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This past week, I had the opportunity to attend the Boys & Girls Club Annual Fundraiser at TCF Bank Stadium, and it was a powerful reminder of how important it is to invest in our young people. The Boys & Girls Club continues to be a cornerstone in our community—providing safe spaces, mentorship, and real opportunity for youth across North Minneapolis. Their work matters, and it’s shaping the future of our city every day.
 In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find a mix of updates, resources, and upcoming events, from Neighborhood Day and traffic safety efforts to small business support, housing resources, and ways to stay connected with what’s happening across Minneapolis.
Whether you read every section or just skim for what matters most to you, I hope you find something useful and worth sharing.
— Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw
 Celebrate with your neighbors at Neighborhood Day Saturday, May 2.
Neighborhood Day is an annual day set across the city to increase resident participation in local civic engagement through one of the city’s 67 recognized neighborhood organizations. It’s a chance to come together in community, find the neighborhood organization that represents you and get to know your neighbors.
Neighborhood organizations host their own events, ranging from board elections to family-friendly activities. This year, select neighborhood events will include a bike tour, bean bag tournament and duck race. No matter your neighborhood, there’s something for everyone.
 Our Ward 4 community showed up in a big way.
Thanks to your generosity, we’ve collected over 200 ties through our Dress for Success Tie Drive; and every single one represents an opportunity to help someone walk into their next interview, internship, or big moment with confidence.
This drive is about more than just clothing. It’s about dignity, preparation, and making sure our young people and job seekers have access to the tools they need to succeed. A tie might seem simple, but it can make a powerful first impression and sometimes, that’s all it takes to feel empowered.
We’re especially excited to connect these donations with students, including those at Camden High School, so they can step into interviews and future careers feeling ready and supported.
To everyone who donated, a big thank you. You helped turn something small into something meaningful.
And if you still have a tie or two to give, it’s not too late. We’re continuing to accept donations as we work to expand this effort and reach even more members of our community.
Let’s keep showing up for each other, Ward 4.
 Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to announce a free, all-ages community experience: the Prince Sing-Along. This event will be a one-time-only signature addition to the Prince Celebration Block Party from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on June 6.
This outdoor event will take place near the downtown Prince mural by Hiero Veiga at 101 N. Ninth St., on the day before what would have been the Purple One’s 68th birthday.
Led by acclaimed Musical Director Sanford Moore of Moore by Four and a Minneapolis-based mass choir of 100 vocalists, the crowd will be guided through a selection of Prince’s greatest hits including “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry” and “Sometimes it Snows in April.” The event is expected to reflect upon the spontaneous outpouring of love outside First Avenue following Prince’s passing a decade ago.
 Building healthier communities requires the dedication of people who are committed to improving the well-being of our city. To recognize those contributions, the Minneapolis Health Department held its annual Local Public Health Heroes award ceremony April 29.
The awards and ceremony are one way the Health Department recognizes the vital role community members play in building healthier communities and supporting the department’s
vision. Healthy lives, health equity and healthy environments are the foundations of a vibrant Minneapolis now and into the future.
The committee selects recipients based on the excellence and impact of their work that aligns with one or more of the Health Department’s goal areas. Congratulations to these Local Public Health Heroes award winners:
· A Healthy Start to Life and Learning, Thriving Youth and Young Adults: Birth Justice Collaborative
· A Resilient Public Health Infrastructure: Portland House
· Health Equity: Miguel Fiol
· Healthy Living and Healthy Food Systems: Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra, Camila Valenzuela-Panza and Sierra Leone’ Williams
· Safe Places to Eat, Swim, and Stay: Healthy Roots Institute
· Substance Use and Opioid Response: Gaebriel Lyrek
· Sustainability, Healthy Homes and Environment: Sabathani Community Center
"I had the honor of recognizing someone who truly shows up for North Minneapolis every single day.
I presented an award to Gaebriel Lyrek, a Community Health Specialist at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, for his outstanding leadership in harm reduction and public health.
For more than seven years, Gaebriel has been on the front lines connecting people to care, reducing harm, and saving lives. From coordinating syringe services and leading street outreach, to providing rapid HIV testing and distributing naloxone, his work meets people where they are with dignity and compassion.
His impact is real and measurable:
• Helped bring one of the most-used Narcan vending machines in the city to North Minneapolis
• Advocated for syringe drop-boxes and built a system to safely collect and dispose of them
• Co-founded the North Minneapolis Harm Reduction Coalition, bringing together 12 organizations to better serve our community
• Personally revived 29 individuals experiencing opioid overdoses
• Launched the Emergency Narcan Sticker project, now active in 27 local businesses
• Developed “SCARE” quick-reference instructions for Narcan use, now being adopted more broadly across agencies
• Expanded culturally specific services, helping grow participation to a majority non-white community base
This is what community-centered public health looks like. It’s innovative, it’s compassionate, and it saves lives.
Gaebriel, thank you for your leadership, your heart, and your unwavering commitment to North Minneapolis. We are better because of you."
This past winter, the world witnessed small businesses in Minneapolis stepping up for our community in remarkable ways, even as they experienced significant negative impacts from Operation Metro Surge. We created the Minneapolis Small Business Resiliency Fund to help them recover from losses, promote community gatherings and drive customers to our vital commercial districts.
The Minneapolis Small Business Resiliency Fund provides $7 million for license fee relief, financial support for public events in commercial areas, cultural market grants and additional resources. Staff in the department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) designed the fund to get money out to businesses quickly and without too many hurdles.
Immediate relief
License fee relief: We are excited to share that over 2,000 food and hospitality businesses are already receiving license fee relief. Eligible businesses have been contacted. Business Licensing staff is processing refunds for businesses that paid for their eligible 2026 license before the fund was announced.
Fee-Free Events: This year, you can look forward to events throughout the city that bring our community together in celebration — recognizing all we’ve been through and helping to uplift and energize our small businesses. This is supported by the City covering common event permit fees for 2026 public events. Read more about which permits are covered.
If you have questions about Fee-Free Events, email the Small Business Team or call them at 612-673-2499.
Funding opportunities
Existing business support programs are getting a boost this year thanks to monies from the Resiliency Fund. These programs will provide direct and indirect support for small businesses across the city in 2026.
Cultural business weeks: Organizations can apply now to host events during Black Business Week, scheduled for July 27-Aug. 2. Applications are due by 4 p.m. April 27. A separate request for proposals will be issued later this year for Latino Business Week events.
Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP): Funding is available for organizations that can provide consulting services and training for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Both nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses may apply. Proposals from service providers are due by 4 p.m. April 27.
Cultural market grants: The Cultural Market Small Business Support program is currently accepting applications for grants to cultural mall operators for activities that benefit all tenants and customers, such as security, marketing and physical improvements to common spaces. Applications are due by 4 p.m. May 13.
Great Streets Business District Support (BDS): BDS awards money to not-for-profit organizations to enhance the vitality of existing commercial districts in Minneapolis. The application period has closed and funded applicants will be notified in the next few weeks.
Learn more about these and other funding opportunities.
More to come
Learn more about the Small Business Resiliency Fund.
The City of Minneapolis continues to support renters and promote housing stability. Following Operation Metro Surge, the City has committed funds to emergency rental assistance. This investment will:
- Help renters at greatest risk of homelessness
- Prevent evictions before they happen
- Connect residents to these resources through community-based partners
Minneapolis residents having difficulty paying rent may be eligible for this assistance if:
- Their household earns no more than 30% of area median income
- They have received a 30-day pre-eviction filing notice from their landlord
We’re partnering with Hennepin County to distribute the money through Rent Help Hennepin and their network of community-based partners. Minneapolis households seeking this emergency rental assistance can reach out to one of these organizations to get help starting an application.
We’ve created a flyer with detailed instructions about how to access this funding. It’s available in English, Arabic, Dari, French, Hmong, Pashto, Somali and Spanish.
Read more about emergency rental assistance on the City website.
 The City’s animal shelter has plenty of four-legged friends available for adoption, and there are no adoption fees May 1.
Normally Minneapolis residents pay no adoption fees for cats or adult dogs but $250 for dogs 6 months and younger. Non-residents normally pay an adoption fee up to $250 plus tax for any of the pets.
The City provides daily care, shelter and adoption services for animals in Minneapolis. We have about 65 animals in our care right now. Every adoption creates space for another animal in need. We’re open six days a week for adoptions and have a constantly changing selection of pets rescued in your community, cared for by your City.
Adoptable cats and dogs are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Licensing fees may still apply.
No adoption fee event Take the time to meet and fall in love with the pet that’s right for you. 1-5 p.m. Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1
Starting June 1, credit card payments will have a 2.35% processing fee. For example, a $100 utility bill would have a $2.35 credit card fee.
In the past, the City covered this cost. Like many other cities and utilities, we’re now passing that fee on to customers. The City does not keep the fee.
Easy ways to avoid the fee
You can avoid credit card fees by using other payment options. To avoid the fee, switch before June 1.
No-fee payment options
· Checks: electronic/online, mailed or in person
· Automatic checking or savings account payments
· Your bank’s bill pay
· Cash in person at the Public Service Building or retail partner
City crews have replaced the wiring in more than 700 streetlights over the last year. Streetlights that went dark from copper wire theft now shine through less expensive – and less likely to be stolen – aluminum wiring.
Last year an investment of funds to the Public Works Traffic Division allowed the City to hire more seasonal electricians, use more rental equipment and buy more material for the repairs.
Adults and caregivers are often in a place to check in and guide youth in their mental health journey. It’s common for everyone, especially teenagers, to experience a wide range of emotions — sadness, anxiety, anger — but when it begins to affect their daily life, that is when adults should take note and seek professional help.
Recognizing behavioral changes can be a sign your child or loved one needs support. Signs include:
· Changes in daily functioning: Sleeping too much or not at all, not eating, changes in weight or a lack of energy
· Major emotional and behavioral changes: Extreme mood swings or noticeable withdrawal from friends or other activities they used to enjoy
· Verbal cues: Talking or joking about death or suicide or expressing unbearable emotional pain
· Risky or concerning behaviors: Self-harm behaviors, increased use of drugs or alcohol or giving away important belongings or saying goodbye in a final way
Youth may need professional support if they are showing any of these changes.
Supporting youth
There are many ways to support youth and keep them safe, especially when their mental health is at risk.
· Talk to them directly and ask open-ended questions (“Tell me about … ”, “I’m really glad you told me … ”).
· Stay with them if they seem at immediate risk.
· Tell all adults who need to be informed if there is an immediate risk.
· If urgent, call 911.
Resources
· For a crisis team to come to you, call the Hennepin County COPE line at 612-596-1223.
· For immediate help, call 911 and ask for a crisis intervention team. · For educational and emotional resources, visit the NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness) website or call the NAMI Help line at 651-645-2948, ext. 117.
· Call or text 988 to speak with a counselor. Your conversations are free and confidential
 Curious what happens inside Minneapolis City Hall? During Doors Open Minneapolis, you’re invited to take a look.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9-10, this free event offers behind-the-scenes access to spaces that shape our city — and the people who keep it running.
At City Hall and Hennepin County Courthouse, don’t miss your first chance to see the newly updated City Council Chambers and other renovated spaces. Staff will be on hand to share how their work serves the community.
Doors Open is about more than buildings — it’s about helping people feel connected to their city. By opening these spaces, we make civic life more approachable and invite everyone to better understand, and care for, the place they call home.
You can also explore City sites like Fire Station 1, the Minneapolis Traffic Management Center and other spaces that shape our city.
Plan your visit on the Doors Open Minneapolis website.
No tickets are required — just bring your curiosity.
As temperatures rise and the air becomes drier, the risk of fires increases. Recently, the Minneapolis Fire Department responded to a large grass fire that spread quickly. Gathering around a bonfire is a great way to enjoy time with family and friends, but always remember to keep your backyard fires safe and legal in the city.
- Fires must be no more than 3 feet wide and 2 feet high, kept at least 25 feet away from buildings and enclosed by a nonflammable barrier.
- Recreational fires are allowed only between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Use only natural, cut wood — never trash — and always supervise your fire.
- Avoid lighting fires on windy days or when smoke blows directly toward a neighbor’s house.
- Be considerate — don’t burn if your neighbor has health concerns.
- Burn only when the wind is below 10 mph and do not burn during air pollution advisories.
Find more advice and resources about bonfires and other recreational fires on the City website.
 This last week, we are honored our Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center 911 telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The City of Minneapolis receives more than 600,000 911 calls each year. Telecommunicators are the true first responders, trained to quickly assess situations and dispatch the most appropriate support, whether it's police, fire, medical or behavioral crisis response teams. Their ability to stay composed under pressure saves lives and ensures the right response gets to the right place at the right time.
Through the Neighborhood Traffic Calming program, Minneapolis Public Works is finding ways to make your neighborhood streets safer and reduce risky driving. We have identified several areas for traffic calming projects in 2026.
We want to hear your concerns about traffic safety near the projects. You can provide feedback in several ways.
Tell us about traffic safety concerns in your neighborhood
Use the project feedback map to tell us about safety concerns you experience near the projects.
Complete a short survey by May 1 to share more of your thoughts.
Yard waste season began the week of April 6. During yard waste season, we pick up yard waste every week on your garbage pickup day. There is no extra charge for us to collect properly prepared yard waste.
We accept leaves, brush and other yard trimmings. You should prepare yard waste and set it at your alley or curb next to your garbage cart by 6 a.m. on your garbage pickup day.
You can set yard waste out in reusable containers, compostable bags (paper or BPI certified compostable plastic) or bundles secured with string or twine. |
