can set properly prepared trimmings out for collection with your yard waste.
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 Promotion for the Vibrant Storefronts Art Walk.
Tour the first five Vibrant Storefronts Aug. 11 to celebrate creativity and connection downtown. Join a guided tour or explore at your own pace for arts from music to live painting, from poetry to button making and screen printing. Featuring the five inaugural Vibrant Storefronts awardees in the storied Harmon Place District: Blackbird Revolt, Black Business Enterprises, Flavor World, Pride Cultural Arts Center and Skntones™.
5-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 1121 Hennepin Ave.
Guided tours: Make sure to RSVP; the tour size is limited.
Self-guided tours run in an open house-style format. No need to RSVP.
Read more about the art walk tours and activations on the City website.
Artists Natchez Beaulieu, Pablo Kalaka, Greta McLain and Daniela Bianchini will be installing a new mural at the Hiawatha Lake Bridge Underpass. Participate in free events and help create the mural, which will be installed this fall.
Mosaic Mondays in August
6-8 p.m. Mondays, Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25
Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts, 2742 15th Ave. S
Midtown Farmers Market
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, July 26 and Aug. 2
2225 East Lake St.
Questions? Contact kirstin.wiegmann@minneapolismn.gov.
As part of the planning process for a new artwork at Peavey Park, Heart of the Beast will be leading four community workshops in puppet making, puppeteering and community storytelling.
The previous artwork in the park, known as Touchstone Plaza—including the mosaic thrones and archway—was removed this month due to deterioration.
4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday evenings, July 31, Aug. 7, 14 and 21
Peavey Park picnic shelter, 730 East 22nd St.
Attend one session or all four!
Questions? Contact sarah.linnesrobinson@minneapolismn.gov.
Stone Arch Bridge in daytime. Photo credit: Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The Stone Arch Bridge will reopen to walking and bicycling Aug. 9. Minnesota Department of Transportation crews began repairing the historic bridge in April 2024. Crews closed half of the bridge at a time so people could still enjoy the bridge but not cross the river on it. The public can celebrate the reopening at a family-friendly event with food trucks, live entertainment and historic bridge facts. Activities are planned both sides of the bridge.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat. Aug. 9 Stone Arch Bridge
Find more details on the Minnesota Department of Transportation website.
The City will deploy five traffic safety cameras to begin automated enforcement of speed limits this fall. The traffic camera safety pilot program is a key part of the City’s Vision Zero initiative. Vision Zero aims to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on Minneapolis streets. It pursues a future where everyone can move through our city safely, efficiently and equitably.
Camera locations
- Third Street North near First Avenue North in Downtown
- Fremont Avenue North near West Broadway Avenue in Near North
- 18th Avenue Northeast near Central Avenue Northeast in Northeast
- Chicago Avenue near Franklin Avenue East in Ventura Village
- Nicollet Avenue near West 46th Street in King Field and Tangletown
Traffic cameras may only be used for traffic enforcement and capture a picture or video of the back of the vehicle. They’re not allowed to take pictures or video of people.
Traffic safety cameras are meant to shift driver behavior and save lives, not generate revenue. As required by state law, any revenue from fines will cover implementation costs and investments in other traffic safety and calming measures.
Read more about the traffic safety cameras on the City website.
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Adam Fetcher has begun serving as the City of Minneapolis’ first chief communications officer. Fetcher will lead the City’s efforts to connect meaningfully with people across Minneapolis through relevant messages that inform, empower and engage.
The elevated role recognizes the importance of communications as a means of powering community cohesion and resilience.
Fetcher comes to the City with deep experience in business, government and politics, having served as a senior communications official in the Obama administration and an executive for leading brands such as Patagonia and Rivian.
Read more about the position on the City website.
 Promotion for Open Streets Minneapolis. Four car-free event dates in August and September across city neighborhoods.
Open Streets Minneapolis, the City’s popular summer event series, will kick off this year’s series Saturday, Aug. 2. Open Streets Minneapolis events transform the street for a day. Without cars, people can gather and celebrate the diversity and creativity of the city while walking, biking and rolling. Mark your calendar for entertainment, music and food.
- Aug. 17 Cedar Avenue between 15th Avenue and Sixth Street, and Riverside Avenue between Cedar Avenue and 19th Avenue Hosted by the West Bank Business Association.
- Sept. 20 Hennepin Avenue between West 26th and 36th streets Hosted by the Uptown Association.
 Lake Street businesses during the day.
The 2025 Cultural District Arts Fund will grant awards to 65 art projects across the city. The projects will support community engagement, artistic expression and cultural celebration across the seven Minneapolis cultural districts:
- Lowry Avenue North
- 38th Street
- Cedar Avenue South
- Central Avenue
- East Lake Street
- East Franklin Avenue
- West Broadway
Find highlights of the projects and a full list on the City website.
 Promotion for the Big Honking Truck Parade July 31 on Nicollet Mall.
Bring your friends and family to Nicollet Mall July 31 for the first-ever Big Honking Truck Parade. The parade features City of Minneapolis cars, fire engines, snowplows, and police and fire trucks, plus construction vehicles, semitrailers and more from local businesses and operators.
The municipal motorcade starts around 5:30 p.m. at East Grant Street, travels down Nicollet Mall and ends at Sixth Street South. The vehicles will hold still for your pictures at the end of the route until 8 p.m.
From 4 to 8 p.m., Nicollet Mall will host more than 30 local businesses for an evening market. Shop local, find homemade wares and grab food – including special flavors of homemade ice cream – from Twin Cities-based booths.
Read more on the City website.
Consider talking about online safety with your neighbors during National Night Out and any time. A safe neighborhood is not just about safe streets; it’s also about protecting ourselves and our families online.
You can read and download our handout to learn how you and your household can stay safe online by:
- Protecting your personal information.
- Keeping your devices safe.
- Helping your community stay safe.
- Talking to kids about online safety.
- Connecting with care.
- Watching out for scams.
Find the handout on the City website.
 Promotion for Black Business Week July 24-31.
Show your support for Black business development in Minneapolis with the City’s annual Black Business Week through July 31.
Events
- Black Business Week Kick-off - Legacy on the Block: A Black Business Showcase
- Ignite Business Conference: From Spark to Strategy
- Black Business Week Street Mall
- Webber Camden & Northside Epicenter Black Business Expo
- The Business of Self-Care: A Micro-Workshop for Entrepreneurs
- Black Business Week Summit
- The Black Business Exchange – Speed Mentoring with the Experts
Watch a video from Black business-owners and find more details about Black Business Week events on the City website.
 CPED Impact Report, Building generational wealth, Creating stable and affordable housing, Advancing inclusive economic growth.
Marakah, Guadalupe and Elijah and opened Odigo, a community-focused wellness center. Nawal’s company is constructing the first affordable housing building in the Twin Cities to center the needs of East African immigrants. Reeka finally found a home she could afford to buy for herself and her son.
Thanks to the City of Minneapolis, things like this are happening every day. The new 2024 CPED Impact Report from the Community Planning & Economic Development Department tells the stories of Marakah, Guadalupe, Elijah, Nawal, Reeka and other real people whose lives have been impacted by the work of City staff and the programs they administer.
CPED Impact is an interactive storymap that combines videos, photos, charts and graphs, and the written word. Its 18 stories show how the City delivers on CPED’s mission to grow a vibrant, livable, equitable, sustainable and safely built city for everyone.
Explore the 2024 CPED Impact Report. |
