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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Amidst the government shutdown, Hennepin County is acutely aware of the threats to SNAP and food security, and the anxiety caused by mixed information coming from the White House ranging from halved benefits to no benefits at all.
Hennepin County Human Services leaders are working with colleagues at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to prepare for what's next. Economic Supports will keep working cases as they are able, including completing interviews and reviewing verifications, so residents are in the best position to receive benefits as soon as possible. Residents should continue to apply for benefits if they need them, and there is additional information on the MNbenefits webpage.
In the meantime, if you need information about accessing or supporting community food shelf options, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.
My best,
As you may know, my then-Twitter, now-X account was hacked, and all of the handle data was subsequently lost. While unfortunate, my office is using this as an opportunity to update my social media presence. Please follow us on the following platforms for more timely updates on our work:
Given the elimination of my X account data, @MarionGreene is currently dormant. However, please give me a follow in anticipation of reasserting the account at some time in the future.
 Photo attributed to Rachel Hoppe of the Eden Prairie Local News.
In late October, The Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit shared a major milestone or the Green Line Extension Light Rail: the project moved the first light rail test train on the extension tracks!
This new and exciting phase on the project includes running test trains on the west end of the alignment to verify tracks and systems are ready to begin revenue service in 2027.
Project managers will continue to conduct extensive testing before beginning welcoming people on board — please be aware of test trains running. Metro Transit will also be hiring and training operators, systems maintenance technicians, and other positions who will make this expansion of light rail service possible.
Read more here from Eden Prairie Local News.
Join virtual annual meeting about rail safety during light rail construction
The City of Minneapolis will host an online meeting Nov. 18 about rail safety during construction of the METRO Green Line extension. This is an annual opportunity to meet on these topics. The project is also known as the Southwest light rail transit, SWLRT. The extension will add 14.5 miles to the existing METRO Green Line, which connects downtown Minneapolis with downtown Saint Paul.
Residents will get information and have the opportunity to ask questions. Participants include the Southwest LRT Project Office, Twin Cities & Western Railroad Company and the Minneapolis Fire Department.
The recent surge of gun related events, locally and nationally, highlights the need for a comprehensive, community-based approach to gun violence prevention. Safe Communities, in collaboration with over 45 local providers, community organizations and government partners, is actively supporting violence prevention work across Hennepin County.
Key initiatives include:
Safe Communities emphasizes a multilayered strategy that includes connecting youth with caring adults, creating protective environments, and strengthening community resilience—fighting violence before it happens and mitigating its effects when it does.
Overall, Safe Communities’ efforts support a broad spectrum of programs, including domestic violence support, youth group violence intervention, violence response teams, and victim services. We collaborate closely with local law enforcement, public health departments, and city agencies, building relationships which prove invaluable in times of crisis or continued conflict. These collective efforts seek to build safer neighborhoods and stronger community relationships through strategic intervention, ongoing community and community engagement.
Visit Safe Communities' webpage to learn more.
How Minneapolis American Indian Center’s renovated space has increased its impact
 Mary LaGarde, executive director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center, outside the center’s George Morrison mural.
The Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) in south Minneapolis has seen a significant increase in visitors and interest in its diverse array of programming since reopening after its major renovation and expansion project.
The center recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a fundraising gala. It’s one of the first and largest urban Native American community centers in the country. Before the expansion, the center served approximately 4,600 people through its programs each year. Since opening, that number has surged to 9,600 people.
“Overall, I’d say we’ve definitely seen a major increase in the number of participants in all of our programming since the renovation,” said Mary LaGarde, executive director of the MAIC and member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwa.
The center reopened in the spring of 2024 after the completion of the two-year, $32.5 million renovation project. Hennepin County contributed a total of $1 million toward the renovation project through Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) and Community Investment Initiative (CII) programs. The CII was designed to advance economic recovery and increase long-term economic opportunity in Hennepin County communities significantly impacted by the pandemic.
Read more about the center's impact.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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