News from Ward 8

City of Minneapolis sent this bulletin at 02/07/2026 08:00 AM CST

News from Council Member Soren Stevenson

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you are enjoying some slightly warmer weather, and staying safe and connected. This week the City Council started our first meetings of the cycle. We are currently using a more condensed structure right now, holding two meetings every two weeks, in order to make more time to be directly in our communities while our city is under occupation by federal immigration agents. This week we had two meetings with the whole City Council. Here are some updates from the week and some upcoming events in the ward.

Rental Assistance

On Thursday the City Council voted to allocate $1 million to provide emergency rental assistance to families who are struggling because of the ongoing occupation from federal immigration agents. So many of our neighbors are sheltering in place right now, and are unable to get to work, or are unable to rely on childcare, or the primary breadwinner of the household has been taken by ICE. Since Gov. Walz has failed to pass an eviction moratorium, leaving thousands at risk of eviction, this funding for rental assistance is meant to be a last line of defense for those who need it.

I am grateful for my colleague, Council Member Robin Wonsley, for leading on this effort, and for Council Members Jamal Osman, Jason Chavez and Aurin Chowdhury for joining me as co-authors. The next step is for Mayor Frey to sign off on this. It’s hard to state just how urgently needed this funding is for our neighbors, and how detrimental it would be if Mayor Frey were to veto this proposal. I encourage everyone who knows just how needed and urgent this funding is to reach out to Mayor Frey and urge him to sign off on this proposal.

Pause Evictions, Save Lives

At Thursday's meeting we also introduced an ordinance to temporarily increase the required notice for eviction from 30 days to 60 days, in order to allow families more time to be able to pay rent. No one should have to choose between keeping a roof over their head or being kidnapped by ICE. Because rental assistance and mutual aid efforts will take some time, this effort will allow renters in need some more time before being evicted.

We tried to propose a more expedited process of passing this proposal in order to ensure it would be in effect before rent is due on March 1st. Unfortunately expediting this process required unanimous support from the City Council, and 4 of my colleagues voted against that. We will still fight to pass this ordinance, but it will take longer to implement, which makes securing funding for rental assistance even more pressing.

Mutual Aid In Ward 8

While we are fighting to secure rental assistance from the City, neighbors and community members have been leading the way on mutual aid efforts to support our neighbors. Below are some of the amazing mutual aid efforts that Ward 8 neighbors are a part of. I encourage everyone to donate to support and to plug in as you are able. These efforts are truly saving lives.

I will keep trying to share fundraisers and mutual aid opportunities as I learn of them. Thank you to everyone working hard to support and care for each other. Please also make sure to keep supporting immigrant small businesses in Ward 8 and throughout the city!

Upcoming Events

Superbowl Sunday Block Aid Blockades!

Join the Lyndale Neighborhood Association to

  • Meet neighbors
  • Support your community 
  • Take back our streets!

To keep building these neighbor-to-neighbor connections, the Lyndale Neighborhood Association is working with neighbors in each Quadrant of Lyndale to host a little pre-game community building on February 8th Superbowl Sunday from 3-5 PM! Four Block Aid Blockades, one in each of the four respective Lyndale Neighborhood quadrants, are being arranged by neighbors to share food, dance in the street, and get connected to each other and their hyper-local Quad Chats.  

Mutual Aid donation items will be accepted by Lyndale Neighborhood Association to support the upcoming Free MUTUAL AID Fest on Feb 12 at Painter Park. Cash and Venmo contributions will also be accepted, to support Lyndale families in need. 

Look for a flyer announcing your Quad’s Block Aid Blockade location at your door and in your hyper-local Signal chats, or feel free to email LNA to learn your Quad’s gathering location at info@lyndale.org or simply listen for the music and wander your way over to the Blockade nearest you!

All neighbors are welcome!

Other Resources

Cultural Districts Art Fund (CDAF) Program Applications

The Arts & Cultural Affairs Department for the City of Minneapolis recognizes this challenging moment our city is facing, and is expanding funding to meet the needs of the creative community in 2026.

There are two Cultural Districts Art Fund (CDAF) program applications are now open for applications! Check the links below to learn more and start your application soon. Though this funding primarily supports the seven cultural districts, all artists and arts organizations in Minneapolis are eligible to apply. 

Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation Program - up to $16,700 per award, and Pop-Up Art & Culture Activations Program - $5,000 per award 

Both programs encourage proposals that respond to immediate community needs in 2026. Funding prioritizes community-driven, publicly accessible engaging arts projects that provide uplifting support, foster creative place-making, and strengthen safety, connection, and resilience within Cultural Districts. Funding priority to Minneapolis-based and regional artists and practices rooted in care, mental health, harm reduction, community (re)building, and collective healing. 

Who Can Apply?  

Individual artists, artist groups/teams, arts entrepreneurs, arts organizations, arts/culture service organizations, neighborhood organizations, schools, and local businesses proposing artistic community-building projects. 

Eligible locations: 

All projects are expected to benefit communities and residents within the seven City of Minneapolis Cultural Districts with projects taking place within and in *close proximity to the Minneapolis Cultural Districts. 
*ACA is open to considering proposals located within a 5-block radius of the boundaries delineating the cultural district. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements. 

Key Dates to Remember:   

- Applications open: January 28, 2026
-Award information session: February 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST (live virtual) RSVP here 
-Application deadline: February 27, 2026, at 4:30 PM CST 
-Applications review: March 1 to April 14, 2026 
-Award notifications: April 16, 2026 
-Eligible funding period: June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027 

⚠️ Please note: Applications must be submitted via online portal by the deadline. Send any questions to mplsaca@minneapolismn.gov or contact program manager – Meena Mangalvedhekar meena.mangalvedhekar@minneapolismn.gov 

These programs are a timely opportunity to bring your creative ideas to life and make a lasting impact on our community. We encourage the creative community to start their application early and bring questions to the information session on February 9. 

Thank you and solidarity,
Soren Stevenson