 I want to begin this week’s newsletter with a big thank you to the roughly 80 people who made time to attend our inaugural Ward 7 Community Conversations event last Sunday afternoon at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church. For those of you who were unable to attend the event, you can view a recording here.
We heard from a panel of six educators and school volunteers from Ward 7 who discussed how Operation Metro Surge has impacted their school communities and how they have organized in response. The stories we heard ranged from heartbreaking to inspiring to hopeful, particularly those recounting how community members from all walks of life have rallied to support immigrant families in such structured, consistent and effective ways. In this federally-created crisis, the people of the City of Minneapolis have emerged as true heroes!
It was also moving to hear about how immigrant families are putting the mutual in mutual aid by giving back even as they receive. One panelist reported that she hasn’t cooked for her family in months because of the food that her families are sending to her. She also shared how folks are looking for dignified, safe, and creative ways to work and provide for themselves through this crisis, through things like jewelry-making and catering.
After hearing from our panelists – and a huge thank you to them as well – we had stations set up for each school, so attendees could sign up to volunteer their support. If you were unable to attend and are still looking for an outlet to contribute, you can consider the following:
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Financial Assistance – Every school shared that this need is top priority. Mutual Aid funds are being exhausted, especially by the need for rental assistance and legal aid.
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Groceries – Buying or delivering groceries once a week or twice a month alleviates financial burdens and reduces the risk families face when leaving their homes.
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Drivers – There is a desperate need for drivers to help students and young adults get safely to school or work. A panelist shared that parents at her school are willing to risk deportation in order to have their kids learning in-person.
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Buddy Family Support – Emerson is looking for people to become a “buddy family” or join a "buddy cluster"/"buddy pod" to build relationships of support that endure beyond this crisis.
If any of these are of interest to you, please reach out to our Ward office and we will get you connected with one of our schools: Ward7@minneapolismn.gov
Links for School-Based Mutual Aid:
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Bryn Mawr: GoFundMe | Venmo: @ptabrynmawrmn (Note: "Mutual Aid")
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Anwatin: GoFundMe
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Emerson: Givebutter
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Kenwood: GoFundMe | Venmo: @KenwoodMutualSupport (Last 4: 6331)
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Wellstone: GoFundMe
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Stevens Square & Loring Heights: GoFundMe – this is not school-based, but still a part of our Ward that desperately needs support.
In other news:
For many, rent will come due this Sunday, March 1st. For those unable to access rental assistance through mutual aid networks, RentHelpHennepin is the main portal for local government aid. This is where $1 million in allocated city funds was routed for distribution, to bring Hennepin County’s total to $11 million in available aid. There are links for both renters and landlords, and the user interface is simple and straightforward.
Additionally, the City’s federal response page offers information on a wide range of topics, including ways to give. For those seeking aid, the City’s Virtual Resource Center offers information on topics including housing assistance, food assistance, mental health support, prescription drug resources and delivery, and legal aid options.
 MNDOT’s project to resurface sections of I-394 and replace the Penn Ave. bridge deck is officially underway! Thank you to everyone who has reached out with concerns or suggestions for better traffic flow. Community input is key, as well as the open-minded flexibility of MNDOT staff.
While not all suggestions get turned into action, MNDOT has already made two important changes in direct response to concerns residents have raised with my office. Traffic barricades blocking access to Mt. View and Penn Ave. S. were reconfigured to permit safer and more practical traffic flow, and a stop sign has been placed at N. Wayzata Blvd. and Upton Ave. to help address pedestrian safety concerns. If and when other issues arise, I hope you will always feel free to reach out to my office. Everyone involved with this project knows it is substantially disruptive, but I feel like we’re developing constructive working relationships, and I want to keep that going until this project wraps up in November. Thank you!
And don’t forget: I-394 will be closed both directions this weekend for the demolition of the bridge deck.
For those of you looking for ways to provide mutual aid, the Stevens Square Community Organization (SSCO) has launched its own Business Support Grant. As has been widely reported, many small businesses (especially those that are immigrant- and BIPOC-owned) have suffered due to the increased federal activity in Minneapolis. SSCO has already been working with many businesses to access grants from the State of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Foundation, but they simply can’t come soon enough, and that prompted the organization to create a donation-driven fund to raise money for these businesses sooner. If the initial effort is successful, SSCO hopes to continue the program at least through the summer, while Franklin Avenue is under construction. For those who with interest and the capacity to give, you can find the donation page here.
 The Uptown Farmers’ Market is now accepting applications for 2026 market vendors and for a new market manager. Information on both roles can be found on this UFM webpage. As to market vendors, the UFM says “all are encouraged to apply but ESPECIALLY vendors selling: organic produce and/or fruit, cheese, eggs, meat products, breads, honey, drinks, cottage foods and hot prepared foods.”
For those considering the market manager position, UFM says it is “looking for a dynamic market manager to join our team who is passionate about not only supporting farmers, local food producers and businesses, but also contributing to the successful revitalization of Minneapolis’ iconic Uptown community.”
The Uptown Farmers’ Market had a great year in 2025, and let’s all pitch in to help that continue in 2026!
I’m pleased to report that the Minneapolis Police Department is adding a new Crime Prevention Specialist position, and we’re cautiously optimistic that position may land in the Fifth Precinct, which covers much of Ward 7.
What is a Crime Prevention Specialist? It’s a civilian role embedded in the MPD, with a wide range of duties that include public education, monitoring crime trends, giving personal safety presentations, conducting home or business security checks, responding to 311 inquiries, and supporting neighborhood block clubs and block club leaders.
The application period closes on March 11, and you can apply here if you are interested in the position. Faith Randall, our existing Fifth Precinct CPS, has been a tremendous asset to Ward 7, and if you’re looking for a career that gives back to the community each and every day, this is a great job to consider.
From March 2-20, the City will be accepting grant applications to help pay for repairing failing private sewer pipes and connections to the public sewer. Homeowners can receive grants between $5,000 to $10,000 and may need a match to receive the funds. Funding will be awarded on a lottery-based system. This year’s funding is expected to provide grants to 32-36 property owners. You can look at information now to get ready and then apply when applications open.
 Earlier this week, the Audit Committee published the Office of City Auditor’s 2026 Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment. The City faces significant financial, operational, and cultural risks in 2026. This assessment highlights four priority areas, made visual in the graphic above, and provides recommendations to strengthen resilience and public trust. Along with “federal operations & safety” (i.e., ICE), the other three categories are: Budget, Contract Oversight, and Culture and Trust. As the report outlines, each risk is complex and affects the City financially, operationally, and reputationally. For those of you interested in a preview of challenges both present and future, I encourage you to review this report, which is compact and straightforward.
 If you’re free on the evening of Thursday, March 5th, consider making time to attend the School and Community Safety Panel at the Justice Page Middle School Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. The panel brings together key voices dedicated to school safety and community resilience. The President of Stand with Parkland, Tony Montalto, contributes national insights on school safety and is the father of Gina Rose Montalto, a victim at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Dr. James Densley, co-founder of The Violence Project, provides research-driven strategies for violence prevention. Leah Kaiser—mother of Lydia Kaiser and Behavioral Health Director for Hennepin County, joins as an involved parent with firsthand experience and professional expertise. Sheriff Witt offers a law-enforcement perspective on preparedness and partnership. Together, they will discuss practical, collaborative approaches to keeping schools safe and supporting the communities around them. The panel will be moderated by Karla Hult, with KARE11. After the panel, Stand with Parkland’s story will showcase how a community can take tragedy and move towards change. I hope you can join us for what promises to be a great community education event. Click here to register.
Yours,
 Elizabeth Shaffer
Councilmember, Ward 7 |
